Road Cycling - New carbon bars

A friend of mine just got a new carbon bar and sent me some pics. They are pretty sweet so i thought I'd pass them on!

And this one

gross, but i bet they're light as hell for those weekend warrior rides.

actually they're not that light. The 3T Less XL (old ZEPP XL bars) are lighter and more comfortable.
These new carbon bars are just pimpy. But I'm sure they'll get lighter in time..

I think that's the bar the UCI just declared illegal. I forget the reason.

Originally posted by khuon
I think that's the bar the UCI just declared illegal. I forget the reason.
bacause they're a technological advancement?

Marty

Originally posted by lotek
bacause they're a technological advancement?

Marty

exactly....

no really they're no technological advancement.
perhaps slightly more aerodynamic. no more comfy than a good AL bar and they cost a hell of a lot more.
one crash and they're trash with the associated carbon shards which can really hurt you badly.
No thanks. Bad idea. Sure they were banned on grounds of safety in an accident.

no really they're no technological advancement.
perhaps slightly more aerodynamic. no more comfy than a good AL bar and they cost a hell of a lot more.
one crash and they're trash with the associated carbon shards which can really hurt you badly.
No thanks. Bad idea. Sure they were banned on grounds of safety in an accident.

And your data on this is what? I'm sure you're aware that most carbon bars won't break until you've reached a pressure point so high that you would literally pancake an Al bar to the point it'll look like a pretzle, nevermind the hands/arms that were attached to the bar. So basically if you crash hard enough to break a carbon bar your Al bar is toast as well, and it will probably be the last of your worries.

Carbon fiber components (properly made) can withstand abuses FAR greater than what most people give them credit for. It is not anywhere near fragile and will take a huge beating.

Andrew

Carbon fibre is much stronger if it is designed that way. For example a CF trailing arm on an F1 car is extremely strong in the directions where force is applied to it, but if you were to push it with your foot towards the front of the car it would snap (Martin Brundle was my source for this).

Carbon fibre is much stronger if it is designed that way. For example a CF trailing arm on an F1 car is extremely strong in the directions where force is applied to it, but if you were to push it with your foot towards the front of the car it would snap (Martin Brundle was my source for this).

Carbon fiber like some other composites get's a lot of it's strength from the direction of the weave of the material. A handlebar has to endure stress in all kinds of directions so it will be laid up to handle those if it's built properly. And if it's from a reputable company I wouldn't have ANY problem using a carbon bar, as it will be stronger and lighter (but not by much most likely) than an Al bar.

As to references of F1 cars and such, that may be true on that piece of the suspension, but that is designed for that one function and nothing else. Look at the tub of the car, which is all carbon fiber, yet is strong enough to protect the driver through HUGE impacts (far greater than anything your handlebars will every see) and "survive".

Andrew

Carbon bars have a huge "cool" factor, and they seem comfortable, but I don't know if they'll actually provide any sort of benefit over a good AL bar.

If you're a big weight weenie then carbon bars will probably save you a few grams over Al bars. They'll probably be a bit stiffer as well. Past that, it's all pimpy'ness and bLiNg-yO!

Andrew

I ride carbon bars (EC90) but I chose them for the shape more than for anything else. I like the straight sections from the tops to the hoods as opposed to the traditional bend. I couldn't find a similar shape in another bar.

Originally posted by Ajay213
Carbon fiber like some other composites get's a lot of it's strength from the direction of the weave of the material. A handlebar has to endure stress in all kinds of directions so it will be laid up to handle those if it's built properly. And if it's from a reputable company I wouldn't have ANY problem using a carbon bar, as it will be stronger and lighter (but not by much most likely) than an Al bar.

Yes the direction in which the fibres are laid is important. The 'weave' as you refer to it is irrelevant because that cloth on the top surface is only there for cosmetic reasons. The real load bearing fibres are underneath ad these are usually unidirectional cloths ie with only a few lateral strands to hold the cloth together.
Also Carbon fibre tubes cannot handle compression without specially designed reinforcement which has to be added inthe strategic areas where the brakes/shifter combo and stem clamps. These reinforcements add weight.



As to references of F1 cars and such, that may be true on that piece of the suspension, but that is designed for that one function and nothing else. Look at the tub of the car, which is all carbon fiber, yet is strong enough to protect the driver through HUGE impacts (far greater than anything your handlebars will every see) and "survive".

Andrew

Te tub of an F1 car is NOT all Carbon Fibre. It is constructed from layers of crabon cloth bonded to an Aluminium honeycomb to give it impact and compression resisitance. Without the Al Honeycomb structure the tub wouldnever be las light as they are. In the case ofthe tub, the carbon fibre is taking all the tensile loads andgiving the chassis stiffness while the honeycomb provides the impact and compression resistance.

Carbon fibre is not an ideal material for bicycle handlebars in my opinion;
They're not lighter
They're not safer
They're certainly not cheaper
They're not stiffer
they're not more comfortable


So where's the benefit for the price premium??

And your opinion on CF for bike frames??

Depends onhow they are made.

If they'r mono moulded then I agree they are strong, possible stronger than steel. If they're tubes glued together into lugs then I'm afraid I'll rather pass. An exception to this aversion however is the Trek OCLV, Look KG481i And Time VXSpecial frames.
The OCLV is a carbon lugged frame but the lugs have such hugh radii that any stresses is transfered to the tubes making hte frames work like a mono moulded one.

The Look is mono moulded and the Time is glued together using an elastomeric adhesive which is more flexible than Epoxy but has higher tensile strength and similar shear strength. It uses AL lugs though.

The new Giant TCR composite is also well constructed but also uses carbon lugs similar to the OCLV.

These bikes, in my opinion, are the only ones that have really used CF well. However, Aluminium bikes can stillbe made lighter and stiffer and through careful design, just as comfortable.

Originally posted by TimB


Carbon fibre is not an ideal material for bicycle handlebars in my opinion;
They're not lighter
They're not safer
They're certainly not cheaper
They're not stiffer
they're not more comfortable


So where's the benefit for the price premium??

You make some good points, but:

A few carbon bars are lighter than many aluminum counterparts, and the ultra-light aluminum ones are scary-thinned walled. I would feel even more insecure to use one of those. On the other hand, many carbon bars are the same weight if not a little heavier than aluminum ones. I'm sure that as the carbon bar market matures they'll become lighter and stronger.

I haven't read of any conclusive evidence stating that carbon bars are less safe than aluminum ones.

They are more expensive, way more...

I think they are just as stiff as aluminum ones.

They are just as comfortable, even more so with some that have the flattened tops.

Much of the same can be said for carbon seatposts, and the like, but one of the biggest reasons for the carbon boom is the "sex" appeal. For many riders, there is an emotional attachment to the 'bike', as there is to a sexy, new sports car. Nothing wrong in indulging into some of this, as long as performance is not sacrificed.

they aren't the ones outlawed by the uci. The ones outlawed had a little aero-bar type of protrustion in the middle. and since aerobars are not allowed in mass-start races, they were outlawed. a good idea, methinks.

Ahhh yes those bars, a Deda product I believe. Yeah aero bars are banned on safety grounds from mass start events.

Still dont think carbon bars are a great idea. too expensive for no gain.
but thats just me.