How Strong is a Carbon Fiber Bike?

Jun 21st, 2009 | By coolbiking | Category: Cycling Tips

By Tao Schencks

There is a common misconception that Carbon Fiber Bikes are designed and built for toughness and strength as well as for speed benefits. This is wrong. The truth about carbon fiber products is that although they are very light and can be manufactured in to various different shapes and designs, the actual strength of the material can be compromised very easily.

If you are serious about using carbon fiber components, or are a serious road racer or triathlete you will know that losing the ounces means everything when it comes to competitive sports. Just by using a carbon fiber replacement part will make a great difference to the overall speed and effectiveness of your bike and hopefully give you an edge against your competition.

If your carbon fiber frame on your new mountain bike even gets a deep scratch or gouge after a crash or fall, it can render the bike useless. A crack or break will also mean that the bike is probably best disposed of. Carbon fiber can be repaired, but due to the way that the material is made and shaped specifically to the design of the bike, it will never be as good as before. If the frame develops a crack, this will become the weakest point in the frame and will cause extra stress which will eventually cause the tubing to crack open. You will certainly not be able to use the bike on a downhill run or over any bumpy terrain again.

If you are not a serious cyclist, you might consider buying a cheaper combination frame such as a carbon fiber and aluminum mix which will give you the benefits of the bike being lighter, but will also provide you with a bike with better strength overall. If you bought an item such as a carbon fiber seat post, you may find that it is not entirely made from that material and that it is a hybrid mix designed to make it lighter but also stronger.

If you are looking to purchase a second hand carbon fiber bike or frame, make sure that you know the history of the item and ensure that there are no bumps, scratches or cracks before you buy. However, the good thing is that the person selling the item will most likely be a professional cyclist too looking to upgrade to a new model and they will have looked after the bike and kept it in good condition.

You can learn more about using a Carbon Fiber Bike and the different models, designs and features as well as the benefits to using them. From the high end Bianchi Carbon Fiber models to the run-of-the-mill Specialized and HASA frames – bikes that are made from Carbon Fiber are the future.

The history and development of the Carbon Fiber Bicycle

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By Tao Schencks

Source: Cool Biking Zone – Your source for great cycling, sports and fitness articles!

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