Gravel bikes - Alloy vs Carbon - is Carbon worth the extra £££?

All depends what 'worth it' means to you I reckon. Performance wise, with what you say you'll be using it for, probably not. Saying that, carbon bikes are nice to own and if you can afford it then why not as it'll be a bit lighter and a bit better.

TBH as you say it's over the top of your budget I wouldn't bother, especially with all the financial nonsense happening and to come.

Thinking about it, is the Dolan carbon just a catalogue job from China? If so, forget the nice to own bit as my Whippet is a basic carbon frame and is decent to ride but agricultural in build so probably the bike I 'like' the least out of mine. It's white goods, where as others make me happy when I look at them if you know what I mean?

Presuming the ali one has a carbon fork, there will probably be minimal weight difference. In the real world there probably won’t be a huge difference in the way it rides. So, common sense says ali. That said, are you always gonna look back and wish you had the carbon one? FWIW my gravel bike is ali frame carbon fork and I’m very happy with it.

Not being at the sharp edge of anything I'm not seeing the advantage for me. I'll not realistically go faster, and I'll be more paranoid about damage from use; stones, transport, baggage, or just accidental damage in general.

I've got a ali Topstone and been more than happy with it, as was my wallet 😁

Once you have 40c+ low pressure tyres on it any difference between frame material will be negligible as will the 500g? lower weight

I have a carbon Planet x road bike and an Ali Spesh Diverge. No noticeable difference really. I think the extra comfort from the bigger volume tyres makes more of a difference with the Spesh.

Never heard of Dolan before, but they look like a decent bit of kit.

Both options will do exactly what you need. Carbon is always a bit nicer/fancier, but on such bikes, i dont personally think its a game changer.

And as mentioned, if its already outside of budget.....

The only REAL question is whether, after buying the alloy one, will you regret not having spent the extra £300 to get the carbon one? I know many people wouldn't even consider it after the bike arrived, but painful experience has taught me that I'd notice, every time I picked it up.

You'll notice very little difference in performance from alloy to cheap carbon. As for those worrying about damaging it, IME, carbon is far harder than alloy for dings, dents, etc. It's only really big impacts and very sharp, deep cuts that really make a difference.

Dolan make track bikes and are very well respected in that field. They make many other kinds of bike now as well.

I had a few steel Croix De Fer's, then a steel Fugio 30. I now have a carbon Topstone and it is much nicer to ride..whether that's the frame material or not I dunno ! 🙂

If its going to be used as a "gravel bike" i.e bashed about off road, covered in mud and maybe dropped from time to time I'd opt for Aluminium, if it's really just going to be a road bike that can take chunkier tyres then Carbon is a more viable option, but probably not the benefit you might think. The weight difference is probably only about ~500g or so, and you can always look at other parts later if you want to shave the weight down, but I bet the weight won't really matter once your riding the thing.

TBH if it was me I would look at whether or not there are any useful upgrades/spec changes you could make to the AL version with the difference in available budget, looking on Dolans site I note they do Mudguard Pannier and bag options for the GXA, handy if you plan to use it for commuting. And it's always worth a look at Aftermarket wheels and/or lighter/more compliant (maybe carbon) contact points, I just scored a USE seatpost for £25 odd (after a PSA on here) that's taken a huge chunk of weight off my (Al) gravel bike (and sorted the annoying creak from the old post's clamp). There are better VFM uses of your cash than spending £400 extra on a frame (IMO of course)...

My older gravel bike was alloy, my newer one carbon - I'm worth it 🙂

Thanks Guys - lots of useful points.

This isn't going to be a 'Sunday best' bike - it is going to get wet/dirty, and hopefully thrown on/off a few trains, etc if my future plans come off.
It'll be my winter bike for the next 5-7 years.

Thinking about it, is the Dolan carbon just a catalogue job from China? If so, forget the nice to own bit

Yes - this may well be true.

Think i'm leaning toward sticking with Alloy..

I have a GXC frame with the adventure fork i bought it via BTW so i'm probably not paying much over the GXA. I did have a Sonder AL frame on order but they lost it. I went for the carbon as i will be putting fancy wheels on it and using it as a road bike when I'm on hols but I've used a Al GT grade for years for everything from rough gravel to ironman but I now use mostly as a winter road bike.

I just picked up a On-one freeranger for my wife it was only £450 its the same frame as the Dolan but doesn't have the option of the adventure fork and doesn't come with a headset or seatpost or clamp.

 is the carbon bike worth £400 more?

This is the same question as the Yeti thread. In terms of frame material, it's makes no difference. However subjectively it may make your ownership experience nicer/better/whatever for you. 

Only you can really decide.

Yes – this may well be true.

Think i’m leaning toward sticking with Alloy..

The Whippet is my first carbon bike and it's not that there's anything wrong with it but the bottom bracket area and chain stays in particular are plain ugly so a world away from the fancy pants carbon super bikes I've seen in the shops. I have a steel Ragley Trig and that's a much nicer thing to own IMO.

It was basically alloy money though so decent enough but I don't think I'd go cheap carbon again.

I’d rather have quality alloy over cheap carbon. Probably won’t be much difference in weight.
£400 would be better spent upgrading the wheels and tyres. Or buying nice luggage to go on it.

This is the same question as the Yeti thread. In terms of frame material, it’s makes no difference. However subjectively it may make your ownership experience nicer/better/whatever for you.

Not really though.

Carbon will typically be a bit lighter and offer a bit smoother ride at this level.

On road bikes it can be quite noticeable IME, perhaps less so with bigger gravel tyres - but carbon and alu frames will still likely differ in their inherent vibration damping qualities.

Can't see what it has to do with the Yeti thread either, unless one comes in turquoise.

FWIW OP - I'd probably get the carbon and I'd investigate which rivals did the same frame, and see what a build might cost buying the frame direct from Carbonda.

I’d rather have quality alloy over cheap carbon.

How about cheap-ish alloy over cheap carbon?

My older gravel bike was alloy, my newer one carbon – I’m worth it

This ^^ 🙂
and my carbon frame feels a lot quicker*.

*I don't really care if this is all in my mind 😉

I think this has relevance, even though not a gravel bike..

I remember passing a bloke on the climb at FoD, about 10-12 years ago, on my alloy Cannondale Rush. He was stopped at the side of the trail, getting his breath back (just short of a complete cardiac arrest), astride a carbon Cannondale Rush. As I passed him, he managed to sputter out 'Should have got the carbon frame, mate'. I rode away bemused.

😀

My carbon Planet-x Free Ranger was only £1500 for carbon frame and 1x11 Force groupset....

As an alternative have a look at the Cotic Escapade - quality steel frame. Still under £2k for 105.

You can probably get a test ride on one if you're near the peaks

My carbon Planet-x Free Ranger was only £1500 for carbon frame and 1×11 Force groupset…

Pre-Covid?

It might be more useful to tell the OP what he could get one for now.

As usual with Planet X prices are all over the place I got the frame two weeks ago for £450 I’m sure that the force build was around £1500. The frame is now £900 and the force is £1800.

The only REAL question is whether, after buying the alloy one, will you regret not having spent the extra £300 to get the carbon one?

Occasionally I see the Ti version of my (Alu) gravel bike and I get a pang of envy/mild regret. It's just stupid man-logic though, deep down I know there's absolutely no practical need for titanium (or carbon), it'd just make it more attractive to thieves.

In your case, if it was £1-200 difference I might be tempted to spring for the posh one, but £400 and pushing you over your budget? Voice of reason says 'nah'.

I have a carbon gravel bike, it’s a cube nuroad and it is really nice.
But, for gravel use, or bikepacking, or anything where it might be treated a bit rough, I’d venture that an alu bike might be better suited.
If you’re talking about actual ride quality, a carbon bike is likely to be better.
1xgrx is flippin excellent.

But, for gravel use, or bikepacking, or anything where it might be treated a bit rough, I’d venture that an alu bike might be better suited.

Why?

For the record my 2k miles alloy gravel bike looks far rougher than my 2k miles carbon bike, and both have permanent frame bags plus carry front/rear bags when needed.

Why?

+1

It's not like all those carbon mountain bikes fell apart as soon as anyone took them offroad....

You’ll notice very little difference in performance from alloy to cheap carbon. As for those worrying about damaging it, IME, carbon is far harder than alloy for dings, dents, etc. It’s only really big impacts and very sharp, deep cuts that really make a difference.

My crappy carbon, On One Dirty Disco, bought for £450 or something from Planet X on eBay has been horribly abused, ridden over stuff like the Roych and other Peak District chunder for years now. Eventually the headtube and one chainstay cracked. Rob Hayles fixed them for me, that was three or four years ago now and the thing is still going strong. Thing is, you can actually repair carbon fibre, which is less straightforward with an aluminium frame.

I have no idea which you should buy, but carbon is tougher than people think and also more repairable. By way of contrast, I put a ding in the top tube of a steel Soma Double Cross frame when it fell against a gate post with no particular force behind it. The On One has survived far worse. Go figure. The Soma's still nicer though. And I'd buy ti if I had the dosh.

I had same dilema last night, top of the range Topstone alloy or lowest in carbon. I went for the alloy.

The Sender outlet shop in Hathersage had a few ti Camino's and a lot of carbon forks when I was there last week.
All had minor marks on, but were unused...and daft cheap.

Planet X have some carbon Rival 1x11 free rangers At the moment for £1200.
https://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/YBOOFRRIV1700/on-one-free-ranger-sram-rival-1-carbon-gravel-bike?gclid=CjwKCAjwkYGVBhArEiwA4sZLuMG7KZw3wpHK6xOR_AeOhyT3LZ3_Vs_oNoH2hVgX7BOKvtiwV4HpWRoCeyAQAvD_BwE#YBOOFRRIV1700-XLG-PUR
The ranger and the CDC are actually the same frameset.
They are Carbonda 696 framesets made in China. They are a well regarded frameset. Lots of stuff on line about them.I’ve got one built up as a flat bar bike. A nice light bike with fittings for guards and panniers. You’ll not be disappointed if you get one.

There was a video from gcn about different frame materials. Riding the CGR from Ribble with carbon, steel, ti and alu frames.

Think the consensus was to buy the alloy frame and adorn it in expensive parts for the best VFM....

and my carbon frame feels a lot quicker*.

*I don’t really care if this is all in my mind 😉

This is more important that people appreciate I think. How my bikes feels is all that matters. I have just changed from 40c tyres back to 33c tyres because it feels better (steering lighter, more responsive feel overall) but I know against the clock it will be negligible over a whole ride and off road it will be slower.

If you're racing, carbon can make a lot of sense. Bikes like the 3T Exploro or Cervelo Aspero are stiff, fast and perhaps a bit unforgiving. If you're using it as a bit of a 'do it all' then alloy, carbon or steel can work (I just went from a carbon gravel bike to a steel frame. The bike in total is 1lb heavier, but it feels lovely.) What it comes down to is what one do you really want because that's the one you're more likely to ride.

How about the environmental impact in the manufacture and lifetime of the frame..? Steel both wins that one and is likely to far outlive the carbon. For that budget, there are some really good builds available.

Pre-Covid?

It might be more useful to tell the OP what he could get one for now.

About 2 months ago.

They regularly drop the price for a week or so and then put it back up....

Mine was very much an impulse purchase, it's off for it's first bike packing trip this WE, will see how it handles loaded up with luggage.

I went from Alloy Cannondale Synapse to Carbon Norco Search. The driver was i was after Hydro disk brakes and better tyre clearance. I found the Norco at a bargain price. I was not expecting the frame to be massively different in terms of lighter / stiffer.

The real world difference to me is very significant. Its way lighter and you can feel the stiffness. Im not the best rider in the world but can definitely detect the solid nature of the frame. The old Synapse was engineered to have some flex (the right sort of flex) and had QR axles, the Norco has 12mm front and rear and no flex points engineered in to the frame so maybe that is part of it but the Norco just feels so responsive to any input.

As a general tight arse and fan of alloy bikes I give my carbon frame a big thumbs up - well worth the extra outlay (although i justified that on the brakes alone).

I have old school sensibilities, but for the winter road part I'd be looking at alloy.

.
Double post

I have a Defy Advanced SL (pro-level Classics winning carbon frame) and the cheapest of the cheap (£150) Defy Alloy frame in the same geometry. You really won't notice the difference. If you want carbon, buy carbon, but its geometry and tube diameter that matter. Weight helps with the lighter material, but it's only a water bottle difference.

I also have a carbon Dolan Seta track bike and an alloy Dolan Pre Cursa set up for the road and TTs. Both fixed wheel. Different geometry means they handle quite differently, but it's not the material that makes the difference.

For £300 extra, I'd buy the carbon. My Seta is a lovely frame.

Thanks for all the comments/ideas - much appreciated.

This jumped out -

Think the consensus was to buy the alloy frame and adorn it in expensive parts for the best VFM….

and has probably helped sway me toward sticking with alloy for this purchase.

PlanetX have got their titanium gravel bike with Rival 1x11 on offer at £1500 at the moment. Got to be worth considering!
https://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/CBPXTEMV3RIV1700BW/planet-x-tempest-sram-hrd-rival-1-titanium-gravel-bike

I bought a whyte gisburn which is alloy. Really capable gravel bike and has rack mounts. Very pleased with it. After a year bought some hunt carbon wheels and this has taken it to another level. I’d not feel bad about getting the alloy version but budget some decent wheels in the near future.

But, for gravel use, or bikepacking, or anything where it might be treated a bit rough, I’d venture that an alu bike might be better suited.

Why?

Well, I’d be worried about gravel getting under the attachment points for frame bags etc and acting abrasively.
Although, now that i think about it, alu is just as likely to be damaged in the same conditions.

Titanium has to be the worst choice surely. It's expensive and you can't even get it repaired easily, unlike steel (though how many people really do that).

Having owned bikes in all four material I'd go carbon as the most comfortable bike I've ever owned was in that, though I'm quite short. I am very convinced that in under medium the lack of compliance in the rear triangle inevitably makes Al bikes uncomfortable, but that's likely me justifying personal prejudice

Having owned bikes in all four material I’d go carbon as the most comfortable bike I’ve ever owned was in that,

And I would go Titanium as that was the most comfortable bike I have owned. I also have never broken a frame riding gravel so mending it is a non issue.

However, I don't take much notice of the 1% difference that frame material makes and just buy the frame based on size/fit and function and don't care what it is made of