Something light like a pebble would have to be travelling very very fast to damage a CF frame. They're seriously not that fragile. If the bike fell over on its side onto a rock or bricks or something like that, it might or might not break, however a similar impact would destroy an aluminum frame. If anything CF is more durable than aluminum if the layup and resin are done right.

BTW I am not an expert but I have recently taken several courses about materials and am studying mechanical engineering.

I have cut my carbon steerer tube and my carbon aero extensions.
I used a saw intended for metal and I was amazed at how difficult it was to cut it.

good question. I have a good friend who works in an lbs dealing cervelo's and he tells me how surprised he is at the number of frame failures he encounters with cf that he has never seen with steel. Recently had a guy return a top end cervelo- the problem?- at 4 mpf the handlebar swung backwards with the bar end hitting the top tube and shattering it- at 4mph. What really amazes him is how everyone seems to accept it without complaints.

I hope more people chime in with useless anecdotes.

I'm still stuck on this statement. Are steel, aluminum and titanium bikes no longer being made?

You're implying strongly that hard-won knowledge is no match for superstition, that a gut hunch somehow invalidates our best science and engineering. That isn't exactly "cool story, bro" worthy.

Somebody needs to go post "carbon's gonna asplode!!!!" on the Boeing forums today.

nevertheless, this admitted anecdote of one employee who has been working on and riding bikes for 45 years is interesting. never has he seen the same problem with steel.

It has just dawned upon me. You don't have a clue................

- Slim

Nobody cares Fredly.

Do people insure these $6K carbon bikes? I just a little crazy spending that type money just to get some exercise.

I just crashed my new cf mtn bike today at speed and it sustained no damage. I got it cause a friend has one for 10 years and he says he doesn't baby it, so I don't baby mine either. I'm all banged up - my bike is fine. Can't wait to ride it again! I refuse to believe it's fragile.

I get the feeling that they're status symbols too!

- Slim

PS.

If CF bikes ever got common enough to buy new at $400 per unit, I think many would go back to steel and aluminum.

There's some kind "Bling-Bling" factor that goes with all this madness!

That happens with al track bikes all the time - no cables to restrict the movement of the bars. Still dents the top tube. Usually it's avoidable if the user is paying attention to what they're doing.

I have 3 bikes and they're all insured. Cost of replacement is why people insure stuff. Judgements about what you do with it is irrelevant.

This is really another one of those tedious "people don't need expensive things, they're not a good 'value', and only snobs buy that stuff to impress other people" threads, isn't it.

Wrong!

I happen to really like CF frames and have brought myself to purchase a CF in the Raleigh line.

However, I know far too many people who know nothing about automobiles but the price and the image they can utilize, by purchasing the automobile. These people all have Mercedez, BMW, Lexus, Infinity, and Cadillacs.

I could show them any late-modeled medium priced car that's been customized, they wouldn't be interested...

- Slim

Spurious comparison.

You can bet the house on that.

Yes, that's when I moved on to the next thread.

Exactly.

Don't forget Cervello's and Di2"s

In other words, "yes".

Composite technology today is leap and bounds from what it was in the 80s. You already trust them, you just don't know it. Everytime you board an airplane, you put your life in the hands of carbon fiber. They are developing new resins every day to reduce the brittleness, increase the impact resistance, and make stronger the carbon fiber composite. Carbon bikes go through more rigorous tests in the bike industry than any other. PS, they are making and using carbon dh bikes. People crash very very hard on dh bikes. Running into trees at 40 mph, flipping over into bushes, etc. The cost of the carbon frame is what is prohibitive and the stresses are greater for mtb than road. It takes a special development to ensure reliability. As light weight doesn't matter for dh, and it is easier to manufacture and develop a metal frame, most go this route.

Still, https://www.trekbikes.com/us/en/bikes.../session_9_9/#, it is becoming more prevalent. For steel to have even close to the same weight as a carbon frame, it would have to be ridiculously thin. At that point, thin carbon, thin steel, and thin Aluminum all crack with impact. Does anyone ever intend to crash? It's not going to come even close to breaking in use.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y_O9PLorYPA

Titanium is best.

No WAY.

Incorrect, and yet, a case can be made for this.

The only madness is in the OP senile brain I think. Get Help.