carbon fiber bikes

I actually bought the specialized tarmac but took it back - I put it on my trainer to do spinervals and could feel the flexing - It concerned me enough to return the bike. With that said - it seemed to be pretty stiff on the road.  Like I said before - the Fuji felt like I could break it in half.  The Giant was also a fairly stiff frame but I was put off by the "weight limit"  The bike I would like to try is the Kuota but my guess is that since it is made in Italy that it probably is geared towards a lighter rider..I could be wrong though.

 I own a Trek Pilot 5.2  all carbon bike. I tend to weigh in at 220-230. All bikes flex, and carbon more than most by design. I have never heard of a weight issue on the carbon bikes and have been on carbon bikes since the begging. I still own a Trek 2300 from the late 80's and it sits on my trainer. I will admit that due to 20 years of use, it has started to weaken in the bottom bracket and now ghost shifts on hills. This is why I now have it on the trainer only. The 2300 is an aluminum lug and cabon tube frame, and it never failed me. That is why I went back to all carbon.

Mind you, I race for a reason to train, and comfort on 4+ hour rides was very important to me. Good luck on you shopping , and hope you love what you end up getting.

I ride an Argon 18 Mercury and love it.  The fork and rear triangle are carbon, the front triangle is aluminum.  I'm used to riding steel frames and the Mercury feels pretty similar.  There is very little flex compared to the all carbon bikes I have ridden.

I have been riding it for about a year now at 216-220lbs depending on the point in the season.

I bought it primarily as a means to stay comfortable in Aero over the long haul and it totally delivers.

There are pics in my album if you want to check it out.

The material from which a bike is made actually has less bearing on how a bike rides than the design of the frame.

I bought a Kestrel Talon back in 2000 and being riding it for over 7 years. Used to have an aluminum bike, and this Kestrel just felt a heck of a lot better. Old bike was a Bridgestone T-4000 back from the 80's. When I switch to this Kestrel, felt like I graduated to a Ferrari and my old bike was a Hundaii. Big diffference. Acceleration, stiffness, etc.... all the best. I love this bike, and wouldn't trade it in for anything else.

Oh yes, until now I was heave. Last year I weighted 298lbs at 6'00" tall. Quiet heavy. Now at 239.4lbs, and it even feels better. Just had myself professionally fitted, and riding even faster. Just see my logs. Between 19-22 mph averages over 1hr courses. Slowly working on fitness to ride a lot faster. Would like to average 24+ down the road.

Wheels have been the same, one time investment for a pair of HED 3's. Been riding them since 2000 also. Great bike with good wheels. All carbon, and fits and works great.

All depends upond the shop you go too. Too many of them are owned and ran by those little 120 lbs, and they just don't understand our issues.

Before I bought my bike (Trek Pilot 5.0) I talked to my LBS about the weight issue.  He in turn spoke with the Trek rep who said he wouldn't be concerned at all until about 400#.  He said yes that it would give more but that is what it was meant to do.

That's just my experience.

I am in the market for a new bike myself and have been concerned about the impact my weight would have on an all carbon frame. My LBS have said that although I wouldn't break an all carbon frame the stiffness might be better achieved through a composite solution.

I have since discovered the GIANT Alliance A0 and I believe that it would be a good solution. It is an Alloy / Carbon composite but not the traditional carbon rear triangle and fork arrangement. It has carbon seat stays, top tube and forks with everything else being alloy. By all accounts it is a good solution for the bigger rider; and more cost-effective too.

http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-US/bikes/road/3/11458/

That's great to hear Frank as that is the exact bike I am looking at getting.

I am 212lbs and have a Cervelo p2c in a 61cm.  I have had 0 problems with the bike not being stiff enough.  Also, my buddy weighs 225 or 230 and has a p3carbon without a problem.

 When I bought my first bike my buddy told me to stay away from carbon bikes as well.  I think it is bike envy because he didnt want me to ride something better than him

I've had my LOOK KG 479 for a couple of years now and had no issues whatsoever.  It's much stiffer than my old Trek 1220.  I've tipped the scales anywhere from 225-245 while I've owned it.

I say, if you can afford it and it fits, get whatever you want.