Understanding A Carbon Bike Frame And Its Build And Ride Quality Characteristics

A brief overview of carbon bike frame development reveals a direct descendant of US aerospace engineering activities that took place starting in the 1970s. Work on the space shuttle and the development of stealth fighter and bomber aircraft back then mainly powered this activity. Today, a carbon bike made from carbon fiber materials has a number of notable positive ride characteristics.

In the 1970s, aerospace engineers began considering ways in which they might make military aircraft lighter and more “invisible” to radar. Carbon fiber isn’t a metal, meaning that radar waves (radar stands for “Radio Detection and Ranging”) tended to not bounce off of it is readily as it does metal of all types. This was a great discovery, and meant that aircraft could be stealthier against such radar.

This gave engineers the idea to start substituting carbon fiber from metal in many different applications, most especially those involving aircraft. When it’s properly laid up or molded, carbon fiber is able to be shaped into many different forms. Aerospace engineers and others looked at this with excitement, because certain shapes slip through radar easier than others.

Carbon fiber also has a great many properties, all of which contribute to its structural rigidity and extreme durability, in many cases. This meant that its light weight and durable nature made it a perfect candidate for use as a material on the space shuttle. Lighter weight meant less use of expensive fuels for the shuttle, in other words.

These same aerospace engineers eventually migrated to entrepreneurial activities in many cases as well. This means that they struck out on their own, forming their own aerospace companies or other businesses that created goods made from carbon fiber. One of these was bike frames. Carbon proved to be durable, extremely light in weight and easily molded into such frames, with the right equipment.

Back in the 80s, however, many professional and hard-core enthusiast bicyclists were wedded to the idea of steel for their bike frames. Even Greg LeMond, who won the Tour de France three times, resisted the idea of a non-metallic frame. Eventually, however carbon fiber’s durability, strength and smooth riding characteristics won over not only him but many other cyclists as well.

Today, almost no professional road cyclist out there rides anything other than a carbon fiber bike. Lance Armstrong, eight-time winner of the Tour de France, rides a specially-made carbon fiber bike that costs in excess of $15,000 but weighs relatively little. Its handling and ride characteristics are without compare. Today, these characteristics have trickled all the way down to the average rider’s bike.

A carbon bike frame will probably never be as inexpensive as a frame made with aluminum or steel (titanium bike frames cost about the same as carbon fiber), but the cost has come down significantly over the years. Many bikes today come out of factories in mainland China and Taiwan, where high-quality bikes and bike frames are produced in great number. This results in a less-expensive frame, overall.

There is a big difference when it comes to weight with certain bike frames and carbon bike frame is the lightest material out for bikes. We have many different carbon bike frames that can help you perform better tricks like the pros.

Tags: bicycle, carbon bike frame, carbon fiber bicycle frame, cycling, sporting goods, sports

May 28 2010 | bicycle | No Comments »

How To Correctly Care For A Carbon Bicycle Frame

A carbon bicycle frame is definitely a well-liked choice for bicycle professionals and fanatics. The lightweight and strong material provides a design that is popular all over the world. Carbon fiber is a synthetic material, and is made by placing layers of carbon together with the grain in opposite directions. The matter is very light, and the method in which it is made allows for a extremely strong bike.

Customized carbon bicycles are very common among cyclists. This is because the process used to make them allows the manufacturer to create whatever design is needed or wanted. These bicycles do have a fairly expensive price tag. This is not just a purchase, but it is an investment. No matter if you are riding professionally or as a hobby, proper care should be taken of it.

This bike is indeed strong and well-built, but to keep it working correctly, regular maintenance must be practiced. Knowing the difference between a carbon fiber bicycle and metal bikes is a great way to save a bike. The metal will show damage signs. Their will be dents, bulges, or bends. This is not always true of carbon. Becoming familiar wit this material could save one from ruining their bike.

Carbon fiber is very sensitive. Cuts and scratches should be avoided when at all possible, but sometimes accidents do happen. When they do, the bike should be check by a professional. If not addressed, these marks could lead to the break down of the carbon and possibly destroy the bike.

The manual is easiest way to learn about any bike. Normally, it comes with the bicycle, but they can also be downloaded online or found on the company website. One should not perform services on a bike until reading and understanding the guide. This book includes important torque settings, warranty information, and special tools or techniques.

One can also visit specialty bike stores. Most shop owners and employees are educated on the carbon products they sell. Even so, the best way to get the information needed is the manual. If the book does not explain it, one should contact the company that made the bike.

Certain everyday practices can help keep a bike in the best shape possible. The most important of theses is parking. People are so tempted to prop their bicycle against something convenient when parking it. This is often a tree or fence, and it can end as a catastrophe. If it falls large amounts of damage can be caused to the bike. Parking in a safe place can prevent this damage.

Leaving a carbon bike in really hot temperatures is not recommended. The heat can weaken the material. It is suggested to keep bikes in a place where there is little exposure to high heat.

Lots of things are built tough, but they still must be cared for properly. A carbon bicycle frame falls into this category. The cost of the bike should make one want to be sure to keep it in great shape.

Get the fantastic prices you can get on carbon bicycle frames by looking online. There you will find many carbon bicycle frame choices to consider. Head online today and discover more.

Tags: bicycle, carbon bike frame, carbon fiber bicycle frame, cycling, sporting goods, sports

May 12 2010 | bicycle | No Comments »