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The Lifespan of Your Bicycle
& its Components
fast walk, your body will continue to move forward, the momentum carrying you over the front of
your bike. You cannot and will not stay on the bike and what happens to the frame, fork and other
components is irrelevant to what happens to your body.
What should you expect from your carbon frame? It depends on many complex factors.
But we can tell you that if the impact is hard enough, the fork or frame may be completely broken.
Note the significant difference in behavior between carbon and metal. Even if the carbon frame
was twice as strong as a metal frame, once the carbon frame is overloaded it will not bend, it will
break. Completely.
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:
Delamination is serious damage.
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 different from 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, soft spot, or not be smooth and fair.
3. A difference in sound when tapping the surface.
undamaged composite you will hear a consistent sound, usually a hard, sharp sound. If you
then tap a delaminated area, you will hear a different 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 quiet and free 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 before riding.
WARNING
: Do not ride a bicycle or component with any delamination or crack.
Riding a delaminated or cracked frame, fork or component could lead to complete
failure, with risk of serious injury or death.
C. Understanding Components
It is often necessary to remove and disassemble components in order to properly and
carefully inspect them. This is a job for a certified bike mechanic with special the special tools,
skills and experience to inspect and service today's high-tech high-performance bicycles and their
components.
Aftermarket "Super Light" Components
Think carefully 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
cont'd
Composites are made from layers of fabric.
If you gently tap the surface of an
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