Not quite unwanted Xmas pressies! Carbon bars and stem! Any real benefits?

[Bongo Bill]

Mrs Bongo Bill surprised me at Christmas by getting me a very nice Ritchey WCS Carbon Riser handlebar and a matching carbon stem. I was hoping for an Ipod but it was still a very nice surprise!

The new kit is meant to replace my Easton bar and Easton stem both of which are alloy. My bike is a commuter only. Other than the replacements being lighter and prettier will the carbon be up to the rigors of a 15 mile daily commute through the streets of London?

Cheers all.

 

[lukesdad]

Benefits No. As to weight you can get light alloy components. But thye will stand up to your commute OK I reckon.

 

[lukesdad]

Sorry about that reply had a2 year old screaming in my ear. They would certainly be strong enough as they are probably only strengthened with carbon wrap.Hence you can get lighter alloy components scandium for instance.

 

[Bongo Bill]

Sorry about that reply had a2 year old screaming in my ear. They would certainly be strong enough as they are probably only strengthened with carbon wrap.Hence you can get lighter alloy components scandium for instance.

Thank you. They certainly look nice. My Easton stuff certainly has a lot of life in them. As there were a pressie I cannot flog them on Ebay as that would certainly hurt Mrs Bongo Bill's feelings. I have just reading up on how to cut/trim the carbon bars. Do not breath the dust it says!

 

[fossyant]

Send them to me......

 

[Bongo Bill]

Send them to me......

Do you mean send them to you so you can cut them for me? I will have to keep them. Mrs Bongo Bill will probably beat me up if I do not.

 

[Garz]

No, fossy would want to borrow them indefinitely im afraid BB.

 

[Norm]

Do not breath the dust it says!

Very good advice! The fibres are incredibly strong and cutting them makes for a very fine dust. You do not want to be breathing that stuff.

 

[GrasB]

IIRC that stuff is fairly expensive genuine carbon fibre with metal inserts to provide extra strength where it's hard to make the carbon strong enough. It should be more than up to the job & help keep the vibration down a bit.

Thing is though if you want to use bar-ends then trimming the handle bars may well not be the best idea.

 

[andrew_s]

In principle, alloy bars will break sooner or later through metal fatigue, and most manufacturers will only give a few year's warranty on them. If they do break, it's potentially a nasty injury, though when mine broke I got away with it OK.

Easton aluminum handlebars are warranted for five (5) years from date of purchase. Easton carbon fiber handlebars are warranted for lifetime.

 

[GrasB]

One thing I want to know is how well scandium compares to aluminium & steel for failure. Generally with the latter it gives you some warning where as the former suddenly gives.

 

[lukesdad]

Got quite a lot of scandium componentsnot had one fail yet.

 

[GrasB]

It's more a case of what happens if they go. I've never had a Aluminium bar go on me but I know how ally fails.

 

[andrew_s]

"Scandium" bars are aluminium, but with some (0.1% - 0.5%) scandium in as an alloying element.
I would work on the basis that the failure mode is the same.

 

[02GF74]

^^^ carbon bars my have reinforcement in the ends to take bar ends - so if you are'nt going to fit them, go ahead and trim them down.

ofcourse any alteration will invalidate the guarantee.

be aware that fancy bike parts will attract the attention of thieves.