Raceblades on Carbon Forks??

NWLondoner

Does anyone here use race blades on their front carbon forks??

I know that carbon does not like getting scratched so plan to use some type of tape to stop the plastic fitting rubbing on the fork, however are there any types of tape etc. that are NOT carbon friendly??

Gary D

Yes - me.

Have posted this advice before, but I use pieces of cut up old inner tube under the plastic pads. Seems to work OK. If you use tape, it will either have to stop on permanently which could be unsightly, or it could leave a sticky residue when removed.

Definitely do not fit them direct to the frame or forks :evil: :evil:

I learnt this from making the mistake of not using anything and ended up badly scratching the paint on the seat stays. Oddly enough, the carbon forks were OK!

Hope this helps.

Gary.

aracer

Gary D wrote:

If you use tape, it will either have to stop on permanently which could be unsightly, or it could leave a sticky residue when removed.

Residue easily removed with isopropanol (which is carbon composite safe) if necessary. People get overly worked up about the effect of chemicals on carbon composite, when most bike parts have a clear coat on top anyway, and underneath that is epoxy resin, which is effectively relatively unreactive plastic.

redddraggon

It's the solubility of the resins I'd worry about rather than the reactivity when using varying solvents on them.

aracer

Epoxy doesn't dissolve in non-aggressive chemicals either (it will react rather than dissolve if it does anything).

Gary D

My comments about using tape were not because of any concerns about the method of removing it or the residue.

The whole point of raceblades is that they can be fitted and removed in a couple of minutes. I tend to look at what the weather is like just before going out - then decide to fit or remove. (To be honest, they don't look pretty, so I will only use them if I have to).

If I had to start taking tape off and cleaning up afterwards every time, then to my mind, surely it defeats the object?

Gary.

NWLondoner

Thanks for advice. i think i have some old MTB inner tubes laying around.

SteveR_100Milers

I clip mine straight onto carbon forks...whats all the fuss about?? No more risk of scratches than road debris and falling off can cause, and so long as the rubber pads are intact they should be fine.