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If carbon fiber can fail catastrophically without warning, what are we to think of all of the CF forks that are now so popular? I've often wondered if this ought to be a concern but have no idea whether the concern is justified. Anyone have experience or insight with this?
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Airliners, boats, cars and motorcycles also have carbon fiber parts in them.
Airliners, boats, cars and motorcycles also have carbon fiber parts in them.
+1
If I remember, someone here posted a photo not long ago showing a guy carrying his alum. bike across the finish line with a collapsed front fork. In fact, it was sheared just about in half. I think in what seems to be a growing climate of "let's sue the ba$tards!" most major and reputable smaller bike companies try not to put things out into the market place that will come back and bite 'em in the arse. Are they always successful? No. Is this also true of any other material that's been used to build bikes and bike parts over time? Yep. In the 70's when I was working in a Schwinn shop a guy brought in a Varsity where the headtube broke away from the downtube. Everyone in the shop was stunned. The common belief was the a Varsity was indestructible. Well, this one wasn't. In today's world if something shows itself to be unreliable (with the risk of huge lawsuits) it gets pulled out of the market place pretty quickly. Just this last year Shimano recalled QR skewers from some of their Dura Ace wheels. Did a lot of them fail? No, but enough they weren't going to risk the loss of dollars.
Oh, I should add that I feel just as safe on my CF bike as I do either my alum or steel, and this is the third CF frame in two years (the other two were replaced due to failures!)
I really haven't been too concerned about the carbon on my Trek bikes. One has the carbon fork and the other is all carbon. I figure if Boeing can build planes from it then I should be able to ride a bike built from it :)
That said, I do take them to the shop for inspection at least once a year. Trek suggests you have them inspected if they've been involved in a crash. Thankfully I've not crashed either bike.....just the embarrassing tip over when I couldn't get unclipped :o
A friend of mine has a full carbon Specialized Tarmac. He got caught in a small rut going across a bridge and hit something (not sure if it was an expansion joint or what) hard enough that he thought he was going to go over the handlebars. Anyway, he bent his front aluminum rim but did not damage to his carbon fork (or frame for that matter). I believe that carbon is a lot stronger than people give it credit for. I ride with a group of fast riders/racers almost all ride carbon bikes and have crashed on them without a single issue with the carbon. And no we aren't reckless, but if you race your odds of having a crash go up significantly.
I've broken seven steel frames over the years including one twice. I've yet to break a carbon or aluminum frame or fork. I'm not too worried... yet. :)
I've seen several failed carbon parts over the years, mostly wheels. One of them was a motorcycle wheel. I've also read about a couple of forks failing here in BF. So it happens.
Does it happen more than it does with metal? I don't know. I'm not particularly concerned about it, but I wouldn't want carbon wheels, especially on a motorcycle.
Az
:) I am more concerned about a catastophic failure of a women in a SUV on the phone not seeing me and running me over.
I think that standard carbon fiber forks have a much higher margin than the latest trick 2 grams lighter than last year carbon handlebar.
Carbon like all materials is excellent in the hands of a good designer. Beware of cheap carbon and also give some thought to the safety in general use of ultralight racing parts that teams replace every race.
:) I am more concerned about a catastophic failure of a women in a SUV on the phone not seeing me and running me over.
+1 :D
This dead horse has already been flogged multiple times. Short answer, CF components from reputable manufacturers are safe when used as intended.
Two problems with carbon fiber are quality control and minimal crash damage. Both can jump up and bite you without warning because the material is so brittle. Stay away from off brands, and inspect your carbon fiber parts regularly. Even a nick or a scratch has the potential of leading to a failure.
:) I am more concerned about a catastophic failure of a women in a SUV on the phone not seeing me and running me over.
I've been nearly killed by a number of men driving SUVs on cell phones...don't they scare you too? Or is it only the women drivers?:D
I've been nearly killed by a number of men driving SUVs on cell phones...don't they scare you too? Or is it only the women drivers?:D
You can quit worrying about us women drivers (unless we're cautious 82 year olds) :D :D
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16698153/
If carbon fiber can fail catastrophically without warning, what are we to think of all of the CF forks that are now so popular?
I don't believe they are "popular," but rather, the only thing available...or the main thing shops push. When I was looking for new bike a couple years ago, I went to over 20 shops (I live in L.A.) and every one of them had a song and dance about carbon fiber forks, and how once I tried one I would never "go back."
George Hincapie crashed when his fork broke--it took him out of the Paris-Roubaix--but, it was the aluminum steer tube, not the CF fork blades, that failed.
IF you look at it this way: failures per thousands of miles. I doubt CF has a higher failure rate than any other material. If it did you would have seen it go away after 5 years of production.
QUOTE=maddmaxx]I think that standard carbon fiber forks have a much higher margin than the latest trick 2 grams lighter than last year carbon handlebar.
Carbon like all materials is excellent in the hands of a good designer. Beware of cheap carbon and also give some thought to the safety in general use of ultralight racing parts that teams replace every race.[/QUOTE]
+1+1+1+1+1
Checking the C F Fork on my Cheap Giant- I think it is almost solid. Mind you- if I have a knock on the front end- If I cannot get it X Rayed at an Economic price to be able to check it out- I will be replacing it.
I've been nearly killed by a number of men driving SUVs on cell phones...don't they scare you too? Or is it only the women drivers?:D
With me, I can honestly say that all the close calls I've been in involved women on cell phones, although not always in an SUV. I'm not being sexist; that's been my experience. Mostly very young women and teens, on cell phones. YMMV.
I ride on a lot of rural roads outside of L.A., where most drivers are men in trucks or SUVs. And they are no prize, let me tell you!
Agree about teens...consistantly the most dangerous in my anecdotal experience.
>>> I've been nearly killed by a number of men driving SUVs on cell phones...don't they scare you too? Or is it only the women drivers?
Spot-on.
That said, I believe that we concentrate on the women in SUVs talking on phones 'cause it represents a recent demographic change. There was a time that I 'prayed' that the vehicle coming up behind me was driven by a woman; they were more careful. These days, it just seems that nobody is to be inconvenienced by any level of delay and woe betide those who come between a driver and his/her goals. Women have simply joined the madness queue.
Here is my take on CF....I think when it first was being used in the bike industry most manf had no idea what they were doing. Some pieces came out that were not so strong. In the beginning (back when I was a kid) there were some great stories coming out about how dangrous it was. It did recieve a lot of bad press. Keep in mind a lot of CF forks have an Aluminum steerer tube on it.
So as some people said above now days it seems to be a very strong material.....it is used well and as technology grows it will get even stronger...
My fist carbon purchase was a set of Monkey Lite Bar (http://www.eastonbike.com/PRODUCTS/BARS/bar_rise_ml_sl.html) for my mtn bike. I called the company and asked "what is I broke them" they told be send the broken ones back and they would replace them. I still have the same set of bars. I am no small guy either...
I now have a CF road bike, bars, seatpost, cranks..you name it....no issues so far....I am comfortable with Carbon now....I still don't get the lightest thing out there....I feel there is a happy medium to be had...
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