9
votes
Are these abrasions problematic in a carbon fork dropout?
I'll tend to think the opposite to @Adam, with today's liability and consumer protection laws, if these scratches, which a normal wear and tear, are a problem, the manufacturer has a huge liability on ...
- 49.1k
9
votes
Are these abrasions problematic in a carbon fork dropout?
This is a common concern. It is inevitable that exposed carbon wear surfaces are going to get scratched.
I think you'll find a range of opinions on this. My own is that this is a problem and it is ...
- 29.2k
6
votes
Reconciling the two aspects: carbon is stiffer for power, but offers a softer ride
A simple explanation I've heard is that metal tubes are isotropic - their material properties are identical in all directions (tube shape and thickness being constant). Carbon fiber can be made ...
- 29.7k
5
votes
What is the name of bike fork spacer for shipping a bike frame?
There isn't one unified name for them. Where I work in the PNW USA we pack bikes a lot and the approximate most common term for them is "fork block," but "fork spacer" or the more ...
- 81.9k
5
votes
Is this a crack? Came off my Carbon frame for the first time
While one can't really be certain without performing an X-ray inspection, I think it's pretty safe to say this one is just a paint chip. The two later-added photos show the location and size of the ...
- 15.4k
4
votes
Carbon fork - removed exapnder plug before loosening stem
There's some distant hypothetical chance of damage from this, and it should be avoided, but it's almost certainly fine as long as no damage is apparent (cracking, delamination or separation of layers, ...
- 81.9k
4
votes
Possible damage in carbon fork of used road bike I'm about to buy
To me it looks like a very shoddy job of quality control initially, or a poor repair that has been painted to match the bike. I'd suggest comparing the paint on both sides of the fork to see if there'...
- 121k
3
votes
Accepted
What is the name of bike fork spacer for shipping a bike frame?
"bicycle dummy axle" or hub get good results in a search engine, including Park's DH-1.
Because of course Park has a tool for that.
Depending on how tightly you need to pack the bike, there ...
- 121k
3
votes
Accepted
Carbon damage to frame after sideway fall
The brown kind of looks like paint or grime from whatever your bike hit. Give it a scrub with an old toothbrush and some solvent and see if it goes away.
Mostly the damage looks like surface scrapes ...
- 4,917
3
votes
Accepted
Carbon fork - removed exapnder plug before loosening stem
There are various designs of expander plug on the market, both those supplied by fork manufacturers and others made by hardware and other component companies such as FSA. They reach various depths ...
- 13.7k
3
votes
Accepted
How should I deal with this splintered carbon steerer?
With carbon fiber structures, the designers are counting on every layer of carbon being there. They build in a safety margin, naturally, but I would guess they are counting on the structure not being ...
- 29.7k
3
votes
Accepted
Reconciling the two aspects: carbon is stiffer for power, but offers a softer ride
Looking at the stress-strain curves, aluminium is a very stiff material, especially when you design the frame to stay in low stress regions for good life expectancy. This usually means that you have ...
- 26k
3
votes
Reconciling the two aspects: carbon is stiffer for power, but offers a softer ride
Depending on how the carbon fibres are laid up, the flexibility can be altered by a huge amount. Different fibres such as kevlar and glass can be added to the mixture to increase flexibility in areas ...
- 13.7k
3
votes
Accepted
Canyon Endurace CF 8: expander vs compression ring
If I'm understanding right, you've got an upper headset bearing compression ring that you don't trust is dimensionally stable, and the headset keeps coming loose.
It is true that janky plastic ...
- 81.9k
2
votes
What should the torque of an expander plug in a carbon fork be?
The expander plug has no load to bear. After the steering has been adjusted and the stem clamped you could theoretically remove the top-cap or at least loosen the bolt. In the early stages of ...
- 8,269
2
votes
Where do I locate/install the compression plug for my stem in my carbon steer tube?
With a carbon steerer tube, you generally want to have the compression plug placed within the area where the stem would clamp. The general idea is that the clamping force of the stem has a solid ...
- 6,089
2
votes
How should I deal with this splintered carbon steerer?
Next time you cut, cut fully around the circumference of the steerer to nip any splinters/delamination in the bud.
Tape helps only so much.
- 657
2
votes
Grease carbon fork before crown race installation?
What is commonly called carbon fiber should actually be referred to as carbon fiber-reinforced plastic, or CFRP. It consists of carbon fibers in a matrix.
In the cycling industry, the matrix is ...
- 731
2
votes
Accepted
Scratch around carbon steerer from aluminium stem. Is this to be expected?
I would recommend getting this warrantied (specifically, get the fork and stem replaced). Although the groove is not terrible (i.e. the bike is not immediately an unrideable safety hazard), ...
- 15.4k
2
votes
Any help identifying a Focus carbon Izalco with SRAM Red?
Looks like a Focus Izalco from 2010.
You can find a review here: Focus Izalco Team Milram 2010 review:
Note that bicycle has SRAM Red. The one difference I notice is the lack of the 3T logo on the ...
- 10.6k
1
vote
Carbon damage to frame after sideway fall
From the single picture it's hard to tell definitively, but tentatively I think you'll be fine.
Best to get a mechanic have a look in person though.
- 657
1
vote
How should I deal with this splintered carbon steerer?
In the end, I took a different approach here.
The manufacturer assured me that the extent of the damage is no big deal, and that keeping the damaged section of the steerer was preferable to removing ...
- 3,981
1
vote
Carbon fork - removed exapnder plug before loosening stem
I would quantify the risks differently from Nathan. Remember that the fork steerer is hollow. The compression plugs support the walls of the steerer from inside against the stem's clamping force, ...
- 29.7k
1
vote
Possible damage in carbon fork of used road bike I'm about to buy
I don't want to be the naysayer but the fork exhibiting the same flaw in both sides in the same place and being the type of construction it is, I would very strongly advise you to consider replacing ...
- 13.7k
1
vote
What should the torque of an expander plug in a carbon fork be?
You use the manufacturer specified torque, which in this case is max 8 Nm but in another component it could be different. That value sounds like more than we are used to in this area of the bike, but ...
- 12.7k
1
vote
Hylix carbon fork and compression plug
Some things to consider:
The plugs only purpose is to be strong enough to not move up when you tighten the headset down.
The steerer will be clamped by the stem, so the stem will reinforce the ...
- 3,324
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