Is Carbon REALLY Better Than Aluminium?

This video contains product placement for Trek Bikes. If you have a few thousand pounds or dollars to spend on a new road bike, you’ll be right in the territory of some very nice carbon bikes. But is that the best way to spend your money?

In this video, we compare two bikes that are absolutely identical in spec. But one is carbon and one is aluminium…and £1,000 cheaper.

The sensible money would likely opt for the aluminium bike, but does the carbon frame offer a tangible improvement in performance or ride quality?

We’re here to help you decide on how to choose between an aluminium road bike and a carbon road bike.

We’ll guide you through the differences in the frame material, pit these two bikes against each other up a proper climb and, as a bonus, show you how you could upgrade the aluminium bike with the money you saved.

#TrekBikes #TrekEmonda #CarbonVsAluminium

Chapters:
00:00 Intro
01:03 Carbon vs aluminium differences
01:36 Which is faster?
02:12 Which is heavier?
03:43 Which is more durable?
04:49 Bike head to head
05:35 Looks
06:39 Weight
07:42 Climbing
08:38 Compliance
09:55 Upgrading Alloy
10:33 Conclusion

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[peterharrington]

Worth considering that the aluminum frame is recyclable too. Carbon is going to landfill. 💚

[SecwetGwiwer]

103 grams difference! For the nearly £1000 price difference, you could fit an expensive wheelset and it’d be lighter AND more aero.

[luisgarcia]

I'm a simple, recession kinda guy. I see aluminum, I buy it. It's affordable Won't be that expensive to replace. I won't be worried to damage if I lean it in a wall, corner, or by looking at it. I can upgrade the components with the money I saved. I don't care much about the 500 gram weight difference, etc.

[BennyOcean]

I have a Cannondale CAAD12. I've test ridden carbon bikes that cost way more, but honestly I prefer my cheaper aluminum/alloy bike.

Although my road bike is full carbon, my future gravelbike purchase will probably be aluminium. I always feel a bit anxious damaging the carbon frame in some way, and it feels easier to just get up and ride wherever, whenever I want using aluminium. Although the one thing I do like about Carbon frames, is the way they are able to be shaped, and can look quite refined. Don't underestimate the importance of looks to a lot of people!

[ishonk]

I bought the Trek Emonda ALR 2023 aluminium frameset this year (in a rather nice white paintjob) and would recommend that frame.
- It's a few grams lighter than my chinese Carbon gravel frame (same size of 56)
- It's ca. GBP 3000 less expensive than a ca. 400g lighter TREK Emonda SLR or Specialized Tarmac SL7 frame (the Emonda SL frame is almost same weight as aluminium)
- It allowed me to use lightweight aftermarket carbon parts for integrated handlebars and 400mm seatpost (carbon Emonda frame doesn't accommodate my long legs)
- The welds are real subtle and don't stand out. On first glance you would only know from the BB area that it's not a carbon frame
- cables are all hidden away in the handlebars / frame which was my requirement for the purchase
- Chinese carbon frames would still offer a better weight/price ratio but the quality you get is often a matter of luck and the resell-value is very low.

The Emonda ALR frame is really stiff and I'm using Vittoria Corsa Pro TL tyres in 32mm to compensate for that (effective width 34mm on my carbon rims).
My aluminium Emonda weighs 8.2kg including Shimano XT pedals, computer mount and a bottle cage. Parts are a mix of DI2 Ultegra and GRX, handlebars are Bontrager carbon, seatpost noname carbon, saddle is a heavy Selle SMP Drakon. Carbon wheels are a chinese Velosa brand (CX 45 )

[anthonyfalvey]

Last year I was facing the choice between a Tarmac SL7 comp or an Allez Sprint with upgrades for the same money. I ended up going with the Allez Sprint and I’m glad I did. I got a nice set of carbon wheels, aero carbon bars and a fancy 3D printed saddle all within the budget of the tarmac. Granted, that bike came with electronic shifting but I feel as if I’ve got a far more ‘race ready’ setup now.

Plus, not having to worry about the frame material is a bonus.

[Hintonbro.]

Best video I have seen on this topic - a good description of pros & cons here.

[stevebassett]

Which way would I well, I just bought an Emonda ALR frameset. Going to build it up with 105 Di2, carbon wheelset lightweight 35mm deep with GP5000's, and mount carbon seat post, premium saddle and premium bar and stem, and fancy bar tape. The crank length and the bar width is what I choose to put on not what the manufacturer wants to supply. So, in effect I'm up-grading in advance and not buying something knowing that I'm going to replace in short order. Just a note that the ALR is a beautiful frame, fitted with carbon forks/steerer. It's going to be a fantastic bike. I do have a Trek aluminum endurance/gravel bike which I have owned 10 years, still in great shape just a little heavy with Alpha 100 series tubes. I will still use the on gravel/rough back country roads.

[mysteriousMatchStick]

One thing they don't mention in this video is that the higher end aluminum bike, like the one shown in the video, comes with a carbon fork. Can you call an aluminum bike that has a carbon fork and aluminum bike? The carbon fork makes a huge difference in soaking up vibration, compared to an aluminum fork and hence offers a very smooth ride. For me aluminum frame with carbon fork and 30mm tires offers excellent value.

[clas]

I have two carbon roadbikes and one made from aluminium. It’s a Canyon Endurace AL and it is as comfortable as the others with thin seat stays and a good composite seatpost. Weight penaly for that frame is 300g but its rim brakes are 400g lighter. Al is still a very good material for most bikes where aero tubing is not important.

[marekbabal]

good comparison and explanation. I do not know much about road bikes, I ride MTB. As mentioned, the AL bike has carbon fork, so the difference in over-all ride feel may not be that great. For years I thought that carbon is not for me, mainly because the price/value. Back in 2017 the bike I really wanted was available only in carbon (TREK Procaliber). I went for it and soon I realized what carbon is about. It simply soaks up vibrations better than AL. I felt a bit less beaten after riding our local trails than on my AL bike before. My rides became longer, fatigue came later (while I am getting older), simply a better ride experience.

[richcrompton]

I’d have to pick the aluminium one. I’ve got a Trek 1.5 aluminium bike, and it’s a great workhorse. It’s bombproof and the hydroformed tubes still look great after nearly 16 years of use and abuse and a £1000 would buy some great upgrades!

[josephsculpepper]

I like your video! I use to race when I was under 20 yrs old. I recently purchased a specialized carbon Roubaix with campy crankset 52-42 and 14-25 cassette. It is maybe 2012 age model, I love it a lot, though I really miss my vintage basso frame with campagnolo group set. J.s.

[izzy]

Aluminum frame with the upgraded carbon wheelset all day long a better route. Especially since modern aluminum frames are so much lighter, stronger, and aero. And with the ability to run wider tires, I would argue the road compliance is negligible.

[Stefanosinf]

Got the ALR and got to say i love it to bits. Got it as a frameset and build it myself so i have it as i like it.
If you're thinkig about it, don't! With the moey saved i've got a wheelset.
Final build weight for size 50 is 7.6kg with full Ultegra R8000, Alloy bars, carbon stem, seatpost and Elite Ultralight 45mm wheelset...
(I have some vids on my channel, if somoene is interested)

[justsomedude]

Back in 2016, I was looking at the Emonda SL7 and as I was chatting with the bike shop crew as I am a long time customer, they started to put together the new Emonda ALR. I took the bike for a short ride and blew off the SL and bought the ALR. I transfer the Ultegra I had on another bike, and put the 105 on that frame and sold it. I put some carbon bars and seat post on it and the bike has been a jewel of a find. I got the weight down to just under 16 lbs. Over the last couple of years I put some 50mm carbon TLR wheels on it, and late last year, I put SRAM Force eTap AXS on it and put on a more aero carbon bar on it. Some would think I am crazy to put that on this frame, but I don't care, the ride is glorious and I still put 3K miles on it a year even though I have a high end carbon frame bike as well. Both bikes are in normal rotation. My ALR is still the lower weight of both bikes, now just over 16 lbs.

[renzoespinabernal]

I have had an aluminum bike for 6 years; it's a Scott Speedster. With the passage of time, I have had the opportunity to participate in some races with it. Obviously, I have changed some parts, and I recently upgraded the groupset, but the performance of the bike has been the best. In summary, there is nothing that I can't do with it that another carbon bike would do better. Greetings from Colombia

[viktorlenart]

I used to ride my Emonda ALR for 7 years, and loved every bit of it, but now, as I am slowly creeping into the MAMIL territory, I switched to a TCR and there is no way I would ever go back. The amount of comfort is just insane and I am just as fast (or rather slow), as I was on my Emonda.

[jacobrich]

I've literally been debating these exact bikes thank you