Carbon Fiber Bike in the cold
01-29-14, 12:45 PM
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Carbon Fiber Bike in the cold
I was wondering if anyone had problems with their carbon fiber road or mtb bike developing structural fatigue in the very cold weather? Or, would you take out your CF bike when the temperature is minus degree's?
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Moots VaMoots 2012-Peugeot Mixte 1974-Peugeot Mixte 1973
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01-29-14, 01:01 PM
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Yet another reason to buy steel you could always steal a steel bike too
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Last edited by Bianchigirll; 01-29-14 at 02:01 PM.
01-29-14, 01:04 PM
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9:zero:7 based out of Alaska make winter specific fatbikes out of carbon fiber so I'm guessing if you ride one in cold weather it will asspload for sure.
01-29-14, 01:05 PM
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They fly CF aircraft in 70f below weather at an altitude of 50,000 ft above sea level. However, I would wait a few more weeks before riding in Chicago again ;-)
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When I ride my bike I feel free and happy and strong. I'm liberated from the usual nonsense of day to day life. Solid, dependable, silent, my bike is my horse, my fighter jet, my island, my friend. Together we will conquer that hill and thereafter the world.
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01-29-14, 01:06 PM
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01-29-14, 01:34 PM
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Captain Kirk says, it's the aluminum bikes that you have to worry about in very cold weather!
01-29-14, 01:58 PM
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01-29-14, 02:15 PM
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I would think, if you actually want the question answered, you should ask it in a forum devoted to carbon fiber bikes. Like the road biking forum.
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01-29-14, 02:37 PM
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Answer your question with a question.....
Why would you even want to go out on a bike when temps are in the negative range?!?
Quote:
"A man isn't afraid to feel nature against his face." "But even a fool doesn't need to be told to stay out of the rain."
Why would you even want to go out on a bike when temps are in the negative range?!?
Quote:
"A man isn't afraid to feel nature against his face." "But even a fool doesn't need to be told to stay out of the rain."
01-29-14, 03:26 PM
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And someone did steal my steel bike last summer. Were you in the area? ;-)
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When I ride my bike I feel free and happy and strong. I'm liberated from the usual nonsense of day to day life. Solid, dependable, silent, my bike is my horse, my fighter jet, my island, my friend. Together we will conquer that hill and thereafter the world.
When I ride my bike I feel free and happy and strong. I'm liberated from the usual nonsense of day to day life. Solid, dependable, silent, my bike is my horse, my fighter jet, my island, my friend. Together we will conquer that hill and thereafter the world.
01-29-14, 03:29 PM
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I hope not for all the folk flying in those new Carbon Dreamliners.
01-29-14, 05:14 PM
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I made a winter bike out of a Colnago C40 because I didn't want to worry about rust, it worked great but I only had it for one Toronto winter.
01-29-14, 05:25 PM
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Spent X-mas and New year in Europe two years ago and the only cyclists riding in the cold weather on the roads outside of the cities were amateur and pro race teams training on bikes with monocoque CF frames....... sorry, but I didin't see any CF splintering asplosions!
01-29-14, 05:41 PM
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01-29-14, 05:42 PM
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That gives me confidence to ride my cf in the cold!
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01-29-14, 05:49 PM
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but on a serious note: cf below the forty degree range turns super brittle, and the weaves separate. above ninety degrees the resin used liquifies and then turns to noxious gas. aluminum cracks at every weld in the cold.
and steel just turns even more real, and the ride somehow becomes even more vertically compliant and laterally stiff.
01-29-14, 06:06 PM
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While I don't think it would hurt a better built carbon fiber bike out in below zero degree temps, I probably wouldn't. Most bike makers really only test consider people riding road bikes in above freezing temps. If you are bothered worried by the possible damage from riding a nicer bike in these conditions you should consider getting building a steel framed bike set up for cold winter riding.
01-29-14, 10:10 PM
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I rode steel and Al in the snow. with no problem. Haven't tried carbon yet.
I would contact the manufacturer. There are several types of CF and resins used in bikes and just as many construction techniques. Like jets, bicycles are designed and built to a given set of predefined requirements. Those include temperature ranges. Bicycles aren't expected to experience the same temperature rages as a jet and therefore are not a good example.
These requirements also include the weight ranges of the rider. If you are pushing the upper edge of the weight range of a frame, temperature extremes may be the proverbial straw the breaks the proverbial camel's back. I have seen 180 pounds listed as being the upper limit for road race frames.
Personally I would not be out riding this winter - this is the reason that wind/mag trainers were created.
~Monkey~
I would contact the manufacturer. There are several types of CF and resins used in bikes and just as many construction techniques. Like jets, bicycles are designed and built to a given set of predefined requirements. Those include temperature ranges. Bicycles aren't expected to experience the same temperature rages as a jet and therefore are not a good example.
These requirements also include the weight ranges of the rider. If you are pushing the upper edge of the weight range of a frame, temperature extremes may be the proverbial straw the breaks the proverbial camel's back. I have seen 180 pounds listed as being the upper limit for road race frames.
Personally I would not be out riding this winter - this is the reason that wind/mag trainers were created.
~Monkey~
02-01-14, 11:35 AM
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Hmm, that's unfortunate. since nearly every bike on the road has anywhere from a couple, to a couple dozen aluminum alloy bits on their bikes, from screws, bolts, shifters, cranks, derailers, rims, hubs, etc....
but on a serious note: cf below the forty degree range turns super brittle, and the weaves separate. above ninety degrees the resin used liquifies and then turns to noxious gas. aluminum cracks at every weld in the cold.
and steel just turns even more real, and the ride somehow becomes even more vertically compliant and laterally stiff.
but on a serious note: cf below the forty degree range turns super brittle, and the weaves separate. above ninety degrees the resin used liquifies and then turns to noxious gas. aluminum cracks at every weld in the cold.
and steel just turns even more real, and the ride somehow becomes even more vertically compliant and laterally stiff.
I mostly agree about "good" steel being best, but I just don't have the right brakes for steel wheels yet. 