Derby cycle IMPULSE 2.0 - Inspecting Composite Components for Damage

Bicycle Owner’s Manual 31
components is irrelevant to what happens to your body.
What should you expect om your carbon ame? It
depends on many complex factors. But we can tell you
that if the impact is hard enough, the fork or ame may
be completely broken. Note the signicant dierence in
behavior between carbon and metal. See Section 2. A,
Understanding metals in this Appendix. Even if the carbon
ame was twice as strong as a metal ame, once the
carbon ame is overloaded it will not bend, it will break
completely.
WARNING: Be aware that high temperature in a
conned environment can aect the integrity of
composite materials, resulting in component failure
which could cause you to lose control and fall. This
beginns at temperatures like in a car, standing in bright
sunlight for a while!
Inspection of Composite Frame, Fork, and Components
Cracks:
Inspect for cracks, broken, or splintered areas. Any
crack is serious. Do not ride any bicycle or component
that has a crack of any size. Delamination:
WARNING: Delaminations in compositesmight
appear without being visible! If you have had a
crash, ear unusual noises or feel a dierence while
riding, let your dealer check the bike or the part. Don`t
continue the ride before having the bike or part beeing
checked!
Delamination is serious damage. Composites are
made om layers of fabric. Delamination means that
the layers of fabric are no longer bonded together.
Do not ride any bicycle or component that has any
delamination. These are some delamination clues:
1. • A cloudy or white area. This kind of area looks
dierent om the ordinary undamaged areas. Undamaged
areas will look glassy, shiny, or “deep,” as if one was
looking into a clear liquid. Delaminated areas will look
opaque and cloudy.
2. • Bulging or deformed shape. If delamination occurs,
the surface shape may change. The surface may have a
bump, a bulge, so spot, or not be smooth and fair.
3. • A dierence in sound when tapping the surface. If
you gently tap the surface of an undamaged composite
you will hear a consistent sound, usually a hard, sharp
sound. If you then tap a delaminated area, you will hear a
dierent sound, usually duller, less sharp.
Unusual Noises:
Either a crack or delamination can cause creaking
noises while riding. Think about such a noise as a serious
warning signal. A well maintained bicycle will be very
quiet and ee of creaks and squeaks. Investigate and
find the source of any noise. It may not be a crack or
delamination, but whatever is causing the noise must be
fixed or replaced before riding.
WARNING: Do not ride a bicycle or component with
any delamination or crack. Riding a delaminated
or cracked ame, fork or other component could
lead to complete failure, with risk of serious injury or
death.
C. Understanding components
It is oen necessary to remove and disassemble
components in order to properly and carelly inspect
them. This is a job for a professional bicycle mechanic
with the special tools, skills and experience to inspect
and service today’s high-tech high-performance bicycles
and their components.
Aermarket “Super Light” components
Think carelly about your rider profile as outlined
above. The more you fit the “shorten product life” profile,
the more you must question the use of super light
components. The more you fit the “lengthen product life”
profile, the more likely it is that lighter components may
be suitable for you. Discuss your needs and your profile
very honestly with your dealer.
Take these choices seriously and understand that you are
responsible for the changes.
A usel slogan to discuss with your dealer
if you contemplate changing components is
“Strong, Light, Cheap –pick two.”
Original Equipment components
Bicycle and component manufacturers tests the
fatigue life of the components that are original
equipment on your bike. This means that they have met
test criteria and have reasonable fatigue life. It does not
mean that the original components will last forever. They
won’t.