Forum menu
I think i'm becoming obsessed with carbon fibre.. I hope i'm not the only one! list of carbon parts on bike atm and below that what I am thinking of getting.
Frame - carbon FS, (trek 9.9SSL)
Forks - carbon crown & steerer (rockshox reba world cup)
wheels - carbon, (DT swiss xrc1250)
stem - carbon - Kore
bars - carbon fsa
seatpost - carbon bontrager xxx lite
rear shock - carbon dt swiss
rear mech - carbon cage xtr m970
pedals - carbon composite time atac xs
chainrings - carbon/metal composite xtr m970 middle and outer
looking at getting over next few months:
FSA carbon chainset
carbon jockey wheels
carbon composite saddle? perhaps the tioga spyder?
perhaps a change in brakes from my hope tech V4's to a carbon set, but dont know as the V4's are phenomenal.
so am I obsessed? am I alone in my possible obsession?
any suggestions for usable carbon extras or component upgrades?
Rockgardn gloves with carbon knuckle protectors here.
Headset spacers too.
carbon isnt always the lightest/stiffest isnt that right Ngee
im looking at you stems and chainsets. i wouldnt go purposfully to get carbon over a stiffer / lighter equivent in alloy.
I love quality carbon, there's just something really pleasing and odd about it, the feel and the sounds, and the slightly-too-light heft. Also the look of UD, lovely. But I still draw the line at cranks- too expensive for too little benefit, I do have a set of scabby Noirs and the're heavier than my XTRs- and stems where alu just seems to work better.
It is a material I dare not touch. Perhaps I'm a luddite. I don't think being 16 st has helped me with the longevity of bits. Frames and bars have been bad, but to each their own, and was on the big Airbus and the seats are carbon, looked very cool indeed. Just not for me on bikes. Good luck with it.
Frames and bars have been bad
So they will be bad for evermore?
Perhaps I'm a luddite
Nail. Head.
I'm a bit like hillsplease - my head knows it's fine but my heart is not so sure.
carbon isnt always the lightest/stiffest isnt that right Ngee
Damn right Terry!
Carbon stems are pointless (been there, done that). They can look pretty, but that's about it, they're either heavy or flexy.
I'd not change an XTR chainset for an FSA carbon one (perhaps look at Next SL if you want to save weight). I'd also get Mt Zoom ultralight alu jockey wheels as opposed to carbon ones, I had some carbon ones, they wore out (as in wore through!) in one muddy race.
There's not really any inherent advantage in carbon brake bits either, again, change your V4s because you don't like them, not because you want a bit of bling!
KS are bringing out a carbon dropper post, that'd be an actual upgrade as you don't currently have one.
Carbon in the right places is what I'm sticking to, bars are No1 in my book and will soon be followed up by LB rims. Would have a frame if the performance justifies the price, most are proving to be strong enough but my aluminium frame is phenomenal!
KS are bringing out a carbon dropper post, that'd be an actual upgrade as you don't currently have one.
Can't fit one to that bike either!
but my aluminium frame is phenomenal
By what measure? A frame is strong enough until the point at which it ceases to be strong enough. It can't really be 'awesome' at it, it's just not broken yet...
It's a V2 Spitfire, I can't get a similar carbon frame with a ccdba for the same money. If they produced a Spitfire C they'd have something special on their hands providing it was well made, it would just be expensive.
Ye you should get the carbon jockey wheels that would be a great upgrade.
I really do disagree on that front, if you want to ride the back, rather than look at it.
TomH makes a fair point - stuff is getting better made all the time and improving annually and if we all predicated our views on the past then we'd not have full suspension bikes, discs or owt else as the early versions were generally poor. However, didn't Time make road bikes in the early 80s out of carbon so the application isn't 'new' as a consumer leisure product? Is there any reliable data on failures as I'm sure there are horror stories for every material?
Luddism has it's appeal for me at least. Not least as you can actually ride through Lud's church in Staffordshire - it's short valley in the rocks - recommended, but a bit of a road schlep to get there.
I had a carbon seat post. But it creaked, so it's gone.
Carbon bars and spacers is about all I'll stretch to. Carbon does look lovely but justifying an extra grand for a frame and a couple of lbs saving is too much...and I dont trust 2nd hand carbon.
I had a carbon seat post. But it creaked, so it's gone.
I just had this PITA experience. Kept it after discovering it wasn't the post. Turned out the frame needed the sharp edges inside the seat tube smoothing off. Not a peep out of the bugger now.
My next carbon parts:
Xxworld cup with black stanchions 120mm
Easton carbon wheels
Renthal carbon bars
Avid carbon brakes
I draw the line on others that has very little gain to be made carbon..
Whats the weight of your bike by the way?
My next carbon parts:Xxworld cup with black stanchions 120mm
Easton carbon wheels
Renthal carbon bars
Avid carbon brakesI draw the line on others that has very little gain to be made carbon..
Whats the weight of your bike by the way?
world cups are great forks. you'll love em.
the weight, hmmm not too sure as not got any scales but going on weights of parts from weight weenies and bike scale websites it should be between 9.7kg - 10.2kg
need to get it weighed though to be sure. but tbh it climbs like a MF :0)
I'd look at FRM forks if you like your carbon, lovely things, in a way that only the Italian's can do.
[url= http://www.frmbike.biz/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&view=category&virtuemart_category_id=7&Itemid=214&lang=en ]Here[/url]