Is Carbon All It's Cracked Up To Be.

Paul Sh

Is Carbon All It's Cracked Up To Be. I've always been a bit of a magpie for all things flashy, I have my heart set on Ritchey carbon flat bars, stem, and seat post, very expensive i know but i think they are very classy items.

Anyway, reading up on seat posts some say they have problems, some say it can be problematic, and some say it's fine, soooooo whats your view on carbon goodies, Yay or Nay.

Andy

I have an XTC carbon frame which is built up with Pace RC39 ctypes and EC90 Risers. I also use carbon spacers and a carbon top cap. My Anthem also uses Specialized carbon flat bars, spacer and brake levers (juicy carbon).

I like carbon :P

Paul Sh

Have you ever had any problems, mainly with the seat post as these seem to have the most negatives form what i've read.

Andy

I have once tried a seatpost, a bikehut one. I overtightened it and it cracked so I got my money back.

As long as you are careful to tighten things on carbon to the recommended torque you won't have a problem. Thats said I use a Thomson Masterpiece seatpost as it is one of the strongest posts you will find and yet still superlight.

A riding buddy of mine uses an Easton EC70 post on a Cannondale Jekyll and he has never had a problem.

gaz047

hi, i use a easton ec70 seat post and race face next flat bars. post has done 1200 miles with the only issue being that it kept slipping down. i just kept slowly tightening the post clamp till it held ok. bars have about 600miles with no issues. just make sure you use a torque wrench when fitting

Anonymous

ive got a set of fsa carbon bars on my stumpy and like thm very much, mainly because they look cool.

i bought a carbon fibre bike yesterday too, pretty much for the same reason

i like carbon because it is light and strong and does a good job of dampening vibrations and general trail buzz.

skyliner

Carbon composites are like any other material. There's good and bad versions to be had.
If you use trusted makes, and follow the instructions provided with them they'll work well.

For me though, carbon composites are for racing, and for general use, alloy is cheaper, and more suitable.

If you lay up a composite frame as an "all rounder" it weighs the same as it's alloy counterpart, but costs much more. Although it'll be much more forgiving on rough terrain.
But if you want to dial out buzz, steel will do that very well, and still cost less than carbon. Plus it's not UV sensitive, and has a longer "fatigue life".