Graphite handlebars

In article <[email hidden]>, [email hidden] says...

Quoted message said:

I just recently bought a used road bike that came with graphite handlebars. These are, I
assume, not carbon. Anyone know what kind of strength I can expect from these things? Anybody
ever used them?

Graphite is a form of carbon, and I think the fibers used in "carbon" components are actually in the
graphite form.

--
David Kerber An optimist says "Good morning, Lord." While a pessimist says "Good Lord,
it's morning".

Remove the ns_ from the address before e-mailing.

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

Quoted message said:

I just recently bought a used road bike that came with graphite handlebars. These are, I
assume, not carbon. Anyone know what kind of strength I can expect from these things? Anybody
ever used them?

GD

Carbon fiber handlebars are popular on the racing circuit. If you believe the press Mario Cipolinni
rides them and I've gotta believe he puts handlebars through a torture test coming down the final
straight to a tdf finish. Hardly an endoursement for touring though but they appear plenty strong.

If you are using a handlebar bag that clamps on to the handlebars I'd be a bit cautious about
tightening the clamps. The guys on rec.bicycles.tech should have more knowledge about clamping them.

my $0.02 Andy

In article said:

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

Quoted message said:

I just recently bought a used road bike that came with graphite handlebars. These are, I
assume, not carbon. Anyone know what kind of strength I can expect from these things? Anybody
ever used them?

GD

Carbon fiber handlebars are popular on the racing circuit. If you believe the press Mario Cipolinni
rides them and I've gotta believe he puts handlebars through a torture test coming down the final
straight to a tdf finish. Hardly an endoursement for touring though but they appear plenty strong.

I wonder how often Mario's bars get inspected compared to the typical bicycle enthusiast...?

--Paul

[email hidden] (Paul Southworth) wrote in message
news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

In article said:

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

Quoted message said:

I just recently bought a used road bike that came with graphite handlebars. These are, I
assume, not carbon. Anyone know what kind of strength I can expect from these things? Anybody
ever used them?

GD

Carbon fiber handlebars are popular on the racing circuit. If you believe the press Mario
Cipolinni rides them and I've gotta believe he puts handlebars through a torture test coming down
the final straight to a tdf finish. Hardly an endoursement for touring though but they appear
plenty strong.

I wonder how often Mario's bars get inspected compared to the typical bicycle enthusiast...?

--Paul

Good point. Probably as often as his blood.

However I've got a 1993 Trek 2300 that has carbon main triangle still riding it today. Carbon has a
good reptuation (with me at least) for handling stress. This includes riding and having the bike
fall off my roof rack as I was driving.

Everything should always be checked frequently.

Andy

In article said:

However I've got a 1993 Trek 2300 that has carbon main triangle still riding it today. Carbon has a
good reptuation (with me at least) for handling stress.

I have seen plenty of failures of glued Treks and other similar frames and they don't usually create
the same sort of hazard you get when a fork or handlebar fails. A lugged carbon bike like that may
crack or pop a joint open but a similar failure of a fork or handlebar is a lot more likely to end
with blood on the road.