State of carbon frames/wheels on Road Bikes/TDF

[Skylark]

Interesting article from Nytimes on how carbon has changed the way accidents pan out on road bikes, they shatter rather than deforming like metal frames/wheels, suppose the same applies to Mtb bikes to a lesser degree.

 

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

 

"What results, Perovic said, is that when a bike is stressed beyond its limits, it “fractures into many pieces while metals bend, the energy absorption is the bending.” While steel and aluminum bikes generally telegraph an impending failure by displaying cracks, carbon fiber generally fails without warning."

 

Old news I would imagine but the further they push the boundaries of bike technology I suppose the finer the line comes.

One point was the unacknowledged racing industry secret about how flimsy the bikes are in a accident/severe stress situation. Like riding expensive matchsticks.

 

"Much as in what are now called cycling’s black years of doping, there is a code of silence among riders, even retired ones, and mechanics and team officials over the issue of carbon bike and wheel durability. The teams and riders exist, in part, to act as powerful marketing tools for bike-makers.

 

But when they spoke on the condition they not be identified, their stories emerged. Riders described landing on the top, horizontal tube of the bikes during crashes and ending up on the road after their frames splintered and collapsed. Small spills that used to mean, at best, straightening handlebars often require a bike change. Mechanics say they sometimes return the shattered remains of frames to manufacturers in bags intended to hold a single bicycle wheel."

 

One thing to be noted is all the catastrophic failures mentioned are happening on carbon frames/wheels of the very highest order from the worlds most premium bike brands. From the way some people slate them, you would have thought that they were all riding on Chinese Dongfu type generic carbon frames/wheels...

 

 

Edited July 27, 2014 by Skylark

[Skylark]

Anyone have personal experience with how road frames/wheels can shatter in crashes?

[rouxtjie]

Created a thread of simliar article

[rouxtjie]

mod merge please

 

https://community.bikehub.co.za/topic/141601-tupperware-bikes-exposed/#entry2377029

Edited July 28, 2014 by rouxtjie

[Butterbean]

I think anyone who has been involved in cycling for a few months knows the difference. We all know carbon is wonderfully strong, light and comfortable but will not hold up in a crash. But frankly, the only thing I buy with crashing in mind is my helmet. My carbon wheels as wheelsets are insured, and I ride with the knowledge that should I crash, my race is over an I'm most likely going to have to replace the frame and or wheels.

 

Don't see what the fuss is. It's not the perfect material, but it's pretty darn good for what it does well.

[camelman]

What a load of rubbish. Some valid points, but it is surely not coming from someone with experience, or even someone that has actually ridden a bicycle. Yes crashes damages and break bikes, it has always happened, but him saying the bikes shatter and then the guys fall. Sensationalist story, to say the least.

[rouxtjie]

mmmmm I think the point is, when carbon does fail, it does so catastrophically...snap, crackle pop....in an instant whereas steel / alu(less so I suspect) would rather crack / elongate first before totally failing giving you valuable time to replace or fix.

 

Just a thought

[fanievb]

just to trow another spanner in the works.

 

alu breaks easier than carbon, but I agree when carbon snaps it does so properly

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xreZdUBqpJs

[Iwan Kemp]

Show of hands who has seen a carbon frame or part from a reputed manufacturer catastrophically explode in pieces?

[rouxtjie]

just to trow another spanner in the works.

 

alu breaks easier than carbon, but I agree when carbon snaps it does so properly

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xreZdUBqpJs

"breaks" is relative to the nature and direction of the stress...

[fanievb]

and worst of all I just bought a carbon bike

[LOOK695]

just to trow another spanner in the works.

 

alu breaks easier than carbon, but I agree when carbon snaps it does so properly

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xreZdUBqpJs

Cool video. Now they know where the weak points on the carbon frames are and can add another layer of carbon to make them even stronger

[Kranky]

just to trow another spanner in the works.

 

alu breaks easier than carbon, but I agree when carbon snaps it does so properly

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xreZdUBqpJs

 

I'm no expert but aren't these tests putting force in a direction that the bike is designed to take during riding. What happens with something random, like in a crash, say a rock smashing into the top tube? Carbon is still the best for performance bikes regardless.

Edited July 28, 2014 by Nick.

[LOOK695]

Show of hands who has seen a carbon frame or part from a reputed manufacturer catastrophically explode in pieces?

Apparently it can happen to chinese carbon

[Iwan Kemp]

and worst of all I just bought a carbon bike

 

Unless you bought some cheap piece of junk or a rip-off you have nothing to worry about. Ride it like you stole it.

[HappyMartin]

Crashed my one frame at least 5 times that I can remember. My medical aid most likely has a clearer memory than I do. Managed to break ribs, collar bone plated and lots of missing skin. Frame is still fine.