Traditionally, most road and mountain bikes come in aluminum frame bodies. It has been the industry standard for a long time now. However, one issue that manufacturers have always had to deal with was the weight of the bikes they made and using aluminum always added to it. So in recent times, to address this issue, many manufacturers have decided to use carbon fiber instead of aluminum to drastically decrease the weight of their bike frames.
But one thing to keep in mind is that, since these carbon fiber bike frames are fairly new, they are manufactured in very limited quantities as aluminum frames are still the industry standard. And we know what happens when something is in limited quantity, the prices become very high. So unless you are a hardcore cycling enthusiast who is into competitive cycling, you may want to reconsider your options before investing heaps of money into your next bike frame. On a separate note, you should also know that a lot of Chinese bike manufacturing companies are making carbon fibre frames for very cheap. But keep in mind, those frames are very poor in quality and can wear out or even get damaged very easily.
So why should you consider a carbon fiber bike frame in the first place? Well as I said prior, the frames are significantly lighter than aluminum frames, which mean more speed for the rider. Also, being light means they are easy to maneuver and also easy to climb up slanted surfaces. These frames are also very aerodynamic compared to aluminum frames. And contrary to popular belief, if made well, then carbon fiber frames are just as solid and durable as aluminum frames, which is why you should avoid knockoff Chinese makers. These are the reasons why a lot of professional and competitive cyclists prefer to use carbon fiber frames instead of aluminum frames.
Pros of carbon fiber bike frames:
- Carbon fiber frames are very light in comparison to aluminum frames.
- They are just as sturdy and durable as aluminum frames.
- Very aerodynamic which translates to higher speeds.
- Easy maneuverability across all kinds of terrain.
- Soon to become the next industry standard.
Cons of carbon fiber bike frames:
- Very expensive and limited in supply.
- Chinese knockoff frame manufacturers are flooding the market with very poor quality products which are causing people to have a false impression about carbon fiber frames.
Final thoughts on carbon fiber bike frames:
Overall, I think that as technology advances and manufacturers become more adept at making carbon fiber frames, it will soon become the industry standard for bike frames. Because the advantages it has over regular aluminum frames are quite easy to see. As for the present time, I don’t think we are there yet as carbon fiber frames will only appeal to the most hardcore cyclists out there due to its high pricing. But if we give it some time, there is no doubt that carbon fiber bike frames will be the next big innovation in the cycling market.
