Carbon Frames - last only 3 years?

[snailracer]

Fares are going to get very expensive if the airlines have to keep replacing their new aircraft every five years.

http://news.bbc.co.u...ess/6282820.stm

Redesign of dodgy CF wings added 2 year delay:
http://www.economist.com/blogs/gulliver/2009/07/the_dreamliner_dreams_on

 

[kevin_cambs_uk]

Your mate isn't exactly wrong but he isnt exactly right either, it's very much dependent on the bike and the rider.

If you must use a team issue replica for the commute day in day out and you are bit on the heavy side and it's getting battered every day then that's your look out, it's a risk of using any very light frame in any material, it doesn't mean it will turn to dust with simple age though.

Well thats me then, on my team replica bike ! OCLV Trek Carbon

Day in,day out,

Bought in 2003 still going strong, and its done 16,000 miles in the last 2 years alone,

built to last me thinks

 

[Jezston]

yebbut they have new cars every year because the old ones dissolve!

Yes but that's because they leave them out, like he said, when it's raining carbon fibre.

Regular rain and they'd be fine.

 

[User482]

My carbon fibre Giant road bike lasted 15 years, and was only written off because my ham-fisted brother-in-law over-tightened the seat collar.

On the other hand my steel commuter is 18 years old and going strong. I've also had a 19 year old steel Breezer MTB and 15 year old steel Thorn Audax re-painted, and I fully expect them to last the same amount of time again.