[Closed] Anyone Gone Back to an Alu Frame from Carbon?

Nope certainly don’t regret it. More than happy on Alu. Had a carbon fuel ex and went back to Alu. Don’t really notice the difference to be honest. It might be a tad heavier, but that’s not massively noticeable.
I also have a winter road bike that is Alu and again don’t notice to much difference. But then again it takes wide tyres (32mm) so I find it very comfortable. It’s slower than the good bike but that’s mainly down to the fact that my summer bike is an aero bike with nice kit. But it’s very capable, used for road and gravel.

I went back and glad I did...not as flexy and just as light. I also seem to have developed a concern for landfill so now have a real dislike for carbon bike parts (although they do look nice!).

Didn't regret it.

went from a santa cruz stigmata cc to a kinesis tripster al.... zero regrets... just as fast, i'm less stressed about damaging it, just as much fun, end build is only 500g heavier

Yes. Would not buy a carbon frame again. Felt too light, too stiff, too harsh and the constant fear of crashing it on rocks and damaged by it. Way way happier on alloy.

Thanks folks. A lot of you are echoing my thoughts.

I've had two carbon frames now and I definitely stress a lot more about rock damage.

Thinking of moving from an Intense Primer to a Hightower Al.

Every week ...I swap between them.

On balance I'd probably not go carbon again - too much worry.

Yes, alu all the way for me for full-sus MTBs.

Partly economics but also there's not so wide a choice of geometries and suspension layouts if you limit yourself to carbon.

I think my Orange FS frames are comparable weight-wise to boggo carbon anyway, looking at (and weighing) full builds.

I'm glad to read I am maybe not as neurotic as I thought I was about frame damage.

Been MTBing for 25 years and through all the alu frames I had I can't remember consciously fretting about frame damage out on a ride. Every time I hear a ping from a stone now I'm getting off and checking as well as the regular checks for cracks when washing the bike.

I've switched between aluminium and carbon for both road an mtb. Can't say I've ever noticed much difference. The only reason I currently got carbon mtb at the moment was I got it through C2W on a sale bike and it was a good deal. But still got a aluminium hardtail.

I’ve had both at the same time. I dont even think about it now. Given the choice between two identical frames, I’d still go for the carbon one.

Hell, one of mine is even a Yeti & I don’t think about it 😆

Interested in something else at the moment, which is also only in carbon. If it was the right bike only in Alu, I wouldn’t discount it though.

Why all the stress about damaging carbon frames? I thought it was supposed to be easier to repair than Aluminium.

I've ridden (and still ride) steel, carbon and aluminium frames. They all seem to work and I don't really worry about damaging one any more than the other. But them I'm a mincer so frame damage is pretty low risk for me anyway I guess 🙂

I’ve never owned a carbon-fibre frame and probably won’t bother now. More recently I have also thought this...

have developed a concern for landfill so now have a real dislike for carbon bike parts

Concern for landfill...maybe consume less?

Why all the stress about damaging carbon frames? I thought it was supposed to be easier to repair than Aluminium.

It is, but lets not let rational thought get in the way of fear. As for landfill, I'd be amazed if anyone considering a carbon bike vs a metal one would recycle the metal one, as opposed to sell it/pass it on to kids etc. Which they would do for a carbon one too...

The Pole marketing vid really had a big effect didnt it? All because carbon was expensive. Rather ironic now they are having to recycle a fair few of their (broken) alu bikes...

As for me, a good bike is a good bike, frame material is only a piece of the puzzle. Just happens that a lot of very good bikes are carbon, so that's what I get.

@shooterman give me a nudge if you want my thoughts on the alloy hightower frame (I considered the CC too).

@snotrag. Message sent.

Yep, went from a Specialized Tarmac to an Emonda ALR. Much prefer it, mainly because of the clearance for 28mm tyres and disc brakes. Oh, and the colour 😁

Why all the stress about damaging carbon frames? I thought it was supposed to be easier to repair than Aluminium.

Easier is subjective.
They certainly can be often be repaired and I have had one repaired but:

a) It's expensive
b) It takes time
c) They can't always be repaired

They are also subject to what I think of as more "random damage" than a steel or alloy frame as in directional or sharp objects.

If I'm honest I got my repair done because of the "value" of the frame but I could have got a brand new alu frame for not much difference. It took a few weeks with booking in and such and then a few day's to find out if it was repairable..

Concern for landfill…maybe consume less?

Unsure I can, I have 1 bike and I keep them for a few years, so my consumption is already low as it is 1 in and 1 out.

Haven't seen the Pole video either...a brand I've absolutely no interest in - what did the video show?

back and forth loads. went from only alloys to a carbon cube stereo which was replaced with an alloy transition, swapped that for an alloy kona process, then a carbon YT, then a alloy orange, then carbon kona, then alloy stumpy - next up is a carbon np reactor.

no issues riding a carbon frame, but cba with carbon anything else, in particular bars and wheels.

Moved from a carbon Cannondale to an aluminium Rose (road bikes).

Biggest difference I notice is less time chasin creaks! Don't know if that's a Cannondale or carbon thing though...

Decent aluminum rocks 👌🏻