When it comes to choosing a new bike, there are several options when it comes to the frame material - steel, titanium, aluminum, carbon fiber - you can find very good bikes made out of any of these materials and each comes with it’s own specific qualities and advantages.
However, more often than not, if you’re looking for either a standard road or off-road bike, you’ll only need to decide between two - carbon fiber or aluminum. There isn’t really one ‘best’ material – but there is certainly a best for you, based upon your riding plans, requirement and budget.
Let’s take a look at how each of these materials fair in key categories that are important to consider when it comes to cycling.
Strength
Carbon fiber and aluminum are both very strong materials, otherwise it wouldn’t be possible to build bikes out of them! Carbon fiber sometimes has the reputation of not being particularly strong, however in reality, its strength to weight ratio is actually higher than steel. The way Giant lays up the carbon in its factories ensures that strength is never compromised to save in other areas such as weight. However, it isn’t suited to every cycling discipline which is why aluminum still has its place.
Aluminum can be a little more ‘forgiving’. It is often popular for cycling disciplines like crit racing, downhill and freeride mountain biking where there is a high likelihood of taking a tumble due the nature of the racing. It's possible for these types of frames to be put through certain impacts but still be strong enough to continue using. However, we would stress that any impact to a carbon or aluminum frame should be inspected by an experienced mechanic before being ridden again.
Giant Bikes and many others offer a Lifetime Frame Warranty on all their bikes, so whatever bike you’re riding, you can ride in total confidence.
Winner: This is hard to say, as it really depends on the type of riding you plan on doing. For extreme off-road, aluminum. For road riding, carbon fiber.
Aluminum is a popular choice for cycling disciplines like downhill and freeride mountain biking
Stiffness
An essential property for any good bike frame material is for it to be stiff. A stiff material will ensure all the power you’re putting into the pedals will transfer to the back wheel and propel you forward. A frame that isn’t stiff will flex and some of your power will be lost within the frame.
How stiff a frame is comes down to how it is manufactured. Manufacturers can make an aluminum frame stiffer by adding material in specific places or using specific tube shapes, but due to the properties of aluminum (as a metal) this can be a difficult process and there is a limit to what can be done. When it comes to carbon fiber however, it has the advantage of being far easier to ‘tune’. By changing the carbon layup or just the direction the carbon strands are laid, specific ride characteristics can be achieved. It can be made stiff in one specific direction or just in one specific spot.
Winner: Carbon
With carbon fiber, manufacturers can lay it up in specific ways to strengthen the frame in certain areas, for example around the bottom bracket
Compliance
Compliance, or comfort, is linked closely with stiffness. Whilst you want a stiff bike, you don't want it to be so stiff that it gives a jarring or uncomfortable ride, so it’s important to get a good balance of stiffness and compliance when manufacturing bike frames, no matter which material.
Due to the nature of aluminum and the fact it has to be welded and butted at joints, many people find aluminum less compliant than carbon but for certain riders aluminum is still best. For example, aluminum is often used as a winter bike for road riders and is the go to choice for commuters. However, as we’ve said above, because carbon fiber frames can be layered in very specific ways, engineers are able to tune the frame to be stiff and comfortable. By layering fibers of carbon in a specific pattern, the frame can be laterally stiff and vertically compliant which is ideal for a bicycle. Furthermore, carbon tends to dampen vibration better than aluminum, simply because of its material properties adding to the comfort aspect.
It is worth noting however that frame material is only one, small part of overall comfort on a bike. Two factors that really influence how comfortable your bike feels are your tires and touchpoints. If your bike feels harsh, running wider tires at lower pressure should make a noticeable difference. Equally, swapping for more compliant handlebars and seat posts (such as the D-Fuse range) or even just fitting thicker bar tape can make a significant improvement.
Winner: Carbon
For many, carbon fiber offers a more forgiving ride. Although aluminum is still favored by some riders because of the 'real' feel it can offer
Weight
For many riders, the weight of the bike is the primary concern. Having a lightweight bike makes climbing easier and can make the bike easier to maneuver. Whilst it’s possible to make a light bike out of either material, when it comes to weight, carbon definitely has the advantage. A carbon fiber frame will almost always be lighter than an aluminum equivalent and you’ll only find carbon fiber bikes in the pro peloton, in part because of the weight benefits.
It’s worth noting that not all carbon fiber is equal and it’s possible that a low grade carbon frame could weigh more than a high-end aluminum frame. Also of note is that components can add significant weight to a bike, so an aluminum bike with carbon wheels could be lighter than a carbon bike with aluminum wheels.
Winner: Carbon
Carbon fiber has the reputation of being super lightweight, but it's possible to get lightweight bikes in both carbon fiber and aluminum.
Price
We’d love to say that you should only consider the above points when choosing your bike, but for everyone, price is likely to play a pivotal role in the decision you make.
When it comes to manufacturing, carbon is more expensive. This is down to a greater level of engineering required, the manufacturing process being more labor-intensive (many carbon frames are laid up by hand) and the fact that each carbon frame requires specific molds that further increase the cost.
With that being said, you can find bikes made from both materials at a huge range of price points and a cheap carbon frame may not be as good a quality as an equivalent priced aluminum frame. As a consumer it’s frame material is almost just as important as the component spec when it comes to price.
Winner: Aluminum
Aluminum is often cheaper than carbon, but not always
Summary
Based on the above points, it’s clear that carbon takes the win. But we can’t stress enough that it really does depend on you, the riding you plan on doing and what you want from a bike. A carbon fiber bike really isn’t for everyone and there are a huge range of fantastic aluminum bikes out there, such as the Contend,Talon and the TCR SL range.
Still have questions and want to know more? Email us!
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