Carbon Fibre on MTBs

[MrGrumpy]

Ok guys your thoughts, was looking to put some bling on my Fury and was looking at carbon fibre stem, handlebar and seatpost. In some eyes needless upgrades but found a website doing quite decent prices for carbon fibre with alloy mixed in for said items. Good idea?

 

[dan_bo]

What's that addage?

Liight-cheap-strong. Pick two.

Ride safe.

 

[numbnuts]

OK if you can't afford the real thing

 

[zizou]

I'd avoid carbon stems - a good aluminium alternative will be lighter, stronger and cheaper. Even in the Tour de France most the racers still use alloy stems rather than carbon.

Depends what sort of riding you will be doing whether to go for carbon bars and seat post - personally for mtb use i'd go for an aluminium Thomson seat post over even the best, money no object carbon one. Maybe tempted by carbon bars though!

 

[Globalti]

Call me illogical but I happily use carbon bars and posts but alloy stems. Stems need tight bolts and I'm not sure carbon lends itself well to point loads; it's better with spread loads.

I love the Easton carbon post I have on my MTB; it's like suspension. Also got rigid carbon forks and they are really superb. Got 'em here: http://www.carboncycles.cc/index.php?s=0&t=2&

 

[MrGrumpy]

Call me illogical but I happily use carbon bars and posts but alloy stems. Stems need tight bolts and I'm not sure carbon lends itself well to point loads; it's better with spread loads.

I love the Easton carbon post I have on my MTB; it's like suspension. Also got rigid carbon forks and they are really superb. Got 'em here: http://www.carboncyc...ex.php?s=0&t=2

thats the website I`ve been looking at very decent priced stuff with the added lightness factor. I probably give the stem a miss and get something made of alloy.

 

[Zoiders]

Carbon wrap instead of proper carbon is not worth the effort, it's a cheap cosmetic effect only version of carbon with no real weight saving.

Spend the money on something else

 

[Muddy Ground]

The company are pretty good, so not a bad place to start but you're not getting the full monty if there's ali mixed in. Does suggest that the carbon is just a wrap effect so why have it? I'd go for an ali stem and post [Thomson for me, although USE are also nice if you want home grown] and then a Ragley carbon bar - bike porn there my friend ;¬)

I use them for brake stuff as they're as good as anybody else.

www.muddyground.blogspot.com

 

[MrGrumpy]

I realise its not the real mcoy but was looking at weight and the fact they look like carbon! I`m sure you can get nice alloy bars/stem for same weight etc but I reckon they will be expensive. Anyway thanks for the info just looking for something to upgrade the no name stuff on the bike, more bling than anything. Just ordered new pedals so thats the start Love the bike its a good base to upgrade bits on. New crankset will be the order of the day next but will probable wait till I where it out or see a bargain!

 

[hotmetal]

One of my roadie mates had a set of carbon bars snap on him whilst whizzing down some steep bumpy road. How he stayed on I'll never know. He did replace the bar and stem - with more carbon. Both his and my road bikes are full "dino-dust" but for some reason I've never felt comfortable using carbon on a MTB. To be fair though, that's just me. I'm sure the product liability lawyers of US companies like Cannondale would have had something to say about it if there really were an issue. Plus, the Boardman bikes have carbon frames and I've not heard of there being any adverse comments. Carbon handlebars do seem fairly expensive compared to their ally counterparts though, and you can imagine why. Easton's EA70 bar is half the price of their EC90 (carbon). To be fair though, CC's price for a carbon-ally hybrid bar seems to be similar to the EA70.