Carbon frames: sitting on the top tube

[Greg Hall]

Urban legend or no: Can sitting on the top tube (while dismounted,
both feet on the ground, bike leaned over, butt on top-tube)
weaken/damage a carbon frameset? I'm not talking clydesdale rider
types. Perhaps just an April Fools joke when told that carbon frame
don't take kindly to that type of stress.

 

[S. Anderson]

"Greg Hall" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Urban legend or no: Can sitting on the top tube (while dismounted,
> both feet on the ground, bike leaned over, butt on top-tube)
> weaken/damage a carbon frameset? I'm not talking clydesdale rider
> types. Perhaps just an April Fools joke when told that carbon frame
> don't take kindly to that type of stress.

I vote urban legend. I've seen an OCLV tube out of the bike and those tubes
are bloody tough. If anyone could break one over their knee I'd eat my hat.

Cheers,

Scott..

 

[almost fast]

[email protected] (Greg Hall) wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
> Urban legend or no: Can sitting on the top tube (while dismounted,
> both feet on the ground, bike leaned over, butt on top-tube)
> weaken/damage a carbon frameset? I'm not talking clydesdale rider
> types. Perhaps just an April Fools joke when told that carbon frame
> don't take kindly to that type of stress.

Dunno if I would generalize too much about carbon frames in general,
but once I came down hard on my Kestrel 200 EMS's top tube once. Both
my feet came out during a fast downhill field sprint. Boy that hurt!!!
:-(

No damage to the frame.

(That's when I learned to check and replace worn Look cleats!)

 

[andres muro]

I have a friend that had to replace three trek oclv frames. he is a
triathlete with a very smooth high cadence style. He cracked three
frames and he only weights 150 pounds. i don't know how well he takes
care of his frames, but he is a complusive and careful guy. he always
got a free replacement. I think that it is mostly bad luck. John Cobb
(the slam aero position dude) who replaced two of his frames cannot
figure out why he is cracking the frames, but gave his an aegis in
exchange for free.

Andres


"S. Anderson" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
> "Greg Hall" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> > Urban legend or no: Can sitting on the top tube (while dismounted,
> > both feet on the ground, bike leaned over, butt on top-tube)
> > weaken/damage a carbon frameset? I'm not talking clydesdale rider
> > types. Perhaps just an April Fools joke when told that carbon frame
> > don't take kindly to that type of stress.
>
> I vote urban legend. I've seen an OCLV tube out of the bike and those tubes
> are bloody tough. If anyone could break one over their knee I'd eat my hat.
>
> Cheers,
>
> Scott..

 

[S. Anderson]

"andres muro" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I have a friend that had to replace three trek oclv frames. he is a
> triathlete with a very smooth high cadence style. He cracked three
> frames and he only weights 150 pounds. i don't know how well he takes
> care of his frames, but he is a complusive and careful guy. he always
> got a free replacement. I think that it is mostly bad luck. John Cobb
> (the slam aero position dude) who replaced two of his frames cannot
> figure out why he is cracking the frames, but gave his an aegis in
> exchange for free.
>
> Andres

Most of the problems I see with CF frames are related to bonding and joint
failure. I haven't seen a tube break in the middle. Usually they're stress
cycle failures I think. That's what puts me off CF frames..I don't doubt
the tubes are sufficiently strong (as in a handlebar application..) but I
just don't think the joint technology is all that great. OCLV's are better
but I just have bad experiences with glued CF's.

Cheers,

Scott..