carbon technology

samsbike

Are we now at the pinnacle of carbon tech or is there more to come? I.was simply thinking that the gains are far more incremental and other than the Trek Domane things have not really changed. The Slash Roubaix in broad terms remains the same and there is proliferation of cheaper carbon frames even from the mainstream e.g. Triban, Carrera and Lapierre.

jsands294

Same as all technology. We will keep striving to make the best of the materials that we have, maybe add different chemicals to adapt the current material or make use of new materials being developed. But with carbon fibre, its all about size, so the thinner the fibre and the more you can add in, the better.

And like all manufacturers, there is going to be development with how the material is also used. Look how light aluminium frames are now and much stiffer and more comfortable to ride. Same goes for the wheels, keep trying to find a profile that beats them all.

Then there is also the likes of the stem and its design, the handlebars and with more aero road bikes being produced, its obviously a step forward, but whether its the right direction, we will soon better know when they are more available for the standard rider.

Bikes have come a long way even in 10 years, never mind 50 years

Monty Dog

There are some materials and technologies not available to the commercial market as they are protected by US Defence sales restrictions but expect they'll flow down into the bike sector in due course. Sticking an elastomer bumper in a frame is hardly pushing the boundaries of technology...

g00se

I think the next big leap is going to be 3D printing - there's been a few articles on it on Bikeradar recently. Possibly 3D printed titanium frames. If you believe the hype (and it does seem genuine), it'll be cheaper titanium frames in any shape - as they magically appear out of a bath of titanium powder... The main issue holding things up seems to be availability of large enough printers - right now they're small units used for making replacement hips etc. If they can make them big enough on an industrial scale (and they will as the technology will revolutionise manufacturing), then making frames in the UK/Europe/US could supposedly be cheaper than having the production done in China and shipped back over here.

sbbefc

Carbon nanotubes is the future

Stedman

There is apparently some debate over the health impact of carbon nanotubes, however graphene is apparently the next wonder material. Just think we can even have very light, real puncture proof tyres and intergraded electronic circuits for computers, lights, gears and brakes, however I suspect that this is at least twenty years away!

ricky1980

Nano tubes will replace fibra in the future but the coat will be quite high for a while so probably not going to see a massive change yet.

But nano tube will give rise to unparalleled frame stiffness but a lot less in weight. Not sure how they make fibers right now but they do seems to have a massly produced high tensile fiber coming out every other year. Strange enough the carbon fiber are all made in japan. Anyway there will be significant changes as the world of material science refines the base material used in bikes.

Point about 3d printing. They can do the dropouts for the bikes in titanium like that rather than using aluminium. It will give us more durable bikes and more comfortable ones as well as lighter

LegendLust

g00se wrote:

I think the next big leap is going to be 3D printing - there's been a few articles on it on Bikeradar recently. Possibly 3D printed titanium frames. If you believe the hype (and it does seem genuine), it'll be cheaper titanium frames in any shape - as they magically appear out of a bath of titanium powder... The main issue holding things up seems to be availability of large enough printers - right now they're small units used for making replacement hips etc. If they can make them big enough on an industrial scale (and they will as the technology will revolutionise manufacturing), then making frames in the UK/Europe/US could supposedly be cheaper than having the production done in China and shipped back over here.

+1 for 3d printing http://www.engadget.com/2012/11/12/voxe ... nt-double/