Top 5 | Products That Prove Carbon Isn't Always Best

There’s a general theme that runs throughout the road cycling world – aluminium is good, but carbon is better. From framesets to wheels, groupsets and finishing kits, if we can afford it, the temptation is nearly always to go for carbon.

But that’s doing other materials a disservice, and there are plenty of times aluminium has proven itself equal to, or better, than its composite counterpart.

Sit back and feast your eyes upon five products that prove carbon isn’t always best.

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[lieblingsleguan]

The reason for Geraint Thomas being on alloy brake tracks is probably quite simply the fact that Shimano doesn't make full carbon clinchers and that Pros use clinchers on training rides when there is no mechanic with loads of spares following them in a car.

[cyclehans]

Forget carbon or aluminum anything where do I get that pizza mud guard

[mmb]

Carbon rails on your saddle. They freak me out

[lloydhlavac]

"Back in the day" of the early 1980s, I broke 3 separate Campy crank arms due to stress cracks. And in late 80s I broke a Campy steel bottom bracket spindle during a sprint on a training ride, resulting in a nasty crash and trip to the ER for stitches in my scalp (was wearing a leather hairnet helmet). I switched to Shimano after that, and never broke anything of thei's, though I haven't bought anything new in over 10 years. And just last year I discovered a crack in the seat tube of my Schwinn Fastback Factory aluminum frame., circa 2001, just above the weld with the bottom bracket shell. I'd like a Caad 12 or 13, but not in the picture right now. $$$

[sepg]

Even car manufacturers are able to produce high powered cars that utilize carbon drive shafts that transmit 500+ HP, so i won't be surprised if carbon cranks will soon be as widespread as carbon frames.

Cranks have simpler shapes than carbon frames too, but they have to handle the rider's torque input.

[Hexsense]

You don't emphasize enough on the stem.
Carbon parts can be much lighter than Alu because each of it's layer is strong in a certain force direction, and flexible in the other. For many bike parts, stiff in every direction is not required so manufacturers can skip stiffness in some way and make the part lighter. Now for the stem, stem subject to so many plane of forces that to make a good stem out of carbon, it doesn't really weight less than aluminum (which is equally strong in any direction by its nature). So manufacturers tend to market carbon stem as heavy but super stiff, rather than lighter than alloy one.

[robtk]

Perfectly happy with my 2019 Cannondale Synapse Alloy Disc. As far as alloy frames go, I'm fairly certain Cannondale knows what they're doing.

[FormostPanda]

I really feel old. Back in the day, i rode a hand built steel frame Chiorda with Campy gears and an Ideale leather saddle saddle. My nailed on cleats and glued on tires made me pretty light for the seventies. It was beautiful with a blue frame and half-chromed forks and stays. You'll always remember your first love.

[mizzorian]

Everything has its place...carbon composite has it strengths and weaknesses same as Aluminum...a smart person knows when and where to use what...no such thing as material "A" is better than "B" with no details

[mikeburton]

Totally agree with the aluminum stem and yes, I still use those shimano pedals when I’m training and using powertap hub. They record “crit” mistakes very nicely :). My preference for aluminum includes seatpost... the Thomson masterpiece, if it will fit your bike is... a masterpiece. And no discussion about superior aluminium is complete without the Allez Sprint!!

[murp]

Wow! Love that aluminum Trek bike. If I was in the market for a road bike (and a much younger rider) that Trek would be it. Aluminum is highly underrated in bikedom and I would like to see more of the high-strength supersteels, too.

[kentbrianbravo]

Caad12 or cannondale hollowgram should be in that list

[bbbbburton]

Just changed my integrated carbon handlebars back to my previous alloy Pro stem and Deda handbars. Something about it just feels better

[willo]

You have no idea how many times Shimano had thought about carbon cranks. However it just couldn’t get pass considerations for commercialisation in mass volume to their engineering philosophy and safety responsibility concern. They’ve been there done that, and back to square.

[baddriversofcolga]

I don't like the hard-to-recycle nature of carbon so I'll take metal over it anytime. It doesn't hurt that metal is typically cheaper as well.

[Sergio_Math]

I would also add Track bikes! You’ll see that, of course, Olympic athletes do have access to carbon masterpieces, but take a look at the red hook crit or other amazing races, and everyone is rocking Cinelli, Aventón, Dosnoventa... Alloy beauties. The alloy rigidity is welcome for those explosive sprints (and nasty accidents that ensue).

[aldrinclementina]

Great video. I have a Bianchi 928L with full 7800 DA. still doing it's job. Lighter than any modern modern carbon bikes with R8000 Ultegra out there. 6 8kg.
I'm swapping the old DA shifter and drivetrain to Ultegra 6700 and passing the DA to an aluminum with carbon fork Concorde Mystral 340. This would be my backup bike for rainy days. I will fit some Easton Circuit wheels as well to try to keep it on the light side.

[brixomatic]

Handlebars - bullshit. Carbon bars are durable and light, plus the common ones usually won't just snap if they break, but splice open like a twig, unlike Aluminum.
Stems - the lightest ones you can buy are usually made from Aluminium, which shows that it's still a good stuff for some applications. Shimano and Rotor make state of the art aluminum crank sets, but Shimano won't do carbon for a reason, only it's not what you think it is: They are great at aluminium, but their experience with Carbon is rather small. They won't ruin their reputation with a sub standard carbon crank set, while their aluminum products still rank high. Same for Rotor really. You won't see THM replace their Clavicula with an aluminum successor either.
Brake tracks: I agree. With rim brakes I would not go full carbon unless they find a really grippy, durable brake surface coating that also works in the rain.

[jtbarnes]

I think carbon bars on a Mountain Bike make a good bit of difference, what do you guys think? The vibration damping seems to be better?

[bicyclist]

I have to say I couldn't agree more. And this comming from a guy who rides an old LOOK that has carbon tubes with aluminum lugs. Thanks.