Mountain Biking - I found this on the easton website

http://www.eastonbike.com/COMPONENTS/bar_test.html
I thought it was kind of cool, not entirely sure if i believe but im running the EC70 and at a time i was into drops 3-6 feet never had a problem. Cool music

omg, thats so much fun
i love this game...(i know its not a game, i was joking)

cool. I'm not sure if I believe it since my easton carbon bars broke, but whatever. Maybe my bars were scraped or I overtightened something.

which model was it? I know on my EC70's i am very cautious about tightening the stem. You really dont need it that tight with the thing.

I've heard that with CF bars you have to be more careful about tightening the stem, levers, etc. on them. Basically just tighten it enough so it doesn't rotate. Basically if you happen to scar them, you've broken down some of the fibers and end up compromising its structural integrity. Most composite bars also specifically state that you can't run bar ends with them (though others are re-inforced at the ends).

That's neato. I still don't think I'd ride on a CF bar.

I read an article on the test in Mountain Bike action a long time back.

Do you recomed a CF bar, for XC racing? (Maybe to save weight?)

Absolutely, hell ive put my ec70 through abuse, 5 foot drops. XC does not put nearly that type of stress of stress. Also it is said that becuase it is carbon, it absorbs some of the shocks, well the smaller things. Probably not noticable unless your doing hardpack.

Hmm... I never knew that Carbon Fiber absorbed some shock. Any particular bar that you would recomed? (Under $100)

If it is treated propperly then I would wholheartedly reccomend it. The comparable wieght aluminum bar would have enough fragility to go around, and they have to be replaced every 2 race seasons or so for fatigue life. So carbon, as long as it is not abused(and it apparently can take a bit of that) has no fatigue life to speak of and is much more resillient than the aluminum bar. Provided the surface fibers are not scored beyond limits, as this will cause stress concentration which causes a much lower break point.
To prevent that(which should be done on aluminum setups too) take some 320 or so grit sandpaper and deburr the edges of all of your handlebar mounted clamps(brakes, barend if allowed, stem clamp) and clamp to the propper(not exceded) ammount of torque. Carbon bars are also reputed to take a lot of trail resonance out of the grips, since carbon is a poor resonator as opposed to aluminum which is a good resonator.

Carbon would even work great on a commuter bike as it would absorb road buzz and probably some pothole shock too. Another advantage, it doesnt rust or corrode at all. However, I've heard that UV light (sunlight) can cause problems with CF over time. True or urban myth?

Probably a myth, they use carbon in boats so i doubt it.

I think they're actually coated to resist UV deterioration. I honestly can't see it being a big problem.

I doubt a reputable company list easton would release it if it was

Generally speaking, Easton's CF stuff gets good reviews... I talked to Soul Cycles about CF forks for their Monk and they prefer the Easton over the Kestrel because apparently Easton still has complete control over their manufacturing process, whereas Kestrel outsources to Giant in Taiwan. Needless to say, it seems that Easton makes some pretty good bike stuff altogether, carbon fiber or otherwise. I love my EA70 stem, to say the least.

Id rather have my Easton Scandium handlebar...

Easton seems to make good stuff, period. I didn't know they made a Scandium bar, though... I don't see it on their website. All I see is either the EA series or the EC series.. EA being aluminum and EC being carbon.

voila

http://www.insanejustice.com/forum/photopost/data/500/203100_0546.JPG

I'll keep my Ritchey Rizer Severe Conditions thank you very much.:)

Carbon would even work great on a commuter bike as it would absorb road buzz and probably some pothole shock too.
It does. I run them on both my commuter and my trailbike.



I'll continue running my Maxm's thank you very much no matter what Easton says.
http://www.maxmcomponents.com/pages/handlebars.html