[mvfdm71]

I am 230 pound and have a Lynksey Ti rode bike. I love it. It is actually very light compared to my friends specialized CF, and my bike is several sizes larger. The bike is very comfortable and fast. I have put around 3500 miles on it this year. But, most importantly find a bike that fits, go bike shopping and ride very brand and model you can. If your going to be riding 5 to 7 day a week you need to be comfortable, its not worth the trade off for weight if your unconfortable when you ride. One statement I like about Ti is, "if a shovel falls off your garage wall and hits your CF bike your going to have to replace or get fixed, if a shovel fall and hits yours Ti bike you pick the shovel up and put it back on the wall". Good luck in your bike search.

[dlighthall]

Also, as featured recently in VeloNews, Calfee has developed the capability to repair carbon frames and repaint them to stock spec. Typical cost is $400 if I recall. It is actually not that hard to repair. So the assertion that a cracked CF frame is useless is a misnomer. Having said that, there is nothing more beautiful than a well executed Ti weld.

[froze]

Of course if you treat CF right it will last a lifetime...that's a ridiculous statement...if you treat anything "right" it will last a lifetime and then some!! But bikes will be crashed, or banged about, it can't be helped unless you don't ride it, or your just darn lucky and never have an accident or chain suck or whatever. I had accidents over the last 35 years, and can guarantee you that if the bike wasn't steel or TI, or maybe even AL in some cases, a CF bike would have been likely totaled while the others either were or are still ridable.

The typical cost to repair a CF bike at Calfee is between $200 and $400, plus paint to match $100, plus clear coat which is $75, plus decals $100, plus a $50 inspection charge, plus about $100 shipping both ways, plus cost you must do before shipping of stripping the bike of all components except the crown race may be left on the fork. So to fix a rear stay for example could run you between $625 and $825 not including parts strip off and replacement labor cost at your LBS unless you do it yourself, and not including a total repaint if you request it. And they are the only people at this time I would trust to fix a CF bike.

[Industry_Hack]

Unless you're talking about a pricey tandem, I wouldn't even consider Cf to be repairable. If you understand the construction process, you'd realize that only certain kinds of damages are even viable candidates for repair.

[froze]

Originally Posted by Industry_Hack

Unless you're talking about a pricey tandem, I wouldn't even consider Cf to be repairable. If you understand the construction process, you'd realize that only certain kinds of damages are even viable candidates for repair.

Your right, that's why Calfee will charge you a $50 inspection fee first to see if a bike could be repaired. Calfee has been repairing CF bikes for a while now and they have had good success, but obviously they pick and choose which ones they'll fix.

[firesound]

I'm big like you. Just bought Motobecane Le Champion Team ti from Bikesdirect and couldn't be happier. What a deal. After much discussion and research I figured the way I ride I'd crack a CF frame within a year. The ti frame with the dura ace will get me by for quite a while I pray. Hope it helps

[Frankie]

Hey, is a off the wall suggestion for you. If I remember correctly, you are on a Trek 2.3. If I am right why would you not consider doing what I am going to try. If weight is not a real issue, why not just upgrade to a real nice wheel set? Later on if you are still bent on up-grading ( and btw who knows what will be avaiable in a couple of years ) then up-grade and of course keep your wheel set. I am still very much in love with my Trek 2.3 aluminum bicycle. I have rode cf bikes and they are sweet to say the least, but why not beef up your body more and lose, say 10 pounds and see what happens then. Just my $2 cents worth. Remember this suggestion is coming from a new rider still in my first year of being a roadie. Be well and ride safe.............. Great question and answers btw

[froze]

Originally Posted by firesound

I'm big like you. Just bought Motobecane Le Champion Team ti from Bikesdirect and couldn't be happier. What a deal. After much discussion and research I figured the way I ride I'd crack a CF frame within a year. The ti frame with the dura ace will get me by for quite a while I pray. Hope it helps

Groovey! I haven't bought it yet, I'm shooting for late summer or sooner if they go on sale. Your also bigger then me because I intend on the next step down with the Ultegra only because I don't race and for everyday riding the Ultegra is supposedly more reliable from all the sources I checked. Even if it's not any more reliable I don't need the DuraAce level. The frame is the same on both, actually on all 3 models, Only big change is components and wheels.

When you start riding it more let us know how you like it.

[photosbymark]

Well carbon fiber is stiff, but incredibly strong. It would not be the causal bump or tommy tip over that would damage it. Titanium on the other hand isn't easy to work with either. Carbon fiber is used in all kinds of airplanes, but titanium is rarely used. It's tough to cut, weld and form. It can be done, but any bump hard enough to damage it is likely hard enough to make repair impractical at most places in my opinion. Yet titanium was what the SR 71 was largely made of and it flew for decades in maybe the most demanding and hostile environment any machine was ever forced to endure over a long period of time. A bike doesn't have to worry about being heated and cooled to extremes and deal with extreme temp changes. Now is such a material really needed for a bike? I doubt it.

Id ride them both and see what I liked, but don't forget to try all kinds of bikes and trikes before you buy. If you are leaning toward a titanium bike, almost anything is in the budget.

[froze]

Originally Posted by photosbymark

Well carbon fiber is stiff, but incredibly strong. It would not be the causal bump or tommy tip over that would damage it. Titanium on the other hand isn't easy to work with either. Carbon fiber is used in all kinds of airplanes, but titanium is rarely used. It's tough to cut, weld and form. It can be done, but any bump hard enough to damage it is likely hard enough to make repair impractical at most places in my opinion. Yet titanium was what the SR 71 was largely made of and it flew for decades in maybe the most demanding and hostile environment any machine was ever forced to endure over a long period of time. A bike doesn't have to worry about being heated and cooled to extremes and deal with extreme temp changes. Now is such a material really needed for a bike? I doubt it.

Id ride them both and see what I liked, but don't forget to try all kinds of bikes and trikes before you buy. If you are leaning toward a titanium bike, almost anything is in the budget.

Wow, I'm not sure what to say about this. CF is a miracle materal stronger then Superman, but just like Superman they have their kryptonite, just witness all the problems lately with cracked frames on forums on the internet from stuff that wouldn't even harm steel, TI, or AL. The CF used in airplanes is no where near the level of CF used on bikes...nice try. And AL is used in Airplanes too, so what's your point? And gee if you really want to be stupid using dumb examples one could say that steel is the best of all, witness they don't build bridges or skyscrapers using CF. And today with Asian CF and Asian Titanium you can get a TI bike for as much as a CF bike, just go to Bikes Direct.com and look at the 3 TI Motobecane's they have and you will readly see that; and those 3 bikes have gotten rave reviews.