Durability of carbon frames
 

I am looking at buying my first carbon frame, but have heard horror stories of them breaking. How big of a crash is needed to total a carbon frame?

Facepalm.

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_To32_vvuae...8/s1600/1-1-1-

I think it's bigger. Closer to this:

I----------------------------------------------I

Nope, only /-/ big.

Liks so: ?

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_72a3V3u5fk...s400/leo-this-

A local club is the crashingest group of people I've ever seen. Many injuries but no busted CF that I know of.

At least all the good carbon bikes are made in the US.

Be careful of the ones made in Asia. They will last, on average, five to six rides.

I hear spontaneous combustion of a CF bike is a bigger concern. I would strap a fire extinguisher on that bike to be safe.

Its basically just like paper mache, but lighter and way more expensive.

To give you a serious answer all lightweight bikes can break if you crash them, CF included. That said CF is a lot stronger than many people think, and the odds of breaking your frame in a crash are reasonably low.

I've had 2 crashes in races with my CF bike, and the bike is still fine. I've seen many other people crash Cf bikes without breaking them. And I've seen a few crashes that totaled CF frames, steel frames, and Al frames.

Also, realize that if you do crack a CF frame it's usually repairable.

Mind you, these guys ride CF frame all the time :)


http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=191212

How do you quantify crashes? Is there a unit of measurement for impact?

Having broken carbon and aluminum, I'd say the average carbon frame is more likely to survive a major crash than an aluminum frame.

The aluminum frame sustained a dent in the toptube - handlebar slammed into it during the crash. The dent soon led to a crack, making the frame worthless.

And the carbon cracked at the water bottle bosses, which I would assume are a weak spot. To put that in context though, the carbon water bottle cages, which ripped out the bosses, were just fine.

(M / t)*{(1 + c)*[(2/M)*(Work)]1/2 - (r/d)*(cs1 + s2)**

search function is your friend...

Depends. I've owned two CF bike. One was destroyed when I snapped the headtube off by crashing into a curb. The other is still ticking even though I've probably dumped it on the pavement a dozen times.

international media coverage on your crash = big crash

walks bike home crying= not so big crash

Yes.

Big. Unless you're big then small. Or you could just tell your frame it has some loose threads hanging out and it'll snap from embarrassment. You're basically riding a placemat covered in goo. Everything breaks eventually. With the steerer tube acting like a lever it's no wonder the head tube is usually the thing to go. Tip: Don't hit anyone straight on. Bunny-hop them and take the win. GL

I was on a ride last summer in Colorado when, for no apparent reason, another cyclist's carbon fork broke during the descent of Grand Mesa. Among other woes, he lost his ear.

Many people have great experiences with carbon. I have a hard time getting over that one.

Some more carbon pix:

http://www.bustedcarbon.com/

Ugh!:eek:
Was he wearing a helmet?

He was wearing a helmet. People who saw it estimated he was going at least 40 mph when the fork cracked. I heard about it afterward.

You realize both steel and aluminum forks have been known to break.

Yep. Everything breaks. Not always this dramatically, though:


http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_V54WWNeyyp...9st03-ouch.jpg