a conversation with lbs about carbon bikes

[snailracer]

If you are a sad git (like me ) and enjoy browsing recall sites, you will quickly notice that a lot of recalled bikes/bike parts are expensive, branded, high-end and carbon.

BSO-level bikes very rarely end up on recall lists - surprisingly. Or perhaps it is not surprising at all - BSO's are not pushing the limits of weight and performance, whereas the expensive, branded stuff is in order to justify their price premium. BSO's are sold on the slimmest of profit margins, so recalls must be avoided, otherwise everyone loses money (and goes out of business).

Manufacturers of carbon bikes and parts target the lightweight, performance market, so there is always the temptation to "lighten" their designs, certainly for their high-end stuff. That said, you can also design a heavy carbon part, essentially indestructible, which can still be marketed as "sporty" because it is carbon, but isn't actually that light - a lot of entry-level carbon forks fall into this category.

 

[BrumJim]

Probably more because if you spend £60 on a bike/BSO that you didn't buy as an essential peice of transport, if it doesn't work properly:
a) you probably don't realise it, or know why
b) you can't be bothered to take it back.
c) you aren't going to push it until it breaks.

If you spent a couple of thousand on a carbon bike, then chances are you would take it back for ANY manufacturing defect.

I had a steel frame almost fail on me once. It cracked at the chain stays where there is a small strut between the two, just forward of the rear wheel. I notice what I thought was a hair on one stay. When I took the wheel off, saw that one stay was completely fatigued in half, and the other had a crack over about 75% of the circumference. Glad I spotted that one!

 

[snailracer]

Probably more because if you spend £60 on a bike/BSO that you didn't buy as an essential peice of transport, if it doesn't work properly:
a) you probably don't realise it, or know why
b) you can't be bothered to take it back.
c) you aren't going to push it until it breaks.

If you spent a couple of thousand on a carbon bike, then chances are you would take it back for ANY manufacturing defect.
...

Your points are valid, however to counterbalance this, many more BSO's are sold than pricey race bikes, and their owners probably don't look after them very well. Also, kids do not ride pricey CF bikes, but are often found on the latest £69 dual-suspension cheapie from Asda.
I could also claim that someone who buys and races a pricey CF bike is likely to consider their frame disposable after an "off", and "upgrades" to a new one every year anyway, before it has a chance to accumulate enough damage to fail.
Recalls are usually instigated by the authorities, who presumably are impartial.

 

[Jezston]

For example, Specialised have used McLaren's research team to assist in building their S-Works pro bikes.

Perhaps it's just the cynic in me, but something about that concept sounds more like a marketing strategy than about building better bikes.

 

[Hip Priest]

Perhaps it's just the cynic in me, but something about that concept sounds more like a marketing strategy than about building better bikes.

Marketing strategy? You could be right. McLaren's Jenson Button is seen with an S Works bike in his recent Head & Shoulders ad - logo prominently positioned.

 

[raindog]

Aluminium frames break too - do a google picture search - loads of examples.

 

[jay clock]

My only ever break was a 531 frame. Twice in the same place. Rear dropout broke back in the 80s. Repaired first time, replaced frame the second.

If carbon bikes falling apart was a massive problem, would we not hear more?

 

[snailracer]

My only ever break was a 531 frame. Twice in the same place. Rear dropout broke back in the 80s. Repaired first time, replaced frame the second.

If carbon bikes falling apart was a massive problem, would we not hear more?

In terms of total bike sales, carbon bikes are a drop in the ocean.

 

[smokeysmoo]

In terms of total bike sales, carbon bikes are a drop in the ocean.

Carbon bikes should be dropped in the ocean

 

[HovR]

I think I'm going to stick with my Reynolds 531 frame at the moment.

---

I had a steel frame almost fail on me once. It cracked at the chain stays where there is a small strut between the two, just forward of the rear wheel

My only ever break was a 531 frame. Twice in the same place

Well.. This isn't filling me with confidence.

 

[cjb]

Marketing strategy? You could be right. McLaren's Jenson Button is seen with an S Works bike in his recent Head & Shoulders ad - logo prominently positioned.

That may or may not be the case, but laying up the CF layers isn't guesswork and I wouldn't touch an anonymous Far East build frame for that reason.

 

[cjb]

Perhaps it's just the cynic in me, but something about that concept sounds more like a marketing strategy than about building better bikes.

See above

 

[fossyant]

Way too many myths floating about concerning bikes/frame materials.

Quite often it's user error (overtightening stuff, no mechanical sympathy, poor maintenance).

BSO's don't get recalled as the manufaturers doesn't give a stuff - the things get chucked out.

I'd stick to walking if you are worried about bike materials.

I've never had anything snap or break on me (except a worn rim) - I've still got 20 year old alloy bars on my best bike, and I still do over 50 mph on it - if you believed all this crap you'd never ride your bike.

Time for you to walk everywhere !

 

[snailracer]

Way too many myths floating about concerning bikes/frame materials.

Quite often it's user error (overtightening stuff, no mechanical sympathy, poor maintenance)...

Those are the typical conditions of use when it comes to bicycles - if a bike can't deal with those, it is not fit for purpose.

...BSO's don't get recalled as the manufaturers doesn't give a stuff - the things get chucked out...

Recalls are typically instigated by the authorities and the manufacturer doesn't have a veto.

...I'd stick to walking if you are worried about bike materials....

I'm not worried about bike materials. It's just that some products are underdesigned in terms of robustness, which can happen with any material but is especially pronounced with carbon because it is marketed as lightweight and racey. In the 80's, bike makers skimped on steel bikes, too, there's plenty of broken Reynolds steel frames from that era.

 

[fossyant]

Funny that,

I've got a 20 year old Reynolds 653, Tange Cromo, and a Columbus SLX frames that haven't fallen to bits.

Stick to walking snail - you're obviously worried. My lightweight clubmate snapped a number of gas pipe raleigh frames (his winter bike) so even gas pipe is rubbish.