The ride quality of carbon is supposed to be that it is stiff where you want it stiff and compliant where that is desired. I think in all materials it has always been thought that stiffer is better for bike frames. But is that true? I’ve read that steel is not ideal for suspension because it is too flexible. I also read something about Formula GP motorcycles being made stiffer and stiffer until riders lap times were slower because the frames were too stiff. So frame designers built in some flex again to make the motorcycles faster. If you watch some slo mo videos of mountain bike riders you will see back wheels flexing all over the place on some frames, less for others. So is “steel is too flexible” marketing crap? Certainly a bike can flex too much. I had a steel road bike where I could make the chain rub on both sides of the front derailleur. My current carbon road bike descends way better than any old steel bike I have had. Handling is just that much more precise.
A few years back I tried an aluminum hard tail 29er to see if I’d like big wheels. I did. So I then went for a carbon hardtail with pretty much the same measurements. Wasn’t a lot of difference truthfully. Lighter for sure and I could feel that but they both had a good ride quality.
The long and short of it is, I think build quality and design are far more important that materials. Bikes like this I find intriguing.
Jan. 30, 2018, 6:53 p.m. - Andy Eunson
The ride quality of carbon is supposed to be that it is stiff where you want it stiff and compliant where that is desired. I think in all materials it has always been thought that stiffer is better for bike frames. But is that true? I’ve read that steel is not ideal for suspension because it is too flexible. I also read something about Formula GP motorcycles being made stiffer and stiffer until riders lap times were slower because the frames were too stiff. So frame designers built in some flex again to make the motorcycles faster. If you watch some slo mo videos of mountain bike riders you will see back wheels flexing all over the place on some frames, less for others. So is “steel is too flexible” marketing crap? Certainly a bike can flex too much. I had a steel road bike where I could make the chain rub on both sides of the front derailleur. My current carbon road bike descends way better than any old steel bike I have had. Handling is just that much more precise. A few years back I tried an aluminum hard tail 29er to see if I’d like big wheels. I did. So I then went for a carbon hardtail with pretty much the same measurements. Wasn’t a lot of difference truthfully. Lighter for sure and I could feel that but they both had a good ride quality. The long and short of it is, I think build quality and design are far more important that materials. Bikes like this I find intriguing.