I've been putting off getting a full carbon bike due to my fear that it will spontaneously combust. But I think this fear is unfounded because I've been riding full carbon forks fairly aggressively and I'm still alive. Forks take more abuse than the frame I imagine. So I got nothing to worry about with a carbon frame safety wise, right? Unless I hit a car or crash.

No combustion, just disintegration. Frame one second - POOF - powder in the wind, the next. Avoid.

He knows of which he speaks. The only material known to man that can withstand the forces of a man pedaling a bike is a steel made to 531 specifications. Any thing else will implode with disastrous results.....

My full carbon forks hasn't Poof'ed. So why should I worry about a full carbon frame Poof'ing? I know if the frame has been impacted somehow, then I'd be worry, but if the frame is in good shape, then why worry?

I've been a steel guy my whole life. I recently tried titanium that was in my size and it rides so much better than steel. I got the weight weenie bug now and I'm looking towards carbon. I've been carbon curious my whole life.

Umm, well all I'll say is my RD broke on one ride and totally fractured the seat stay rendering one CF frame totally worthless.

Jamesdak: how did the RD break on you? Was the High/Low screws not set up properly? I know carbon doesn't have such a good record with dealing with impacts, but if I don't subject a carbon frame to impacts, it shouldn't bust on me, right?

So if your being serious here then correct, you have nothing to worry about. Havin ridden carbon for the past 6 years I have yet to crack, break or otherwise destroy a carbon bike. Even crashing is USUALLY ok as long as the frame is not subjected to a direct hit such as a curb lip.

You can get really light Ti - I would stick to that given a choice.

It's not a decision that one makes - you're born that way, and there's nothing to be ashamed of. I've embraced it and I've moved to a state that's carbon friendly - I couldn't be happier.

My sector is very carbon friendly.

It seems to be a seized link of the chain, servicing mechanic from the LBS. Funny thing is that after a 4 month warranty deal the same jacked up chain was used. Had a different shop look at the bike and they found the messed up chain and a few other things done wrong on the bike. When the RD failed I was on the flat, cruising at a low speed and the chain was on one of the middle gears. It never made sense until I I started going over the replacement bike and finding what I thought were problems.

Sadness.

Ti is fly

Why do people keep saying STEEL IS REAL when it's not?

Steel is not on the periodic table; yet AL and TI are.

AL&TI are real, Steel is fake.

Also, what are the advantages of steel over Ti? Absolutely none as far as I'm aware? Steel is even expensive now-a-days.

The only bad thing about Ti is that few people are pushing the envelope. If AL can be made to such modern standards(allez, caad10) why not Ti?

Best of both worlds....

30,000+ miles (right amount of zeroes) on our full carbon tandem.

Love it; no issues.

Now that's what I want to hear. 30,000+ miles!!!!

Magnesium is real.

I've been reading about magnesium. what magnesium bike frame do you have?

Paketa.

Im a 250 lb guy and i've been on carbon for a while...
also have a steel bike but love my carbon...

I rode a kestrel for many years...I did drop the kestrel and the top tube hit the corner of a building. at first it just looked like the paint was chipped, but it turned into the toptube breaking. Kestrel replaced the frame for $400; the frame is an ems model, they were willing to replace it with a sci for nothing. note that a chip on other parts of the frame does not lead to the frame breaking. I just rebuilt the frame with spare parts...it came in at 17.25 pounds. I also have Legend Ti, a steel ritchey, and scandium bike that weights in at 16 pounds.

Fixed.

Get 1 with a good warantee then you won't have to worry.

I ride full carbon and my fears are that it will be so light it will float away like a feather.