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| Rahul, Salsa gave some very good advice there but, don't obsess with this carbon frame business. Unless you are going to race at a high level its not necessary. You are better off looking for a bike that you will be comfortable on and that will not self destruct in a short time. I recently purchased a road bike and was choosing between second hand and new, in the end I decided to get a new bike because I felt I could trust it more and if something goes wrong there is always warranty.
I picked up an aluminium framed bike with carbon forks and carbon seat stays, ultegra shifters/brake levers and dérailleurs with other reasonably good quality components too, for about 1500CHF. Don't worry about carbon frames, aluminium is fine, and less critical to having been crashed, it will also be cheaper and will last you a lot longer in the long run. Look for reasonable components and if necessary spend a little extra money. Trying to scrimp too much will be more expensive in the long run.
Remember, you get what you pay for! But make sure you pay a fair price for what you get. | |
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Not all carbon is equal, and the same is true about Alu. I have an Aluminum/Scandium frame that is hydro-formed and kiln-aged - more sophisticated than many carbon frames. Unfortunately, it is not always true that Alu lasts longer than Carbon. High-end Alu frames tend to fatigue more quickly, and while they may look fine, they can lose the sharp stiffness that made them high end in the first place (think of Uri Geller bending those spoons over and over until they broke). Carbon holds it's stiffness better, but is more prone to critical failure (it breaks, where Alu might bend).
Mass produced carbon frames like Giants, Treks, etc, are better than their Alu counterparts. But a good Alu frame like a Ridley or a Merxx might have characteristics some riders prefer.
I am ten percent faster on my carbon frame, but I also worry about it more, and would not want to race with it.
My advice: go cheap until you find your level of commitment, your riding style, and your correct fit. If I had purchased the bike I thought I wanted when I started riding, I'd have regretted it.