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..