I am new to this field. I am a MechE student and thus know a bit about composite materials. I woked on some parts myself, so no need to explain composites or call it "high tech" something.
I relatively spontaneously bought a Canyon Grizl SL AXS ( https://www.canyon.com/de-de/gravel-bikes/adventure/grizl/cf-sl/grizl-cf-sl-6-axs/3696.html?dwvar_3696_pv_rahmenfarbe=R095_P11 ) for 2099€ and will receive it soon. I was also considering this one: https://www.focus-bikes.com/de_de/atlas-8-7 for about the same price. Those are good offers, for sure. But I am really wondering whether going with aluminium would have been the better choice. After all, with 9,66kg there are AL frames with the identical or lower weight. Maybe I decided too quickly. I can still return it for free, so I was wondering about your experience with this material during bikepacking or crashes?
I don't want to ruin a new bike in a few years. I don't want to babysit it everywhere and keep renewing protective foils after x-months. After all, the price is about half of my overall savings and accidents happen. I remember falling because of ice during winter abour 3 times and because of pedestrians about 2 times during the last 10 years.
– Have you destroyed a frame by having it fall over on something?
– Have you damaged it through straps and bags, that were mounted to it?
– Have you had mild crashes like the following, that caused structural damage? https://youtu.be/51eZ6rvpL4A?si=FN26TWm53i1jL5_4&t=204 https://www.instagram.com/p/DCwi0jZshNh/
– Have you had hard crashes, that did NOT damage the frame?
I would be very thankful for some input. I might get the Grizl AL or any similar model for about 1500€ instead. I really liked the electronic shifting and the design of it, though.
by Narrow-Coyote-6257
7 Comments
They may crack in very heavy crashes when you’re unlucky. Certainly not always.
It will not crack from falling over, from straps, or from mild crashes.
Do you also do sporty and endurance rides with that cf bike?
I have used my carbon bike for bikepacking without any issues, keep in my when ever you strap something around a tube to not over tighten it.
If you crash hard enough to compromise a carbon frame, you crash hard enough to compromise any frame, so I wouldn’t consider severe damage as a differentiating point between materials.
You will wear through paint with straps if you’re not careful; hell, I’ve worn to bare metal just from my cable housing (steel bike, so some tape and it was good to go). And yeah, some of the worst paint damage on my (once again, steel) bike is from having it fall over when someone knocked into it. Carbon bikes aren’t great choices for knockabout daily rides, and those impact forces perpendicular to the direction of weave can definitely compromise more than the finish if they’re hard enough.
In bikepacking, durability is paramount. Sure carbon fiber is great for shaving a couple pounds if you’re a Divide racer, but the nominal benefits of a lighter bike in normal road riding are way, way harder to access in loaded bikepacking. I’m not going to say you *will* destroy the bike; frame protection exists and none of these materials are going to crumple like tissue paper. But when the downside is durability and the upside is very, very small in a loaded setting, a metal bike may be best.
Also, what else are you using the bike for? If I was buying a bike strictly for bikepacking I’d personally get a dropbar rigid mountain bike or a hardtail rather than a gravel bike.
Crashed broke 4 bones , bike was fine
Crashed , broke helmet , bike was fine
Crashed , went over my head with gear loaded , bike was fine
Crash 1 and 3 were with the grizl, 2 was with an endurace
Did break some rims but it happens 🙂
Add protective tape for some anti abbreseion , some bags are good, other have more movement though in my experience.
I had a aluminium frame with which I did some bikepacking trips that broke when I had a slightly bigger crash with it. Replaced it with a carbon one and did a lot bikepacking trips with it and everythings fine. I guess if the crash is hard enough both will break. If you look after nothing rubbing too much on the frame and not to overtighten straps or bolts you will be absolutely fine.
To have a significant upgrade on ruggedness I think you would have to go with steel. From my experience I guess you won’t have a big difference between an aluminium and a carbon fibre frame.
But I have to say, even though you are carrying a lot of weight while bikepacking, I was always really happy on day 3 km 90 uphill to have to carry 2kg less because of the lightweight carbon fibre frame. For me it’s been worth it.
I have only used carbon bikes on bike tours. Check out Tailfin. https://www.tailfin.cc/discipline/road-touring/?v=0b3b97fa6688