J
jim beam
Guest
Steve Sr. wrote:
> I have seen carbon fiber seat stays being advertized as improving the
> "comfort" and the ride "quality" of a bike. Serotta even goes so far
> as putting a bearing at the dropout end on their high end bikes to
> allow the seat stays to flex and act as springs to soften the ride. Or
> at least this is what is claimed. Other manufacturers make similar
> claims.
>
> So given a regular full titanium frame like a Litespeed Tuscany how
> much if any difference would be made by having the seat stays made of
> carbon fiber? Would the difference be noticeable or not? Has anybody
> done any _quantatative_ measurements or studies on this or is it all
> subjective?
>
> Thanks for your thoughts.
>
> Steve
it should have a noticably softer ride. materials people are very
familiar with the superior shock transmission characteristics of
composites. that's why tools like hammers that otherwise cause
repetitive strain injuries are so often made with composite shafts. [in
this case, wood can also be called a composite.]
the trouble with this group however is that the people making the
loudest "it makes no difference" noises would never do anything
definitive like rent instumentation that would quantify the situation -
it would prove them luddites. as for actually /riding/ a bike with such
new fangled technology? well, that's just not going to happen. no
siree bob.
> I have seen carbon fiber seat stays being advertized as improving the
> "comfort" and the ride "quality" of a bike. Serotta even goes so far
> as putting a bearing at the dropout end on their high end bikes to
> allow the seat stays to flex and act as springs to soften the ride. Or
> at least this is what is claimed. Other manufacturers make similar
> claims.
>
> So given a regular full titanium frame like a Litespeed Tuscany how
> much if any difference would be made by having the seat stays made of
> carbon fiber? Would the difference be noticeable or not? Has anybody
> done any _quantatative_ measurements or studies on this or is it all
> subjective?
>
> Thanks for your thoughts.
>
> Steve
it should have a noticably softer ride. materials people are very
familiar with the superior shock transmission characteristics of
composites. that's why tools like hammers that otherwise cause
repetitive strain injuries are so often made with composite shafts. [in
this case, wood can also be called a composite.]
the trouble with this group however is that the people making the
loudest "it makes no difference" noises would never do anything
definitive like rent instumentation that would quantify the situation -
it would prove them luddites. as for actually /riding/ a bike with such
new fangled technology? well, that's just not going to happen. no
siree bob.