Carbon fiber matrix offers large performance improvement in all kinds of structures. So carbon fiber matrix has potential for maintaining the strength and stiffness required with much less mass than most metals including the three common bike frame materials. However, careful design and fabrication procedures must be followed. The implementation of carbon fiber in aircraft design has progressed to the point that large percentages airframes are carbon fiber.
Jim Merz is a smart guy---smarter than I am---and maybe I'm misunderstanding what he's saying here. But---whatever the future holds for carbon, whatever its objective theoretical points of superiority---its track record is abyssmal. I wrote that article so long ago that I don't even remember izzactly what I said or how I said it, but my opinion hasn't changed, and it's not due to my general stubbornness. Carbon is chart-topping strong, but it snaps without warning, and is the most "notch-sensitive" of any common frame or fork material. So...UTS (ultimate tensile strength---the glamor spec of frame materials) doesn't really matter with carbon. Glass has a much higher UTS than CrMo steel, but it doesn't fail in tension. I must have said that in the column. It is unlikely that any carbon frame or fork bought in 2012 (I'm giving them time to improve it still) will be both on the road and safe on the road in 2020. Something will happen, or at least wise heads will quit riding them. Steel can break, but it breaks a different way; is the LEAST notch- sensitive of any frame material; has an enviable---and I'd guess unpassable track record. Not to mention the looks....but that's in the eye of the berider, etc. I shall now shutup and quit repeating my already well-known 'pinions. Best, G -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en.
