Someone has offered me a second hand Cervelo bike. The bike is 3 years old, in good condition and fits me well. However, I was browsing (for a completely different purpose) through a book and suddenly saw that the author claims that aluminium bikes have a life expectancy of 5 years. The author also argues that Carbon Fibre frames, in contrast, can last a life time. I am aware that the author also works for US POSTAL as a team leader and gets sponsorship from an American company that sells Carbon Fibre bikes. In addition, I am not a materials engineer but composite bikes do not exist long enough to allow these claims.
But I was wondering what is really the life expectancy of an aluminium frame? If I bought the Cervelo will it only last another 2 years? Although my question may seem a bit dumb to some, this issue seriously fascinates me.
I see people commuting on old road bikes made of steel. Will the hippies of the next decade be crusing on the Giant TCR and Cervelo P3 of today? Will all these harsh but sexy Cannondale still be around in 15 years?
If five years is the life expectancy, then there would be no more aluminium bikes, period. I have seen fifteen year-old C’dales on the road. Sabliere is a lifetime aluminium bike. I could go on and on.
Carbon has the potential to last a lifetime if constructed correctly, and no major impacts happen. Theoretically, it is lifetime as there is nothing to corrode in a carbon bike, provided there is no galvanic corrosion of frame parts, lugs, etc.
Go ahead and get the Cervelo if it’s a good price.
Life expectancy of a a frame is dependant on lots of things, least of all age. How heavy was the owner? I’m 145 lbs and have a Giant bike, thats aluminum, that I probably ride nearly 5000 miles a year to practice on. My race bike gets ridden once a week and hangs inside the house because its worth more than my car. The Giant frame may only last a few more years, My race bike is alot less abused and hopefully will last longer. Bottom line is if the bike is in good shape, and not owned by a 220 lb gorilla its probably OK. I have yet to ride a carbon bike thats anywhere near as stiff as my aluminum one is, as for lasting a lifetime?
I got a C-dlte R700 Tri bike. Must have been one of the very first tri specific bikes built, must be close to 11-12 years old. Has had years when it was riddend a fair amount and far to many where it was never touched. Have been move several times across the country and back. Rode 160 miles on it in the last three days - F-ing thing is as stiff as the day I bought it. My back it bothering me and I swear a filling rattled out this weekend.
All this means that the aluminum bike has held up over some very rough conditions. I think your biggest problem, so long as you don’t trash the Cervelo, is not will it wear out. Rather the technology of the bike will pass you first. That is the problem with my C-dale. Structurally it could log a bunch more years, technically it is a dinasour.
… I think your biggest problem, so long as you don’t trash the Cervelo, is not will it wear out. Rather the technology of the bike will pass you first. That is the problem with my C-dale. Structurally it could log a bunch more years, technically it is a dinasour.
Good point!
Thinking of the 10 speed 2005 Ultegra…
But then again, we’re living this technology rush in every other aspects of everyday life, and this can yeasily throw away the good-old price/performance ratio based decisions! So many words…
so now that i have visions of power taps dancing in my head, my idea of getting a PT and painting my (5yr old??) cervelo eyre wouldn’t be a bad idea then?
Thanks for everyone who replied. I was so excited that I had an opportunity to purchase this bike that I sort of already made my mind anyway. I read the article that Greg provided (link to cervelo website) - very interesting. It was also amusing to find that according to some studies Titanium was not as durable as aluminium – I know someone who paid a huge premium so that he has a Titanium bike mainly for its durability.
The seller of this bike is not a Gorilla. He does not use it often as he does his training on a mountain bike with slick tiers (I am not sure why) and races quiet often in draft legal races using a Giant TCR.
The main problem was my wife who said – you already have two bikes – not another one.
I took the bike for a test ride. Outside of my house I warmed up for 6 miles (on the bike…) and than did my usual equipment/fitness time trial test. The bike felt very responsive, faster than my other bikes. The handling felt slightly twitchier when off the saddle. I did not cut corners in my usual speed as the position was a bit different. But I was very impressed and I did feel that this bike will allow me to maintain an aero position for a long time without compromising comfort or power output. Normally my test includes a computer. This time I had none as it is not my bike (yet) so I don’t have any data.
I have told the guy I am taking his bike and I will be collecting it next Saturday. I am not sure how I will be able to do any work this week as I am very excited.
Is the fact that I am going to own a second hand bike means that I could join team second hand racing?
To be fair, Cannondales sold today are not harsh at all. I’ve had three Cannondales including my current CAAD5. My prior two Cannondales dating from the late 80’s and mid-90’s were a little rough, but the CAAD5 (and I assume later) frames have a sweet ride thanks to their seatstay and fork designs. My 120LB wife also loves her CAAD5.
I was waiting for someone to mention Vitus aluminum frames. One of the people in our bike club has one and ocassionally rides it on club rides. It looks like a timeless classic.
its been a good bike. a friend of mine has a “montebecane” (or something like that). Apparently that
bike (or company) became vitus. Some riders used to ride them in the TDF. They are a great climbing bike, lightweight and some sort of flexing/ slingshot effect.
Thin tube aluminum (979) (unlike cdale or newer manuf)
Hi , I got this here Cervelo last dec used and it was through a Ironman challenge in mass… I believe a long time ago . This is one of the first Tt from 90s with dura ace components. Let me tell you once I became in synch with the stretch out enduro bars and l ride the gear box like a f1 racecar lol . I smoke everyone in high park here in Toronto .on modern Cervelo , Bmc , canyons, trek by 10s of lengths . It moves like it’s new yet it’s 30 plus years ,
Drove three hours one-way and three hours the other way back just to get this used bike off of somebody here at a Northern Ontario. It belong to an avid a tri athlete who had succumbed to a stroke and it was being sold by his daughter who was dealing with the leftover estate stuff, he had this bike in storage and on the stem still has his Iron Man entry sticker of great numbers 1314 anyhow, this bike is faster and lighter than my BMC team machine it’s faster than my Derosia ass one it’s faster than my Orbea orca , faster than my Aqueela carbonioio lol not lighter than my Bianchi oltrexr4. But I made them all in to single speed bikes as I got them all as fractured frames I repaired with fibreglass . So I sourced components from bike pirates a grassroots nfp that has a diys bike store that gets all it’s bike stuff donated and sells everything a bike has including gems you have to dig out !
The bike works like a Swiss watch . I can only imagine what the new TT Cervello’s weigh and feel !
I have an AL frame with at least 30k on it. Given that it’s an 1986 model either I’ve got my $'s worth, it’s a freak of nature or Al is built to last.
I concur. I currently ride an aluminium Principa that I purchased new in 1995. It is now only my trainer bike, but that’s only happened within the last year. I wouldn’t be surprised if it had close to 50,000kms on it, so I guess close to those 30k bananas or whatever it is you American’s use to measure distance
I ride Cervelo’s because the bike fits me. I had a 2014 R3 i bought brand new and it’s still a great bike. bullet proof. Just built a soloist after getting the new frame and moving from Shimano DA to SRAM Red. I started riding in high school a million years ago and my first real bike was a second hand Klein Quantum (aluminum frame). That bike is still around. Carbon, Alum, Titanium, steel, so much depends on how the bike is maintained, stored and whether or not it gets wrecked or fails. YMMV. Just ride.
