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General: Would it be foolish to ride this on the street?

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  1.  
    I get so disgusted when I see someone who only rides on the street around town, riding on carbon HED / ZIPP wheels, etc.

    I do occasional velodrome racing, but not nearly as much as riding on the street and longer road rides. I'm planning on training really hard over the winter to come back next season full force into racing, however.

    So anyway...I got offered to buy a Colnago Carbon Pista C50 for a killer price, about 1/6th for what they sell for new. My questions is, would it be absolutely fucking foolish to even let a frameset like this touch the street? Riding it with aluminum wheels for the street, not carbon, but still riding a full carbon track frame/fork on the street. I've always been weary about carbon frames, or even carbon parts in general, and don't trust them very much. However, I think if there was any Carbon frame I would trust, strength-wise, it would be this one.

    I'm just trying to think logically about owning a bike like this and want to discuss this matter, since it's a pretty touchy subject here on Velospace for some.

    If you personally were able to obtain a frameset like this, would you let it touch the street ever?

    Photobucket
    • CommentAuthorkaaos
    • CommentTimeAug 16th 2009 edited
     
    oh yes, I would... I think we should ride whatever/where/how we like and don't worry what others around us like or think. It's one and only life you have, ride/live as it's your last day, one day it will be... and at least you will not regret not doing things that you wanted, dreamed or liked. Obviously you are thinking about it so maybe you should do it...

    ; )
  3.  
    i wouldnt on a regular basis. but i would somtimes
  4.  
    I would ride it everywhere......but only because I have taken so much heat from the velo-monkeys around here in washington state when I try and use the track. They are a little too concerned with their ultra specific type of racing and shun anyone who is not a sprinter.....or doesn't wear spandex head to toe.....horribly ego driven people.....but I dirgess,

    I ride my Land Shark Track Shark all over the Pacific NW.....you should do the same.
  5.  
    i usually dont care for land sharks but damn your is nice. and to49 i say buy it and and ride it on the road.... just watch out for potholes
    • CommentAuthorjerereremy
    • CommentTimeAug 16th 2009 edited
     
    i'd be at least a little wary of taking an all carbon bike on the streets. what's the chance for failure if you hit a major depression in the road? or if your commute is frequent and particularly treacherous? we all ride our bikes in conditions other than what they were intended for, duh, but when it comes to frame material, i think a bit more extra consideration should be given before taking to bombing the streets on an all crabon fibre bike. that stuff just isn't meant to take the sort of abuse that city streets can deal..

    edit: not meant to take that sort of abuse on a regular basis.
  8.  
    if he is carfull and he does not ride it on the street all the time he should be ok. no bar spins or wheelies
  9.  
    i would ride that on the street maybe not full carbon but yeah i would
  10.  
    Do you guys REALLY think a lugged carbon frame would be much more susceptible to damage caused by road bumps than say an aluminum Pista Concept? I mean, all of those serious road bikers and riders in all the big races are riding full carbon frames over 100's of miles on the road. Granted, the roads they ride are probably pretty flawless, but still. There is even carbon mountain bikes today. And a frame like this Colango, being very well built with thicker carbon in certain areas and fully lugged, is probably stiffer and stronger than many other carbon frames.

    I really just don't know.

    Thanks for the comments thus far. I'm still undecided.
  11.  
    I would ride it on the street, to show it off to the people who would really know what it is,, hahahaha..

    but all seriousness, yes I would, and I would enjoy every minute of it!!!
    • CommentAuthorgreg
    • CommentTimeAug 16th 2009
     
    Get it and ride the hell out of it, on the street, the 'drome, the rollers, wherever
  13.  
    Come on, skeptics, everyone rides carbon fiber on the paris roubaix. That race is largely on old european cobblestone streets and would kick the shit out of each and everyone of us and their carbon bikes survive the race(most of the time).

    If one can ride a carbon road frame in those conditions and have it survive, I think the guy can use it to ride around on paved, american streets.
  14.  
    Oh and by the way, I am insanely jealous of you, terrible_one49
  15.  
    Posted By: terrible_one49Do you guys REALLY think a lugged carbon frame would be much more susceptible to damage caused by road bumps than say an aluminum Pista Concept? I mean, all of those serious road bikers and riders in all the big races are riding full carbon frames over 100's of miles on the road. Granted, the roads they ride are probably pretty flawless, but still. There is even carbon mountain bikes today. And a frame like this Colango, being very well built with thicker carbon in certain areas and fully lugged, is probably stiffer and stronger than many other carbon frames.

    I really just don't know.

    Thanks for the comments thus far. I'm still undecided.


    Yeah dude don't worry about how it'll hold up to street use. It's a Colnago for christ's sake. I'd worry much more about one of those goddamn Leader or Republic nightmares coming apart at the seams than I'd ever worry about a very high quality carbon frameset. I see people out training ALL the time here in Denver on full carbon setups and I've yet to pass someone with a split downtube or anything.
    Obviously you want to worry about locking that up outside the movies on a Friday night but you're smart, you know what you're doing.
    Yeah I would say absolutely ride that on the street for two reasons:

    1) It's a beautiful bike and you know full well you want that thing under your ass as many hours of the day as possible.
    2) If you do plan on racing with it getting used to the fit and it's eccentricities are going to be very useful when you do. Riding it more, and not less, is only gonna get you and that bike more acquainted with each other.

    Ride the shit out of it man :)
    • CommentAuthorwes m.
    • CommentTimeAug 16th 2009
     
    Whether its foolish or not you should still buy it if the price is right. I mean jeez, for 1/6 the price you could buy it, sell it for half the msrp, and buy a decent track bike AND a fixed for the street.
    • CommentAuthorthe rabbi
    • CommentTimeAug 16th 2009
     
    i wouldn't ride it on the street.
    train on the steel bike and get fast on that.
    bring out the crabon bike for races and be faster.
    get your fit dialed on the street bike and mimic it on the crabon one.
    or, flip it and get a roadie.
  18.  
    Posted By: wes m.Whether its foolish or not you should still buy it if the price is right. I mean jeez, for 1/6 the price you could buy it, sell it for half the msrp, and buy a decent track bike AND a fixed for the street.


    Well, the frame/fork sells for about $5,000.00 up to $6,000.00. The last one I can find for sale online went for $2,200.00. I got offered it for around 1,500, with frame/fork Colnago Seatpost and Colnago headset. Brand new, never used.

    I guess what I'm also thinking about is the depreciation value of a bike like this. Would it only continue to go down in value, or would it slowly go up, or would it stay the same. Granted, it was kept in near mint condition.

    I think with how fast technology is advancing, these high end bikes are evolving at a SUPER fast rate, year to year, and in one year they can make so many little changes on a bike that makes it some percentage faster, they state. Either way, the people riding these high end bikes are always wanting the fastest/best/newest thing. So, maybe this bike would not be as desirable in the future, because of this? Therefore lowering the value.
  19.  
    in the end its up to you but it sounds like everybody is saying yes to riding it on the street
    • CommentAuthorSkidMark
    • CommentTimeAug 16th 2009
     
    Pista Palace in San Diego sells them new and I think used. Maybe ask them what it's worth and what it might be worth in the future.

    I don't see how riding it on the street would harm it, there are plenty of carbon fiber bikes on the street. It more the risk of some asshole smashing into you in their car, or someone stealing it when it's parked.
    • CommentAuthorAaron C
    • CommentTimeAug 16th 2009
     
    Posted By: terrible_one49Well, the frame/fork sells for about $5,000.00 up to $6,000.00. The last one I can find for sale online went for $2,200.00. I got offered it for around 1,500, with frame/fork Colnago Seatpost and Colnago headset. Brand new, never used.


    that is an amazing deal, but you have to ask yourself "do i have the money to build it up the way i'd like?" otherwise you end up with an unfinished frame, something you can ride but doesn't fit or isn't quite right, or a bitching ride that you have to turn around and sell because you didn't really have the money to build it up.


    Posted By: proudxvxyouthCome on, skeptics, everyone rides carbon fiber on the paris roubaix. That race is largely on old european cobblestone streets and would kick the shit out of each and everyone of us and their carbon bikes survive the race(most of the time).


    yes but how many paris roubaix/giro/tour de france do you think those frames are used for. T1 is not a professional cyclist, he doesn't have a stable of identical bikes or free proddy coming his way. if he buys this bike he is going to want it to last.

    now i'm not saying this is not a durable bike, i have no fucking idea, for all i know it could be constructed with a kyptonite-adamantium composite. what i am saying is professional cycling is not a very good analogy here (or for most people most of the time, despite how much everyone would like to believe)
  22.  
    +1 aaron c
  23.  
    I think, when it comes down to it, even though the frameset is a killer deal for what it is...it's still a fucking lot of money for a frameset that serves the same exact purpose and function as my current ride. So, I think I'm going to pass it up. It's all of our dream to ride a top-of-the-line bike, but do we REALLY need too? I don't think so. Not unless you're a professional racer making a career out of it.

    Those guys in the Tour do all ride carbon frames, and sure they can take a beating...but also, they are being followed by their team cars the whole to to supply them with a new bike the second something might go wrong. As for us normal riders...we want something to last a long time.

    Maybe the frameset would be a good investment to hang onto for a few years, but I don't believe in hoarding stuff and would much rather someone who is more deserving and in need of such a expensive frameset pick it up.

    Thanks everyone. Much appreciated.
    • CommentAuthorAaron C
    • CommentTimeAug 16th 2009
     
    Posted By: terrible_one49Those guys in the Tour do all ride carbon frames, and sure they can take a beating...but also, they are being followed by their team cars the whole to to supply them with a new bike the second something might go wrong. As for us normal riders...we want something to last a long time.

    Maybe the frameset would be a good investment to hang onto for a few years, but I don't believe in hoarding stuff and would much rather someone who is more deserving and in need of such a expensive frameset pick it up.


    we are on the same page. : )

    +1
  25.  
    Carbon is used because of its higher strength:weight ratio. When it fails, it fails more catastrophically than metals do, but carbon frames are built to fail under greater stress.

    One of their particular strengths is their ability to absorb shock and vibration. They're much better for that than aluminum, which, unlike steel and carbon composites, fatigues.
    • CommentAuthorthe rabbi
    • CommentTimeAug 17th 2009
     
    Posted By: Joshua A.C. NewmanCarbon is used because of its higher strength:weight ratio. When it fails, it fails more catastrophically than metals do, but carbon frames are built to fail under greater stress.

    One of their particular strengths is their ability to absorb shock and vibration. They're much better for that than aluminum, which, unlike steel and carbon composites, fatigues.
    but, a carbon track frame isn't built to absorb all those road vibrations.
  27.  
    That's probably true.
  28.  
    but they look so cool
  29.  
    There's plenty of full carbon road bikes on the streets all the time, so there's no reason you couldn't take this one out. As far as technology moving so fast and the bike being worth less, that's why I don't bother spending a lot of money on new stuff. I am way more than happy with the Cannondale CAAD5 frame I got for $50. I guaruntee a new frame wouldn't have been 20 times better to reflect 2000% price increase. If you're willing to spend $1500 on a frame, why would you spend the same amount of money on something that's not nearly as nice?
    • CommentAuthorfathom
    • CommentTimeAug 18th 2009 edited
     
    Posted By: Joshua A.C. NewmanCarbon is used because of its higher strength:weight ratio. When it fails, it fails more catastrophically than metals do, but carbon frames are built to fail under greater stress.

    One of their particular strengths is their ability to absorb shock and vibration. They're much better for that than aluminum, which, unlike steel and carbon composites, fatigues.


    Actually, all materials (carbon and metal) have a fatigue lifespan. Carbon tends to last very well, and as long as it doesn't suffer a fall or impact, will absorb shocks much better than most metals. I wouldn't say carbon fails more catastrophically, as much as it tends to fail differently from metals. But a crack in a downtube is going to be just as catastrophic in a carbon frame as a steel frame.

    It is perfectly safe to ride that thing around the streets and it WILL last just as well as a metal frame if you are sure to take care with it. My first and foremost concern would be with something so flashy being stolen when you turn your head away.

    As far as value, I wouldn't expect it to be appreciating in value for at least a dozen years or so. The rarity of a frame or its historical significance is really what gives it value, so while today you may be tripping over carbon track frames, ten years down the line this colnago would be worth something if it was taken care of and maybe retired after a few years of use.

    I would certainly pick it up if I had the financial means and was serious about velo racing. If my sole intent was a flashy bike to cruise the streets, I'd look for something else. Nothing say poser louder than wasting money to look fast without having the legs to back that up.
    • CommentAuthortjchad
    • CommentTimeAug 18th 2009
     
    Posted By: terrible_one49... the roads they ride are probably pretty flawless...


    Ever watched the Paris-Roubaix race? Those cobblestones are definitely NOT flawless...
  32.  
    answer to your original question:

    hell yes but i would still occasionally rock it on the street very careful.. i just want some hed! a single tri spoke ^tear
  33.  
    Actually, all materials (carbon and metal) have a fatigue lifespan.


    Yeah, but my (limited) understanding is that the fatigue life of carbon and steel are beyond any reasonable lifespan of the frame for other reasons — crashes, "hangar rash", obsolescence...
  34.  
    one bad enough pot hole is all it takes to seriously mess it up.
    • CommentAuthorALE
    • CommentTimeAug 21st 2009
     
    ride it like you stole it, everywhere.

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