Lrdchaos

I know it’s a broad question, but I’m wondering how many miles most people feel a carbon road bike is good for.

I’m currently riding a 2018, bought as a leftover in 2019, Giant Tcr advanced pro 0. The bike has 3800 miles on it at this time. Originally the bike came with Di2, but was removed before I bought it. It currently has Ultegra 8000 components now. I’m really wanting Di2, which can be added for roughly 1000 if I shop around but I don’t feel like wasting money on a bike that may last 10k miles. Barring any unforeseen accident I would like to keep this bike for 25k miles before I upgrade which is another 5 years. Is that doable with carbon technology?

10 Wheels

Got 39,000 Miles . Gave it up after The Second frame cracked

WhyFi

Your thread title is misleading. Yeah, some people cycle (har har) through bikes pretty regularly, but it's not because their carbon frame is going to spontaneously assplode or turn in to a wet noodle. 25k miles on a frame is easy peasy.

esskay1000

I have over 40,000 miles on my 2010 Trek Madone and plan to put another 40k on it. As the previous commenter said, carbon does not suddenly assplode, nor does it wear down from UV light. Barring any crashes or hard impacts causing a crack you should be able to keep it for a long long time.

Koyote

Wow. Just wow.

You do realize there is a search feature on bf, in case you don't feel like using google? I only suggest it because this has been done to death.

eduskator

Wait... The first owner / someone else removed the OEM R8070 & replaced it with R8000? What a shame!

Your bike will last more than 10 000 miles. CF, alloy, titanium...they all suffer from fatigue at a certain point, but chances are that you won't experience it.

Litespud

Add Di2 if you want Di2. Barring abuse or trauma, a well-made CF frame should last pretty much indefinitely. If in the unlikely event that it fails, just transfer your components to another frame

Andy Somnifac

Forever, or until I want another bike. Whichever comes first.

Short of crash damage or a defective product, you're not going to wear out or break your frame.

Edited after thinking about it: I don't think i have a frame that's newer than 2015 or so. The only reason I can date it to 2015 is that it came with 11-speed 105.

texbiker

Barring accidents bikes last as long as you want it to. When you get new bike envy will be when it starts looking and feeling old. My 2018 Canyon Endurace is approaching 21,000 miles. I don't plan on replacing it but I might add to my stable.

GlennR

I bet the majority of people here put more than 3800 mile on in a year.

My son has a 2008 Cervelo TT bike and I would guess he has well over 50,000 miles on it. He's swapped groupsets a few times but its the same frame.

I have 26,000 miles on my 2015 and while i've replaced the bottom bracket, chain, tires and brake pads, i see no need to replace it. I upgraded from Sram Red 22 mechanical to eTap electronic and glad I did. You want Di2... go for it.

mstateglfr 

Sucks that your aluminum frame bike broke twice in 39K miles.

alcjphil

I am riding a Look 481 SL from about 2004. It's just getting broken in
Giant, like Look is one of a select few bike companies who actually own their own manufacturing facilities

caloso

My 2016 Tarmac (Ultegra 6800) has 24K on it according to Strava. The only thing that needs upgrading is the engine.

tomato coupe

I used to wax my chain every week, but then realized it was quicker and easier to just replace the whole bike. That seemed kind of crazy – and a bit expensive – so now I ride my road bikes for a month before I replace them. I'm guessing most people with carbon frames do the same.

Koyote

I just want to clarify here. Titanium (steel, too) has a fatigue limit at which it will break; as long as the stresses are below a certain level, they can repeated indefinitely and the material will never fail.

A cf frame is subject to other potential problems, but is probably even more resistant to fatigue than steel and ti.

At least, the above is my understanding...But I am no metallurgist, so someone else may want to chime in.

GlennR

I rather wax my helmet weekly

tomato coupe

I hope that's not a euphemism.

Andy Somnifac

I think that Giant actually owns a lot of the manufacturing facilities that make a lot of bikes for other manufacturers.

Andy Somnifac

If I ever get back to group rides outside, I figure I'll be back to waxing every other week. There's something nice and relaxing about the process.

tomato coupe

I confess, my statement was a bit of artistic license. I've never waxed a chain, and have no intention of ever doing so. But, I'm going to meet up with GlennR and learn how to wax my helmet. That seems like a good idea.

Andy Somnifac

Definitely seems like a group activity.

Not going to lie, waxing is certainly more time consuming, but when done regularly it keeps everything so nice and clean and quiet. Not that I want to get into a chain lube vs wax debate. Before anyone tries to: you do you. Wax and/or lube in your preferred method to your heart's content.

scuzzo

i guess untill it breaks?
my youngest bike is a 07 litespeed vortex... a fine and rare beast... keeping that untill the earth has is hit by a comet or something..,, ..
my older bike is a neat little Schwinn Peloton 99,, nice simple 853 steel.. keeping that till it rust and blows away ....

i like to hang on to good bikes.

tomato coupe

Yeah, I'd actually rather wax my chain than read another wax vs. lube thread.

Eric F 

I just bought a 2018 bike as my "new" bike. It's taking the place of a 2003 bike that has been relegated to trainer duties. Both are carbon. The '03 wasn't slowing me down a bit, I just wanted something a little more current.

BillyD

I've got untold thousands of miles on my first steel bicycle. They hadn't invented bike computers yet at the time of purchase.