carbon frames

Quoted message said:

What is the status of carbon road frames now with regard to durability and
maximum weight of the rider?

Carbon is no different from any other frame material. You can build a
really nice frame out of it, or a dreadful one. You can build something
strong enough to survive 100,000 miles, or you can build something cheap &
flimsy... or expensive but outrageously-light & flimsy.

There's no magical material that never fails, nor one that always fails.
It's what you do with it. If you want to push the envelope and get a
sub-2-pound frame, don't be surprised when it doesn't last forever. It
wasn't designed to. At around 2.5 lbs, there are frames out there with
great durability (including the TREKs I sell). Look for a bike with an
established reputation, good warranty and a shop that stands behind them.
Ask questions regarding what happens in the event of a legit warranty
claim... how long does it take, who has to see it, that sort of thing.

--Mike Jacoubowsky
Chain Reaction Bicycles
www.ChainReaction.com
IMBA, BikesBelong, NBDA member

"himself" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Hello gents.

What is the status of carbon road frames now with regard to durability and
maximum weight of the rider?
Is there a website where one might get some more info?

Best regards

Walther

"Mike Jacoubowsky/Chain Reaction Bicycles" <[email hidden]> wrote
in message news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

What is the status of carbon road frames now with regard to durability

and

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

maximum weight of the rider?

Carbon is no different from any other frame material. You can build a
really nice frame out of it, or a dreadful one. You can build something
strong enough to survive 100,000 miles, or you can build something cheap &
flimsy... or expensive but outrageously-light & flimsy.

There's no magical material that never fails, nor one that always fails.
It's what you do with it. If you want to push the envelope and get a
sub-2-pound frame, don't be surprised when it doesn't last forever. It
wasn't designed to. At around 2.5 lbs, there are frames out there with
great durability (including the TREKs I sell). Look for a bike with an
established reputation, good warranty and a shop that stands behind them.
Ask questions regarding what happens in the event of a legit warranty
claim... how long does it take, who has to see it, that sort of thing.

--Mike Jacoubowsky
Chain Reaction Bicycles
www.ChainReaction.com
IMBA, BikesBelong, NBDA member

"himself" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Hello gents.

What is the status of carbon road frames now with regard to durability

and

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

maximum weight of the rider?
Is there a website where one might get some more info?

Best regards

Walther

How about the weight of the rider part of the question. Do you recommend
Trek CF frames for 240 lbs?

On Mon, 24 May 2004 22:30:15 GMT, "Mike Jacoubowsky/Chain Reaction

Bicycles' may have said:

Quoted message said:

What is the status of carbon road frames now with regard to durability and
maximum weight of the rider?

Carbon is no different from any other frame material. You can build a
really nice frame out of it, or a dreadful one. You can build something
strong enough to survive 100,000 miles, or you can build something cheap &
flimsy... or expensive but outrageously-light & flimsy.

I would just add one thing to that; carbon frames must be handled with
greater care than metal. They are much more susceptible to damage in
mishandling and misrepair.

--
My email address is antispammed; pull WEEDS if replying via e-mail.
Typoes are not a bug, they're a feature.
Words processed in a facility that contains nuts.

Quoted message said:

How about the weight of the rider part of the question. Do you recommend
Trek CF frames for 240 lbs?

We have a very good customer who weighs about 260lbs @ 6'2". He's also
extremely strong. We sold him a TREK 5200 OCLV back in 1997, and it's still
going strong (with a *lot* of miles on it!).

At 240lbs, your main issue will be with tires. 25c will be a lot better
than the stock 23c that most bikes come with.

--Mike-- Chain Reaction Bicycles
http://www.ChainReactionBicycles.com

command-<< What is the status of carbon road frames now with regard to
durability and
maximum weight of the rider?
Is there a website where one might get some more info?

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

<BR><BR>

I can only speak for Calfee and they are very strong, will last a lifetime and
have no weight limits.

http://www.calfeedesign.com

Peter Chisholm
Vecchio's Bicicletteria
1833 Pearl St.
Boulder, CO, 80302
(303)440-3535
http://www.vecchios.com
"Ruote convenzionali costruite eccezionalmente bene"

Werehatrack said:

On Mon, 24 May 2004 22:30:15 GMT, "Mike Jacoubowsky/Chain Reaction

Bicycles' may have said:

Quoted message said:

What is the status of carbon road frames now with regard to
durability and maximum weight of the rider?

Carbon is no different from any other frame material. You can build
a really nice frame out of it, or a dreadful one. You can build
something strong enough to survive 100,000 miles, or you can build
something cheap & flimsy... or expensive but outrageously-light &
flimsy.

I would just add one thing to that; carbon frames must be handled with
greater care than metal. They are much more susceptible to damage in
mishandling and misrepair.

I disagree. Carbon frames are probably more resistant to damage than
lightweight aluminum or steel frames, which dent very easily. Carbon/epoxy is
extremely tough, and carbon/thermoplastic (like those old GT MTB frames) is
practically indestructable. I've watched carbon MTBs tumble over rocks with
only superficial damage, where any metal frame would have been dented, perhaps
irrepairably.

As far as repair goes, carbon is more easily repaired than modern, lightweight
metal frames, and doesn't require special skills. While it requires a little
more care, it's essentially no different from doing fiberglass repair on boats
or surfboards. I've successfully repaired several carbon frames.

The biggest problem w/ carbon is that key items like fork steerers and
handlebars may have internal damage without showing it. Failures are sudden,
and leave dangerously sharp pieces.

Matt O.