All Things Bikes and Tacos! (...and every vehicle imaginable)

Nah, AL and carbon both have applications. People used to be scared of carbon due to their reputation for catastrophic failure. Now most people understand that modern carbon is way stronger, and most has built in failure points. To me, the biggest selling point of carbon is the ability to change layups and fine tune how the material flexes and dampens, as well as where and how stiff it can be. AL cannot match carbon's stiffness to weight.
Still, carbon has serious environmental impact. And a nicely welded AL frame looks stellar. The Poles aren't welded, but damn they look good.

Only single speed freaks like Ti and steel. I think riding those hardtails rattled something loose up there...

E-bikes are tons of fun, much in the same way dirt bikes and motorcycles are. Fun to rip around on, but no replacement for the real thing.

 

I have two carbons, one steel. As single-use plastics regulations get more stringent, carbon may lose popularity.

 

I prefer aluminum. It also keeps me in a job since I'm in that industry

 

The comment/question was loosely rhetorical. More just to spur some talking points and generate conversation.

The Rimpo AF is a wonderful example of AL still having a solid place.

From an environmental impact, would the mining and refinement of AL not be similarly as negative as the single-use carbon?


Again I am not disagreeing or intending to debate. Simply opening dialogue. My one horse stable is a full carbon. Aside from some weight savings and the bragging rights, I don't know if my level of on bike skill (or lack there of) could differentiate between frame materials. Hell I could say the same for wheel construction. I doubt I could tell the difference

 

Those odds are very good!

Have we met?

 

My quiver: 2 x carbon, 2 x steel, 1 x aluminum.

No complaints about any of the above. I may even trade my carbon full squish for an aluminum one if Ibis ever decides to release a Ripley AF. There's really no reason at all to avoid aluminum these days. Then again, if GIANT keeps lowering the price of their bikes to match the aluminum prices elsewhere, I may just have to stick with carbon. The fact that their latest carbon Trance 29 Advanced is just over $3k is mindblowing.

 

No we haven’t haha. I just bought my Trance from Adam and he told me every time I pull up he thinks it’s you because we have similar Tacos. He did tell me you organize a pretty sweet Taco/mtb meetup. I haven’t been super big into the mtb scene here, but I am getting into it this year! It’s awesome to see local folks on here. I’m sure we will run into each other!

 

I dont look down on any materials. The SC Chameleon changed my mind on how well Aluminum can ride. It severed the whole "steel is real" argument for me - before that it was only steel for hardtails.

Carbon does make for an excellent rim however.

 

Any time you want to get together for a ride in the area, hit me up! I'll send you a note whenever I head out, as well. (Traveling this weekend and the next, so any weekend after Feb 17th).

 

And rotational mass is really the only place that ultralight weight provides real benefits (weight everywhere else can be resolved by dieting..lol). That's why I'm pretty much all about the steel/Ti/aluminum with carbon wheels from now on. Spend the money where it actually helps the most.

 

Awesome! Sounds good, I’ll do that!

 

But the ride quality is SOOOOO nice on Steel and Ti!

That.. and the fact that there aren't many frames that can be set up SS in carbon without an [ick]EBB[/ick]. The Pivot LES was on my radar for a LOOOONG time, but everyone wants a damn mint for them, even used. They seem to hold their value better than Tacomas!

Funny, I rode with TORC in Umstead on Saturday and some dude in a blue Taco was rolling out of the parking lot while I was packing up. He said something as he passed but I didn't catch it with my attention focused on the bike.

 

Its crazy how much of a difference carbon wheels seem to make. Aside from the weight I feel like im cornering on rails, they just hold a line so well.

 

And generate talk you did. Lol.

 

Greatest upside of AL bikes is you tend to get a better component spec for the pricepoint because the money gets put into the groupset, etc instead of the frame material. Seems the AL bikes in the same trim package is +1 level of parts vs the carbon equivalent.

That view of E-bikes is probably the most eloquent way to describe how most people against their use feel.

RE: the environmental impact, carbon may have more of a waste fill impact, but the energy required to mine and process aluminum is significant. Different mechanisms of pollution that aren't really comparable, but I suspect nobody is taking their aluminum bike to the revert yard when they get a new one. Yes, they can be recycled, but I don't see that in practice.

 

Anybody have a 29" hoop or wheelset laying around? Boost and wide inner width

Blew up my rear wheel and conflicted whether to build a new wheel or dive into an entire new wheelset

Build a new DH wheel for $200 or ball out for (used) I9s

 

If you can wait a few weeks, I'm getting a new wheelset for my Sentinel courtesy of a wheel builder buddy of mine. It'd be a set of 29er boost wheels 30mm inner Stans Flow Mk1s. XD Driver.

Just keep sending me your $$$

 

Lol for real though. I am afraid Stans Flows would end up in the same status as my current cracked wheels. I need DH wheels cause I ram thru shit lol

 

@Gunshot-6A what wheels are you getting built

 

Honestly, I'd just rehoop your current wheels if the hubs are fine. Get some Flow EX3s or some Spank359s and be back in business for a few hundo.

Spanks seem to be on sale everywhere RN as well, so a good time.