Tips for building carbon bike

crescent

Can anyone give me any good tips before I start building my new Ribble Gran Fondo? I have stripped, overhauled and rebuilt several bikes in the past and I am perfectly happy with the technical side of things but I have never worked with carbon before - surely there must be some valuable 'do's and don'ts' out there. I don't plan on using a carbon stem or seatpost although I haven't ruled it out just yet so it will be most likely aluminium components on a carbon frame.
Any advice appreciated, no matter how simple.

racingcondor

I'd get something like the Richey Torque Key and take care with things like the front derailleur clamp.

Don't worry too much though, if you've rebuilt bikes in the past you'll be fine. Carbon isn't really all that delicate.

andy46

+1 for the Ritchey torque key, or a proper torque wrench if you can get hold of one.

I'd also get some small clear patches to put on the frame where the cables make contact.

g00se

Carbon paste helps to - you'll need less torque on the seat post to stop it slipping.

Also, I wouldn't put a carbon frame directly in a workstand by clamping the frame - clamp onto the alloy seatpost.

If the fork has a carbon steerer, make sure you use a bung rather than a star-nut to set the bearing load.

crescent

Thanks folks, all sounds like good advice.