Which is the bike for me?

Geoffrey Butler bike has a chromoly frame. Chromoly steel is very high-grade steel with small amounts of chromium and molybdenum, and is very strong in terms of tensile strength. However, he thinks it might be too small for him, since he is a strapping 95 kg (15 Stone), and a hard rider.

There is a likelihood of his being able to buy a 10-year-old Giant Cadex Carbon bike from another of his friends. He wants to know whether this bike would be good for him and wants to take an informed decision whether to buy it or not. The first consideration naturally would be the size. For a strongly built person, the small bike would pose problems with the knees and back.

If one has to look at the Giant Cadex bike, then the characteristics of this bike are that it was one of the first bikes to go in for a carbon frame. Racers enjoyed the lightness of the frame. With an old bike what has to be tested is the strength of the frame. While the carbon in itself would remain unchanged unless damaged, the carbon fibre weave might have become worn with age.

The weakest points on the frame are the joints where the tubes go into the lugs, because this is where the flexing happens. Being stiffer and lighter than the Butler, it would afford more precise riding, and quick handling. Also, whether it was cornering or climbing and cornering the Giant Cadex would be sharper at it.

Biking techniques would have to be adjusted to the terrain that you are going on. Whether it is taking sharp turns, or going on a path that is wet and slippery, the biker has to maintain his balance as well as get the most out of his bike. Often the biker has to stand on the pedals and control the bike with the handles. The question here, therefore, is how quickly the bike would respond.

Of course, it is always a better idea to test ride the bike that you want to buy. Ride the bike under different conditions, and on different terrains, since riding on a smooth terrain is quite different from riding on rough, uneven ground. On rough terrain, the biker would have to corner hard and brake with a certain amount of authority as compared to a smooth road where the biker would be limited to mellow cornering.

The braking too would be soft. Take hills on both the ascent and descent to see how crisply the bike takes it. Another test would be to ride both bikes fast on a familiar stretch. This would give you a feel of which bike you really want. Either way, once your choice was made, it would be wise to go in for a new bike.