[onespeed]

Havent posted in a while, but I have posted here about snapping carbon bars on 3 different occasions.

Well it happened again only this time to my carbon frame.

The crack started small where the head tube meets the top tube. It is about 5 inches long now.

Sent the frame back to the company and it is being looked at now.

Dont know what to think anymore. I aint that strong.

Must be the way I torque the handlebars since it is a fixed gear trackbike. Still would have thought the stuff they build airplane wings out of wouldnt snap.

 

[SleeveleSS]

Have you thought of just avoiding the stuff. There are plenty of metal options out there for you.

 

[Bob Ross]

"Doc, it hurts when I do this!"

...

 

[C-40]

That's what happens...

when you buy crappy carbon. Any more on the brands of failed components? I've been using carbon just about every place you can (except rims) since 2000 and never has the slightest problem. Two Colangos, three LOOK frames, FSA posts and cranks, FSA and Easton bars. Carbon stems still make no sense - no lighter and 2-3 times more expensive.

 

[danl1]

Track bike with brakes?

That stem, headset, and top tube show a lot of obvious physical damage not at all related to riding or 'the way you torque the bars.'

Might be due to the way you hit the bars, though. Might I suggest you stop riding around drunk and leaving your bike lying in the middle of the road?

Just sayin', it feels like we're not hearing quite the whole story...

 

[threesportsinone]

Track bike with brakes?

And top tube cable guides

 

[Marc]

I´d think you´d sooner trash your headset than smoke a frame due to the anount of torque loaded on the headset.

 

[robbyracer]

Seeing stuff like this is why I don't fully trust carbon. I'm 6'4" @ 225lbs so that probably doesn't help either.

 

[Creakyknees]

Robbyracer, don't let this turn you off of carbon.
That bike has been "well-used" at the least.

A steel bike would soak up bumps and bruises like that. Carbon has to be protected a bit more diligently. If you're looking for a bike to bang around with, don't buy carbon. If you're the type to clean things with toothbrushes and keep things stored in their original boxes, neatly stacked in order, then carbon will last you just fine.

 

[samsation7]

Yeah, your "italian" carbon doesn't fail. More likely Italian branded and Chinese made carbon is what you have. Puhleez. :hand:

Anyways, carbon is a crappy material to make bikes out of. They fail much more often than metal, and often catastrophically. Most of my teammates are still racing on aluminum frames with Ultegra. No material is inherently "safer" than another. It is simply that one is "easier" to manufacture a product more safely over another.

With CF rims, I'm surprised that they last as long as they do. Still riding on my Bonty Aero CF wheelset from 05 which had seen some serious milage.

when you buy crappy carbon. Any more on the brands of failed components? I've been using carbon just about every place you can (except rims) since 2000 and never has the slightest problem. Two Colangos, three LOOK frames, FSA posts and cranks, FSA and Easton bars. Carbon stems still make no sense - no lighter and 2-3 times more expensive.

 

[robbyracer]

Robbyracer, don't let this turn you off of carbon.
That bike has been "well-used" at the least.

A steel bike would soak up bumps and bruises like that. Carbon has to be protected a bit more diligently. If you're looking for a bike to bang around with, don't buy carbon. If you're the type to clean things with toothbrushes and keep things stored in their original boxes, neatly stacked in order, then carbon will last you just fine.

I'm pretty diligent about keeping up my bike but if there's a curb to hop off of or a dirt trail shortcut to take I'm all over it, well sometimes. Aluminium is just fine for now. Besides I don't like the idea of a 'catastrophic failure'.

 

[edhchoe]

It's a lemon.

 

[lalahsghost]

It's carbon fiber, you're lucky that it didn't shatter and explode in your face, leaving the rest of the bike to disintegrate in mere seconds!

 

[Cruzer2424]

Somehow, I don't think it has anything to do with how you torque your bars...

Can I suggest steel everything from now on? Steel with tons and tons of framesaver?

 

[C-40]

Italian??

What's Italian about LOOK, FSA and Easton?

My other thought is that frame has probably been crashed. If not, it was poor build. Any frame material can break or beand beyond repair in even a minor crash it the fork hits an immovable object.

If you read postings here for long, you'll see every type of material with a failure. Here's nice Litespeed that didn't last a lifetime. Notice that the carbon fork is NOT broken!

 

[onespeed]

What are you talking about?

Track bike with brakes?

That stem, headset, and top tube show a lot of obvious physical damage not at all related to riding or 'the way you torque the bars.'

Might be due to the way you hit the bars, though. Might I suggest you stop riding around drunk and leaving your bike lying in the middle of the road?

Just sayin', it feels like we're not hearing quite the whole story...

What are you talking about - The whole story...

I ride my bike to work everyday in NYC. There isnt anyway I am not going to get a scratch here or there. I commute every weekday and ride on the weekends, so the bike is never off the street-i also lock it up outside my office building. I have been down a few times on the bike, but who hasnt? It shouldnt make the frame crack. If I nailed something head on I could see this happening.

I called the manufacturer and told them I was doing the Montauk Century before I sent it back, they didnt have a problem with this (nailed the century in 4:55).

The frame is 2.5 years old. It is a replacement for my other Aegis that was hit by a car and wrapped around a pole. Those pics hurt more than anything.

I wont be giving up on CF. I like the ride too much.

 

[SleeveleSS]

What are you talking about - The whole story...

I ride my bike to work everyday in NYC. There isnt anyway I am not going to get a scratch here or there. I commute every weekday and ride on the weekends, so the bike is never off the street-i also lock it up outside my office building. I have been down a few times on the bike, but who hasnt? It shouldnt make the frame crack. If I nailed something head on I could see this happening.

I called the manufacturer and told them I was doing the Montauk Century before I sent it back, they didnt have a problem with this (nailed the century in 4:55).

The frame is 2.5 years old. It is a replacement for my other Aegis that was hit by a car and wrapped around a pole. Those pics hurt more than anything.

I wont be giving up on CF. I like the ride too much.

CF is not the right material for your application. CF bikes are not the kind that you lock up and leave outside all day everyday, crash on, and generally abuse, and expect them to last. Just get a steel bike. You might not like the way it rides as much (btw, much more affected by tire pressure than frame material), but at least you are less likely to have to replace it every couple of years.

 

[iliveonnitro]

That would be snow. I suggest aluminum everything.

Somehow I don't feel the carbon problems are the manufacturers' fault...

 

[uzziefly]

What's Italian about LOOK, FSA and Easton?

My other thought is that frame has probably been crashed. If not, it was poor build. Any frame material can break or beand beyond repair in even a minor crash it the fork hits an immovable object.

If you read postings here for long, you'll see every type of material with a failure. Here's nice Litespeed that didn't last a lifetime. Notice that the carbon fork is NOT broken!

I was just about wondering when someone would post that picture. :wink:

I saw one just like that (or close) at my LBS. I think it was a Litespeed too

 

[threesportsinone]

That would be snow. I suggest aluminum everything.

Somehow I don't feel the carbon problems are the manufacturers' fault...

Aluminum can oxidize, two of my Phil hubs have rust spots on them.