Bent bars

[Halfmanhalfbike]

Coming home from a ride, doodling along, came round blind corner on single track road to find a van coming the other way. Ooops!!! He braked, I braked but too late.........

Ended up on the ground with my head about 2mm from his front bumper

Got up, perfectly fine. Guy got out to see if I was OK. Checked over the bike and all that was wrong was the right drop was bent inwards about an inch.

Driver held bike while I bent it back straight. Went back easily. And seems rock solid now. No movement at all.

It's a Cannondale C3 carbon bar and my question is..............Has the bar been weakened. Is it likely to snap off when I'm really pulling on a climb or are they built to be bent anyway?

Ta,

 

[Dave5N]

You bent a carbon bar back into shape?

Time for new ones. Carbon could have damage inside where you can't see it.

 

[Halfmanhalfbike]

Dumb handlebar question

I've got Cannondale C3 bars. Just bent one drop back into shape after an off.

Are C3 bars carbon or alloy?

 

[kyuss]

The fact you've bent it instead of snapping it would suggest alloy. I wouldn't ride them if they've been bent, especially if you've bent them back. It'll have weakened the alloy and you risk them breaking when you least expect it. Bars are one thing you never want to break if you value your teeth, or indeed your life.

 

[barq]

Sorry, but you are going to need to replace that. Besides it's not worth the risk, imagine your bars failing on a speedy descent.

 

[montage]

Carbon can bend? ....I thought it just snapped...shows what I know

 

[Joe24]

Do you mean that the bars themself bent or that the bars turned?
I didnt think carbon could bend
And if it didnt bend, i would of thought it would of snapped off when you de bent it.
Replace it

 

[Steve Austin]

carbon does bend, think of fishing rods, but they are designed to do this.

Carbon handle bars do not bend, and if they have they will need replacing. its sounds more like they ahve twisted, and you have twisted them back, is this what you meant?

 

[MajorMantra]

Are you sure the bars are carbon and not just carbon wrap? As others have said, I would have expected full carbon bars simply to snap or at least crack.

Matthew

 

[fossyant]

They aren't carbon if you've bent them back...

Do you mean it was twisted from straight - i.e. bars pointing an an angle if wheels straight.....?

 

[Gerry Attrick]

If they are carbon, they don't bend, they snap. If they are alloy, they may bend but require immediate replacement. Unless of course your life is worth less than the bars!!!!!

 

[Dave5N]

You have your answer...

Happy shopping.