Is a carbon fork the safest?

On 2008-11-21, wrote:
Paul Kossa wrote:

I'm getting a custom ti bike build, which comes with a carbon fork
-- one of "the lightest AND strongest available!" (Don't they all
say that?) Maybe its cause my bikes are steel, but I just don't
trust that carbon stuff. I keep hearing how unseen/unknown
microscopic cracks can lead to catastrophic failure, and stuff like
that. Is there a "safer" option? (All my bikes are in the 25-pound
range, so, obviously, I'm no weight freak!)

So why are you getting a non-steel bicycle? I wouldn't consider
casting off my old custom made steel frame even though it has more
than 200,000 miles (10,000 per year) on it, albeit with a new fork
with threadless steer tube (the reason for the new fork).

Didn't you also have an insert soldered into the BB shell or something?
I may have not remembered correctly.

Such repairs are not economical for many steel frames, although
there may be sentimental value obviously.

On 2008-11-21, Ecnerwal wrote:
In article
,
Paul Kossa wrote:

I'm getting a custom ti bike build, which comes with a carbon fork --
one of "the lightest AND strongest available!" (Don't they all say
that?) Maybe its cause my bikes are steel, but I just don't trust
that carbon stuff. I keep hearing how unseen/unknown microscopic
cracks can lead to catastrophic failure, and stuff like that. Is
there a "safer" option? (All my bikes are in the 25-pound range, so,
obviously, I'm no weight freak!)

There were some delightful pictures linked to a few months back here,
when a squirrel suicided in the spokes of a front wheel on a carbon fork
bike, causing the fork to snap off both legs, causing a massive crash
with injury. I'd stick to steel.

I know someone who rode his aluminium/carbon Bianchi into a wall at low
speed. The 20 spoke front wheel remained true. The carbon forks
sustained no visible damage. The aluminium frame tubes broke just behind
the butts on the top tube and down tube.

On 2008-11-21, Carl Sundquist wrote:
news.suddenlink.net wrote:
[...]
Because _everyone_ has a squirrel run through their front wheel? How
many have done that to you?

Squirrel encounters happen.
I ran over a squirrel's tail, removing the tip of it. Years later, I
had one run into my rear wheel, bouncing off without damage to the wheel
and seemingly not much to the squirrel as it ran away.


Yes I know squirrels occasionally run toward wheels. But how many
people have actually had a squirrel get lodged in their front wheel
and wedged into their fork?

Use shrink-to-fit mylar anti-squirrel covers.

On Nov 20, 6:14*pm, Paul Kossa wrote:
I'm getting a custom ti bike build, which comes with a carbon fork --
one of "the lightest AND strongest available!" (Don't they all say
that?) *Maybe its cause my bikes are steel, but I just don't trust
that carbon stuff. *I keep hearing how unseen/unknown microscopic
cracks can lead to catastrophic failure, and stuff like that. *Is
there a "safer" option? *(All my bikes are in the 25-pound range, so,
obviously, I'm no weight freak!)

I have a titanium Moots..with a Waterford steel fork. Rides great,
isn't heavy, looks great.

http://www.waterfordbikes.com

On Nov 20, 9:32*pm, Carl Sundquist wrote:

Yes I know squirrels occasionally run toward wheels. But how many people
* * have actually had a squirrel get lodged in their front wheel and
wedged into their fork?

Funny thing about that. Since that picture was posted here-- well,
after some length of time, let's not get too spooky here!-- we
apparently had a bumper crop of new squirrels here in Austin (in a
drought, too). Little ****ers running around all over the place, to
the point where I saw a double run-over fatality the other day. Hey,
at least it was quick!

I lost count, but I think it was 4 very, very close calls during the
week or so when it was worst, and I'll freely admit that seeing that
picture made a believer out of me, even on my road bike whose tight
"openings" would make it hard to get a squirrel threaded through there
in the first place. Ow, no thanks!

Periodically some guy posts here about how he will never use a trailer
hitch rack because he doesn't want to damage his bike in event of a rear
end collision. How often do you hear of a rear end collision with a bike
rack v. a bike on a roof rack getting smashed into a garage door?

Well, there's a guy here who got up late one morning and in his rush
to get to a ride, forgot that his bike-on-the-cartop-carrier wouldn't
fit under the front of his carport. That is, wouldn't fit either way,
going in or going out, either.

Carry bikes inside the vehicle whenever possible. Then they have to
really work at it to get you! g --D-y

Paul Kossa wrote:
I'm getting a custom ti bike build, which comes with a carbon fork --

Then it's not custom. Get what makes you happy. If you have any
reservations, you're missing out on what a custom bike is supposed to be.

Ben C? wrote:

I'm getting a custom ti bike build, which comes with a carbon fork
-- one of "the lightest AND strongest available!" (Don't they all
say that?) Maybe its cause my bikes are steel, but I just don't
trust that carbon stuff. I keep hearing how unseen/unknown
microscopic cracks can lead to catastrophic failure, and stuff
like that. Is there a "safer" option? (All my bikes are in the
25-pound range, so, obviously, I'm no weight freak!)

So why are you getting a non-steel bicycle? I wouldn't consider
casting off my old custom made steel frame even though it has more
than 200,000 miles (10,000 per year) on it, albeit with a new fork
with threadless steer tube (the reason for the new fork).

Didn't you also have an insert soldered into the BB shell or
something? I may have not remembered correctly.

With enough miles the right BB cup moves enough to shred the threads
in the frame and if my frame builder can repair that, I see no reason
to throw away the whole bike. BB cups move and that is why right hand
cups have left hand threads as an antidote. It isn't easy to find a
reliable bicycle this size, (height and length). My Cinelli frames
did not last near this long.

Such repairs are not economical for many steel frames, although
there may be sentimental value obviously.

That what you say. Consider alternatives first. Besides, Peter
Johnson, my long term riding companion, would find your evaluation
unacceptable because he is the one who would build me a new frame.
That's a lot more time and expense.

Jobst Brandt

Bernhard Agthe schreef:
Hi,

Paul Kossa wrote:
I'm getting a custom ti bike build, which comes with a carbon fork --
one of "the lightest AND strongest available!" (Don't they all say
that?) Maybe its cause my bikes are steel, but I just don't trust
that carbon stuff. I keep hearing how unseen/unknown microscopic
cracks can lead to catastrophic failure, and stuff like that. Is
there a "safer" option? (All my bikes are in the 25-pound range, so,
obviously, I'm no weight freak!)

Make sure to test-ride a bike with carbon fork and one with
steel/alu/wood fork, whatever you want to compare - a few years back I
test-rode a friend's bike (which doesnt fit me) and recently another
bike with similar geometry (also doesnt fit me). The first had a carbon
fork and an aluminium frame while the second had an old-fashioned steel
frame. They sure do feel different! In my case I didnt like the
alu/carbon frame because it was built too light for me (though I'm not
heavy!). So, check it, ride both and choose which you like best!

Ciao...


You can compare a bike you test rode a few years ago with a bike you
recently test rode? Amazing.

Lou

wrote:
So why are you getting a non-steel bicycle?

For me going Ti is an attempt to avoid losing frames to rust, which
after some years of sweat springs up even on well powder coated
steel...

--
MfG/Best regards
helmut springer panta rhei

On Fri, 21 Nov 2008 18:59:10 +0100, Lou Holtman
wrote:

Bernhard Agthe schreef:
Hi,

Paul Kossa wrote:
I'm getting a custom ti bike build, which comes with a carbon fork --
one of "the lightest AND strongest available!" (Don't they all say
that?) Maybe its cause my bikes are steel, but I just don't trust
that carbon stuff. I keep hearing how unseen/unknown microscopic
cracks can lead to catastrophic failure, and stuff like that. Is
there a "safer" option? (All my bikes are in the 25-pound range, so,
obviously, I'm no weight freak!)

Make sure to test-ride a bike with carbon fork and one with
steel/alu/wood fork, whatever you want to compare - a few years back I
test-rode a friend's bike (which doesnt fit me) and recently another
bike with similar geometry (also doesnt fit me). The first had a carbon
fork and an aluminium frame while the second had an old-fashioned steel
frame. They sure do feel different! In my case I didnt like the
alu/carbon frame because it was built too light for me (though I'm not
heavy!). So, check it, ride both and choose which you like best!

Ciao...


You can compare a bike you test rode a few years ago with a bike you
recently test rode? Amazing.

Lou

Dear Lou,

You wouldn't believe how hard it is to get good comparisons on
highwheelers!

The magazines are utterly indifferent to whether Victors are better
than Rudges, and this is the kind of tire test that they offer:

http://www.hochrad.info/hochradseite...e%20reifen.htm

Cheers,

Carl Fogel