The Carbon Fiber Bike Tradeoff – Light Weight But Easily Damaged
July 30, 2009 by Robert · Leave a Comment
In any competitive sport, equipment frequently becomes crucial, and that's very true of cycling sports. Carbon Fiber Bikes provide that lighter weight sought after, but there are tradeoffs. Here's a discussion that sheds light on the topic.
Exactly How Unbreakable Is A Carbon Fiber Bike?
There is a common misconception that Carbon Fiber Bikes are made and built for toughness and strength as well as for reduced weight. Wrong!. The truth about products made from carbon fiber is that they are extremely lightweight and are manufactured in various shapes and designs, the actual toughness of the carbon fiber material can be broken quite easily.
If you are serious regarding using carbon fiber parts for your bike, or are a serious road racing cyclist you will know that limiting the equipment weight means everything when it comes to competitive sports. By buying a carbon fiber part it will make a definite difference to the overall speed also also the effectiveness of your cycle and hopefully give you with an edge against the other racers.
If your carbon fiber frame on your new Carbon Fiber Bike gets even a deep scratch or gouge due to a fall, it can render the bike damaged beyond repair. A break or crack will mean that the cycle is probably best disposed of. Carbon fiber can be repaired, but due to the way and method that the material is shaped and made uniquely to the shape and design of the frame, it will never be as rigid as before.
If the tubing gets a crack or split, this will become the weakest point in the bike frame and will then produce additional stress which can then make the frame to crack open. You will definitely not be able to ride the bike on a down hill trail or over any bumpy terrain again.
Those who are not a serious cyclist, you might think about buying a cheaper "combination frame" such as a carbon fiber and aluminum mix which will give you the benefits of the bike being lighter, but will also give you a bike frame with a greater strength overall. If you bought a product such as a carbon fiber pump, you will find that it is not made from carbon fiber and that it is actually a hybrid produced to make it lighter but also stronger.
History of Mountain Bikes and the Sport They Hatched
With the ongoing explosion in mountain biking as a recreational activity, interest in the sport's origins and history is increasing as well. Actually, it's a good lesson in aiding understanding of where the sport is today in terms of the types of equipment that has evolved, and continues to evolve. After all, mountain biking has become an Olympic Sport. Here are some interesting facts.
Historical Facts About Mountain Bikes
Today, one of the fastest growing sports in the world is mountain biking. It's not only practiced by the elite professionals, but is also a wonderful way for the entire families to enjoy quality time together. What better way to keep fit and see the countryside?
When did mountain bikes first appear? Mountain bikes first appeared in the 1970s in California. In those times the sport of bicycling was rapidly developing. A group of enthusiasts such as Joe Breeze, Gary Fisher, Charlie Cunningham, Tom Ritchey, and others converted bikes for rough off road riding.
Pedaling uphill was not the strong point of the first mountain bikers. They were actually pure downhillers. They would race only dowhill and ferry the bikes up a mountain with a truck. Initial modified bikes were quite risky and often couldn't survive the stresses of downhill racing. Improvements and innovations were quickly made.
The first real mountain bike made with all new components was build in 1978 by Joe Breeze. Other giants in the field like Gary Fisher, Tom Ritchey, Charlie Kelley and Charlie Cunningham just to name a few, soon followed.
At the beginning, the bicycle industry was not very impressed with the mountain bike and many regarded it as a short-term fad. How wrong they were. In the 90s mountain biking took the world by the storm. Soon the mountain bikes were outselling the road bikes. And today, mountain biking is an Olympic sport.
Mountain bikes have really improved over the years. From the disc brakes, which are actually quite similar to the brakes on a car or a motorcycle, to sophisticated suspension. There are affordable mountain bikes for any kind of terrain - downhill, cross country, all-mountain, trials or freeride. Depending on your interest and goals, you have many choices today.
Mountain biking is a relatively new sport and recreational activity. From a bunch of enthusiasts to a mainstream sport, mountain biking is still growing and is here to stay.
