Carbon frame in the cold ok?
01-10-09, 02:11 PM
#1
Full Member
Thread Starter
Carbon frame in the cold ok?
Newb. Is it ok to ride in cold weather with a carbon fiber frame? I am guessing it is, but want to make sure. I searched first, I swear.
01-10-09, 02:21 PM
#3
Peloton Shelter Dog
If carbon fiber isn't safe in the cold Boeing is in Big Friggin Trouble with that cf Dreamliner passenger jet. Oh snap.
01-10-09, 02:24 PM
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Cincinnati, OH
Posts: 117
Bikes: 2008 Felt F85 w/Rival, 2010 Ridley Crossbow EL w/105
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
01-10-09, 02:30 PM
#5
Full Member
Thread Starter
I guess that makes sense. It just feels like it should be fragile, being so light and with that plasticy sound to it.
01-10-09, 02:41 PM
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: central rio grande valley
Posts: 801
Bikes: 14 road, 1 SS, 2 MTB
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I wouldn't do it, I left one of mine outside and it cracked. Came out and there's the frame in 3 pieces.
The use of CF in airplanes is not a good example, it's not the same CF. It's cold hardened.
The use of CF in airplanes is not a good example, it's not the same CF. It's cold hardened.
01-10-09, 02:45 PM
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: My family and I -- wife and two young children -- live in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Posts: 723
Bikes: TST ti 'cross bike (commuter); Guru ti road bike; recumbent; Airnimal Chameleon folding racing bike
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Sure, just don't put your tongue onto the exposed frame material. It'll freeze and bond with the epoxy.
01-10-09, 02:47 PM
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: central rio grande valley
Posts: 801
Bikes: 14 road, 1 SS, 2 MTB
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
My stupid barn cat did that. Had to call the mobile vet to disconnect her.
01-10-09, 02:52 PM
#9
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 412
Bikes: raleigh sport (thank god i got rid of it), current: cannondale systemsix w/ultegra 10, 2009 cannondale scalpel
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
the front end of my sytemsix hasn't exploded yet. sooo i think ur safe
01-10-09, 02:59 PM
#10
Making a kilometer blurry
01-10-09, 04:25 PM
#12
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Salt Lake City
Posts: 116
Bikes: Trek Madone 4.7
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 8 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 11 Times
in
4 Posts
Yes, a carbon frame must be ridden within a prescribed temp range and not ridden below or above that temp. If you live in a metric country the temp range is 40C-60C which is quite warm, but if you live in a non metric country you must ride within the temp range of 40F-60F which is on the cooler side!
What most people don't know is that if you need to ride outside of that temp range then you must ride either a steel or aluminum bike. BUT, if you plan to ride within the above range then you can NOT ride an aluminum or steel bike!
I know this seams unfair but life is like that...
Brian
01-10-09, 04:33 PM
#13
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 726
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
You can ride CF anytime you want . . . doesn't matter how cold. Trust me, it's not that fragile. You'll see threads from time-to-time about carbon fiber frames experiencing "catastrophic" failure . . . but frankly I've not seen it. Sure, if you crash hard it can break. But so can other materials.
01-10-09, 05:20 PM
#14
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 199
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
01-10-09, 05:24 PM
#15
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: central rio grande valley
Posts: 801
Bikes: 14 road, 1 SS, 2 MTB
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Was worried about permanent taste bud damage. She's a finicky eater already, and I didn't want to make it worse.
01-10-09, 06:20 PM
#16
Banned
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Local psych ward
Posts: 813
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
***WARNING***
***DON'T DO IT***
It is imperative that you DO NOT ride a CF bike when the ambient temperature is below 50F. Airbus and Boeing are learning this the hard way as their airliners have been falling out of the sky. I'm sure you've seen this all over the news.
If you do ride this could happen to you and your bike:
***DON'T DO IT***
It is imperative that you DO NOT ride a CF bike when the ambient temperature is below 50F. Airbus and Boeing are learning this the hard way as their airliners have been falling out of the sky. I'm sure you've seen this all over the news.
If you do ride this could happen to you and your bike:
Last edited by dysFTP; 01-10-09 at 08:39 PM.
01-10-09, 08:33 PM
#17
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Washington, DC
Posts: 718
Bikes: '07 Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL, DuraAce, Easton EA90 Aero Wheels (or MAVIC Carbone SLs)
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
this is ridic, folks.
n00b, ride your bike whenever you want. it's fine. fwiw, carbon will be less afected by moderate temp changes than metals.
n00b, ride your bike whenever you want. it's fine. fwiw, carbon will be less afected by moderate temp changes than metals.
01-10-09, 08:38 PM
#18
No matches
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Eastern PA
Posts: 11,647
Bikes: two wheeled ones
Mentioned: 15 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1398 Post(s)
Liked 444 Times
in
250 Posts
Depends how cold. I wouldn't ride it if it's -100C or something. But then, you'd probably have bigger problems at that temperature, like death.
01-10-09, 08:40 PM
#19
Cat3.*....Cat2
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Livonia, MI
Posts: 2,171
Bikes: A lot.
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Carbon fiber reinforced plastics are already way below their glass transition point so going colder won't hurt it.
01-10-09, 09:28 PM
#20
Peloton Shelter Dog
As always, the only dumb questions on BF are the ones you ask.
01-10-09, 09:56 PM
#21
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: central rio grande valley
Posts: 801
Bikes: 14 road, 1 SS, 2 MTB
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
You need to be doubly careful with that thing you have on order. Carbon fiber bikes made in Taiwan have a higher than average moisture content than American or European bikes. Couple that with the temperatures you ride there in White Plains and what you're looking at are frost heaves. You know about frost heaves, don't you?
01-10-09, 10:23 PM
#22
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Paradise, MD
Posts: 114
Bikes: Trek 400, Giant Sedona, 2006 Specialized Sequoia Elite
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I remember that plane crash, happened when I was just a kid. Lots of people died.
01-10-09, 10:26 PM
#23
stole your bike
It breaks like peanut brittle when it reaches 11F except it's not tasty at all.
No worries, you can ride it in the cold just make sure to clean it properly like you would any bike exposed to the salted roads.
No worries, you can ride it in the cold just make sure to clean it properly like you would any bike exposed to the salted roads.
__________________
I like pie
I like pie
01-11-09, 12:39 AM
#25
Over the hill
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 24,376
Bikes: Giant Defy, Giant Revolt
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 998 Post(s)
Liked 1,206 Times
in
692 Posts
Cold is fine, but it's well documented here on the reputable bike forums that carbon fiber explodes in the heat.
__________________
It's like riding a bicycle
It's like riding a bicycle