There is no shortage of remarkable bikes made from aluminium, steel and titanium, but with its stiffness, strength and malleability, carbon fibre reigns supreme in road bike technology.
Carbon is a bit of a wonder material because it can be moulded into just about any shape, and tuned to be stiff in one plane and flexible in another. With these properties, it's heavily used throughout the bike industry and we see it in everything from frames down to brake levers.
There are vast differences in the quality of carbon road bikes and components, and this ultimately comes down to the layup. Most carbon road bikes are made using pre-preg carbon fibre sheets; basically, the fabric is pumped full of uncured resin and shipped on massive rolls which are cut into the individual pieces that will be moulded into a bike.
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Many brands use the same manufacturing facilities in Asia to produce all but their most premium bikes, and while certain details and processes may vary from brand to brand, the main bullet points of creating a carbon road bike frame are the same.
Sheets of pre-preg carbon fibre are hand laid into or around a mould and placed into a heated press, which is assisted by air bladders. Solid forms compact the layers of carbon together; spreading the resin through the frame, removing gaps and voids, and squishing out the excess. Then the frame is put into what equates to a giant pottery kiln where the resin is cured, and then the frames are sanded and painted.
The layup of a carbon road bike is essentially a really difficult 3D jigsaw puzzle with upwards of 400 individual pieces and the order in which they are put together will ultimately define the ride characteristics. Depending on the orientation of the fibres, using the same mass and modulus of carbon can yield a rigid structure or one that is noodly and flexible.
Jargon buster
Woven vs Unidirectional
Modulus
Monocoque
What to look for in a carbon road bike
Geometry
Brakes
Integrated cockpit
Best carbon fibre race bikes
Specialized Tarmac Disc Expert
- Price: £4,250 / $4,750 / AU$6,000
- Brakes: Disc only
- Sizes: 49-16
- Raced by: Bora-Hansgrohe, Deceuninck-QuickStep
Trek Emonda SL 6 Disc
- Price: £2,700 / $3,150 / AU$4,000
- Brakes: Rim and disc
- Sizes: 47-64
- Raced by: Trek-Segafredo
Cannondale SuperSix Evo Hi-Mod Disc
- Price: £9,000 / $11,500 / AU$13,000
- Brakes: Disc and rim
- Sizes: 48-62
- Raced by: EF Education First Pro Cycling
Giant TCR Advanced Pro 0 Disc
- Price: £4,500 / $5,250 / AU$7,500
- Brakes: Disc and rim
- Sizes: XS-XL
- Raced by: CCC Team
- Buy Giant TCR Advanced Pro 0 Disc 2020 at Giant UK
- Buy Giant TCR Advanced Pro 0 Disc 2020 at Giant Australia
Canyon Aeroad 7.0
- Price: £2,450 / $3,000 / AU$3,950
- Brakes: Rim
- Sizes: 2XS-2XL
- Raced by: Katusha-Alpecin, Movistar Team
Cervelo S5
- Price: £7,000 / $8,000 / AU$10,500
- Brakes: Disc
- Sizes: 48-58
- Raced by: Team Sunweb
Scott Foil 10 Disc
- Price: £4,500 / $5,300 / AU$7,000
- Brakes: Disc and Rim
- Sizes: 47-61
- Race by: Mitchelton-Scott
Pinarello Dogma F12 Disk
- Price: Frameset £5,200 / $6,500 / AU$ 9,500
- Brakes: Rim and disc
- Sizes: 42-62
- Raced by: Team Ineos
BMC Teammachine SLR02 One
- Price: £4,400 (Frameset) / $5,300 / AU$6,800
- Brakes: Rim and disc
- Sizes: 47-61cm
- Raced by: Dimension Data
Ridley Helium SLX Ultegra Di2
- Price: £4,300 / $6,000 / AU$4,400 (frameset)
- Brakes: Rim
- Sizes: XS-L
- Raced By: Lotto Soudal
Bianchi Oltre XR4
- Price: Frameset £7,700 / $7,000 / AU$8,000 (Frameset including bars and seat post)
- Brakes: Rim and disc
- Sizes: 47-61
- Raced by: Team Jumbo-Visma
Best carbon fibre endurance bikes
Specialized Roubaix Expert
- Price: Frameset £5,400 / $6,000 / AU$8,500
- Brakes: Disc
- Sizes: 44-61
- Raced by: Bora-Hansgrohe, Deceuninck-QuickStep
Ridley Fenix SL Disc
- Price: Frameset £3,000 / $3,750 / AU$2,700 (Frameset only)
- Brakes: Disc
- Sizes: 2XS-XL
- Raced by: Lotto Soudal
Trek Domane SL6
- Price: Frameset £3,200 / $4,000 / AU$5,000
- Brakes: Disc
- Sizes: 44-62
- Raced by: Trek-Segafredo
BMC Roadmachine 01 Two
- Price: Frameset £8,300 / $10,000 / AU$12,500
- Brakes: Disc
- Sizes: 47-61
- Raced by: Dimension Data
Giant Defy Advanced Pro 0
- Price: Frameset £4,500 / $7,800 / AU$6,700
- Brakes: Disc
- Sizes: XS-XL
- Raced by: CCC Team
Bianchi Infinito CV
- Price: Frameset £4,475 / $4,500.00 / AU$6,199
- Brakes: Rim and Disc
- Sizes: 47-61
- Raced by: Jumbo-Visma
Cannondale Synapse Carbon 105
- Price: Frameset £2,199 / $2,625 / AU$3,500
- Brakes: Disc
- Sizes: 44-61
- Raced by: EF Education First Pro Cycling
You can read more at Cyclingnews.com
via Cyclingnews Latest Interviews and Features http://www.cyclingnews.com/features/best-carbon-road-bikes-2019
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