Factors that shorten product life:
□Hard, harsh ridin
g style
□“Hits”, crashes, jumps, other “shots” to the bike
□High mile
age
□Higher body weight
□Stronger, more fit, more aggressive rider
□Corrosive
environment (wet, salt air, winter road salt, accumulated
sweat)
□
Presence of abras
ive mud, dirt, sand, soil in riding environment
Factors that lengthen product life:
□Smooth, fluid ridi
ng style
□No “hits”, crashes, jump
s, other “shots” to the bike
□Low mileage
□Lower body weight
□Less aggres
sive rider
□Non-co
rrosive environment (dry, salt-free air)
□Clean
riding environment
WARNING: Do not ride a bicycle or component wi
th any crack, bulge or dent, even a small one. Riding a cracked
frame, fork or component could lead to complete failure, with risk of serious injury or death.
B. Understanding composites
All riders must understand a fundamental reality of composites. Composite materials constructed of carbon fibers are strong
and light, but when crashed or overloaded, carbon fibers do not bend, they break.
What Are Composites?
The term “composites” refers to the fact that a pa
rt or parts are made up of different components or materials. You’ve heard
the term “carbon fiber bike.” This really means “composite bike.”
Carbon fiber composites are typically a strong, light fiber in a matrix of plastic, molded to form a shape. Carbon composites
are light relativ e to met als. Steel weighs 7.8 grams/cm3 (grams per cubi c centimeter), tit anium 4.5 grams/cm3, aluminum 2.75
grams/cm3. Contrast these numbers with carbon fiber composite at 1.45 grams/cm3.
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