Thursday, July 30, 2009

Exactly How Tough Is A Carbon Fiber Bicycle

By Tao Schencks

There is a myth that Carbon Fiber Bikes are made and manufactured for their strength as well as for weight benefits. Those people are wrong. The fact regarding products made from carbon fiber is that although they are very light weight and can be made in different shapes, the actual toughness of the material can be compromised easily.

If you are serious about buying carbon fiber components, or are a pro triathlete you will know that loosing the ounces means everything when competing in professional sports. Just by getting a carbon fiber part it should make a real increase to your speed and effectiveness of your bike and therefore provides you with an edge against the other athletes.

If your frame on your Carbon Fiber Bike gets a large gouge because of a or crash, it can render the bike to be damaged beyond repair. A crack or break might also mean that the bike is most likely best got rid of. Carbon fiber bikes can be mended, but due to the way and method that the material is made and shaped specifically to the design and shape of the bike frame, it might never be as rigid as before.

If the frame tubing starts getting a crack or split, this will be the weakest area in the bike frame and will cause additional stress which can eventually cause the frame to break open. You will definitely not be allowed to ride or use the bike on a down hill stretch or over any heavy areas ever again.

If you are not a serious cyclist, you might think about buying a cheaper "combination frame" such as a carbon fiber and alloy mix which will give you the benefits of the bike frame being much lighter, but it will also give you a bike frame with greater strength overall. If you purchased an item such as a carbon fiber set of handlebars, you will discover that the product is not just made from that material and that it is a mixture of materials produced to make it reduce the weight but also stronger too.

About the Author:

0 comments:

Post a Comment