Just orded my first carbon bike, anything to watch out for?

isotonik
isotonik Posts: 50
edited August 2016 in Road general
Do I need a torque wrench?
I don't like reading manuals.
anything I have to look out for ?

Comments

  • itboffin
    itboffin Posts: 20,064
    yes a torque wrench is a good idea until you get used to whats right for the new bike, enjoy!
    Rule #5 // Harden The Feck Up.
    Rule #9 // If you are out riding in bad weather, it means you are a badass. Period.
    Rule #12 // The correct number of bikes to own is n+1.
    Rule #42 // A bike race shall never be preceded with a swim and/or followed by a run.
  • wishitwasallflat
    wishitwasallflat Posts: 2,927
    Torque wrench is an essential if you read manuals which tell you how tight everything should be - if you don't read manuals then don't do Amy bolts etc on your bike get your lbs to do all maintenance for you. Look out for bills though.
  • ravey1981
    ravey1981 Posts: 1,111
    don't get it wet
  • cougie
    cougie Posts: 22,512
    Never had a torque wrench. Had carbon bikes for ten years or so? It's only really the seapost collar you'd be tightening onto carbon anyway?
  • webboo
    webboo Posts: 6,087
    cougie wrote:
    Never had a torque wrench. Had carbon bikes for ten years or so? It's only really the seapost collar you'd be tightening onto carbon anyway?
    plus the stem.
  • rickeverett
    rickeverett Posts: 988
    Keep it out of direct sunlight . UV destroys the polymer. Apply factor 50 after washing it.
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,667
    Don't over tighten stuff (not that thats carbon specific).
    Don't clamp the frame (or at least be a lot more cautious than you would with aluminium).
    Use the correct paste on seat post and clean/reapply regularly (6 months?).
  • wishitwasallflat
    wishitwasallflat Posts: 2,927
    Webboo wrote:
    cougie wrote:
    Never had a torque wrench. Had carbon bikes for ten years or so? It's only really the seapost collar you'd be tightening onto carbon anyway?
    plus the stem.

    Well on mine

    Seat post collar
    Saddle rail clamps
    Brake caliper mounts
    Stem on steerer
    Bottle cage mounts

    all tighten onto carbon
  • Matthewfalle
    Matthewfalle Posts: 17,380
    If you don't want the expense of a torque wrench, get your self a Ritchey torque key - about £15 off the net - set to 5Nm so perfect for everything, comes with variety of Allen/screw bits so fits everything.

    Also get some carbon paste for carbon on carbon action.

    Finally - yup: as above re rain/sunlight etc unfortunately - bi-material complex.
    Postby team47b » Sun Jun 28, 2015 11:53 am

    De Sisti wrote:
    This is one of the silliest threads I've come across. :lol:

    Recognition at last Matthew, well done!, a justified honour :D
    smithy21 wrote:

    He's right you know.
  • aquaman LT
    aquaman LT Posts: 354
    A torque wrench and carbon assembly paste is a really good idea. If you're on a budget get Ice Toolz Ocarina...
  • napoleond
    napoleond Posts: 5,992
    Avoid cold or hot weather.

    In the cold (below 10°C) the carbon becomes very brittle
    In the warm (above 20°C) the resin starts to melt

    This is why the pros only use their frames for one race then discard.
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  • N0bodyOfTheGoat
    N0bodyOfTheGoat Posts: 6,058
    Bike thieves, water and jealous peers.;)
    ================
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    2016 Voodoo Wazoo
  • supermurph09
    supermurph09 Posts: 2,471
    Has it been rain proofed? If not I would invest in a urn to collect the ashes when it falls to pieces.
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  • fat daddy
    fat daddy Posts: 2,605
    isotonik wrote:
    anything I have to look out for ?

    the delivery van ?
  • Joeblack
    Joeblack Posts: 829
    Got yourself one of them there Soot bikes av ya!!!

    Things to watch out for.......

    Cars.
    One plays football, tennis or golf, one does not play at cycling
  • darkhairedlord
    darkhairedlord Posts: 7,180
    Watch out for people asking why you need carbon when aluminium/steel/wood is just as good. Don't forget to make sure it's got bb30 and always clean with a jetwash, especially the bearings.
  • kingstonian
    kingstonian Posts: 2,847
    Potholes
  • Frank Wilson
    Frank Wilson Posts: 930
    Watch out for the tendency to tell other cyclists how little it weighs
  • dowtcha
    dowtcha Posts: 442
    Chain catcher
  • Frank Wilson
    Frank Wilson Posts: 930
    Dowtcha wrote:
    Chain catcher


    Agree 100% after mine came off and mangled itself between front ring and frame.
  • BigGeordie
    BigGeordie Posts: 19
    People on forums offering spurious (if comical) advice?
  • KevinA
    KevinA Posts: 492
    Insurance, Ive got 2 carbon bikes and both insured for theft and damage, if you crash chances are the bike is scrap so make sure you get it insured.
  • keef66
    keef66 Posts: 13,123
    Carbon's a lot tougher than many people would have you believe. However, the lighter weight frames are often very thin in places that aren't stressed in use. My CR1-SL has a top-tube I can compress vertically using finger pressure only. So I'd say don't clamp any part of the frame in a workstand. If you need to, clamp it by the seatpost. If you have a carbon seatpost it's worth buying a cheap alloy one, or get the kind of workstand that clamps the fork dropouts and supports the BB shell.

    Or pay somebody else to maintain your bike.
  • e30matt
    e30matt Posts: 24
    You don't like reading manuals but you want people to spend their
    time reading your question and take the time to answer it?? :roll:
    Good luck with the new bike :mrgreen:

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