gitaneusa.com :: View topic - Somewhat off topic but relevant

verktyg

Off topic but relevant...

Skinny pipe, steel frame riding retro grouches can feel some measure of satisfaction and vindication in this article about "carbon" - i.e. Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastic frames and components! Razz

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/27/sports/cycling/as-technology-makes-bicycles-lighter-and-faster-it8217s-the-cyclists-falling-harder.html?_r=1

I've been beating this drum for for over 40 years! First got involved with Carbon Fiber Reinforced Epoxy products in the 1970s! Twisted Evil

vanhelmont

Interesting article. I never thought carbon bikes made sense for most people, and one hears about forks failing with sometimes fatal results, but I figured teams with factory sponsorship would replace frames or forks that had been in a crash and might fail. They seem to be saying that today's stupid light frames can't last even as long as a professional team expects and are contributing to injuries. I know injuries are nothing new, but there seemed to be a lot of fairly serious ones in the TDF. Maybe they should follow Japanese track racing, where all the parts have to meet approval and I think they still require lugged steel frames. Bike manufacturers sponsor teams to sell their latest greatest bikes, but all the kids that ride fixies want the Japanese steel frames and approved parts.

Dave

gman309905

presently tipping the scales at 260 lbs I am not brave enough to venture out on a carbon frame, I'll stick with steel, makes me feel a lot safer.