carbon fork dropouts

Are there any fork carbon-dropout durability issues, it seems like metal
might be a better material...for the dropouts? Could Carbon fiber
crumble/crush under compression over time (compression from the skewer), but
the fork makers probably have it figured out ok.

Eric Shanabrook wrote:
Are there any fork carbon-dropout durability issues, it seems like metal
might be a better material...for the dropouts? Could Carbon fiber
crumble/crush under compression over time (compression from the skewer), but
the fork makers probably have it figured out ok.

Don't bet on it. Carbon fiber composite only has metal-like strength
in the direction the fibers are oriented. Perpendicular to the fibers,
it's just ordinary epoxy.

Chalo Colina

Eric Shanabrook wrote:
Are there any fork carbon-dropout durability issues, it seems like metal
might be a better material...for the dropouts? Could Carbon fiber
crumble/crush under compression over time (compression from the skewer), but
the fork makers probably have it figured out ok.

Yes, they can be crushed, either by the front wheel skewer or on a car
rack(which is a BIG no-no).
marketing run amok, the weight savings is teeny, tiny...

Eric Shanabrook wrote:
Are there any fork carbon-dropout durability issues, it seems like metal
might be a better material...for the dropouts? Could Carbon fiber
crumble/crush under compression over time (compression from the skewer), but
the fork makers probably have it figured out ok.

Yeah, they've figured out how to sell lots of replacement forks
(something that should otherwise last a lifetime) once the fragile fork
ends get ruined. Good for business!

Qui si parla Campagnolo wrote:
Eric Shanabrook wrote:
Are there any fork carbon-dropout durability issues, it seems like metal
might be a better material...for the dropouts? Could Carbon fiber
crumble/crush under compression over time (compression from the skewer), but
the fork makers probably have it figured out ok.

Yes, they can be crushed, either by the front wheel skewer or on a car
rack(which is a BIG no-no).
marketing run amok, the weight savings is teeny, tiny...


CF dropouts! This falls under a new category: super stoopid light.
Whatever happened to basic common sense?

On Thu, 05 Jan 2006 03:59:29 GMT, "Eric Shanabrook"
wrote:

Are there any fork carbon-dropout durability issues, it seems like metal
might be a better material...for the dropouts?

I think so. You can file the lawer lips off a metal fork w/o worry.

Eric Shanabrook wrote:
Are there any fork carbon-dropout durability issues, it seems like metal
might be a better material...for the dropouts? Could Carbon fiber
crumble/crush under compression over time (compression from the skewer), but
the fork makers probably have it figured out ok.

Easton SLX 90 fork has carbon dropouts and it has been around for about
2 years. Litespeed Real Design HP Pro fork has carbon dropouts, with a
covering of aluminum on both sides. Its been around for a few years.
Look HSC5 fork has been out for a year now. It would be nice if
someone who owns the Easton or Litespeed fork could comment.

I think Giant is using carbon dropouts many if not most of their road
bikes now. This is more significant since it indicates the potential
for a flood of OEM forks with carbon dropouts in the years to come.

The real reason the manufacturers are adopting this it to save money
rather than take advantage of the teensy weight reduction.


On a side note. It looks like Giant has dumped most of their aluminum
road frames for 06. It is also curious that the low spoke count wheels
are only on their cheaper models. I wonder if they got tired of taking
the hit on so many warranty returns.

amakyonin wrote:
I think Giant is using carbon dropouts many if not most of their road
bikes now. This is more significant since it indicates the potential
for a flood of OEM forks with carbon dropouts in the years to come.

The real reason the manufacturers are adopting this it to save money
rather than take advantage of the teensy weight reduction.


Precisely! Once the design and tooling are paid for, a one piece fork
is cheaper to make, durability be damned. As an added benefit, the
makers can charge very high prices for the first and second generation
one piece forks, so the tooling gets paid off pretty quickly.

On a side note. It looks like Giant has dumped most of their aluminum
road frames for 06. It is also curious that the low spoke count wheels
are only on their cheaper models.


What's this? Signs of intelligent life in the bike market?



I wonder if they got tired of taking
the hit on so many warranty returns.


Perhaps they have rediscovered the 36 spoke wheel? "Everything old is
new again"!

Qui si parla Campagnolo wrote:
Eric Shanabrook wrote:
Are there any fork carbon-dropout durability issues, it seems like
metal
might be a better material...for the dropouts? Could Carbon fiber
crumble/crush under compression over time (compression from the
skewer), but
the fork makers probably have it figured out ok.

Yes, they can be crushed, either by the front wheel skewer or on a car
rack(which is a BIG no-no).

Even aluminum and steel dropouts are bad news when combined with lawyer lips
and a fork-mount roof rack. How many forks have you seen wrecked because
somebody had a difficult time keeping the bike propped up while
simultaneously working with the adjustment of the QR?

And, of course, over 26 years you're going to get a few people bringing
bikes into the store, claiming their fork is defective because the dropout
is bent outward at a 45 degree angle, and it just happened riding along.
Somehow. It doesn't take too long to explain to them what happened; of
course, you have to do so in a non-incriminating fashion, somehow convincing
them that you believe it's possible they might not have noticed it
happening. The thing we have to do sometimes to maintain a customer's
dignity... :)

--Mike Jacoubowsky
Chain Reaction Bicycles
www.ChainReaction.com
Redwood City & Los Altos, CA USA


"Ozark Bicycle" wrote in message
oups.com...

Qui si parla Campagnolo wrote:
Eric Shanabrook wrote:
Are there any fork carbon-dropout durability issues, it seems like
metal
might be a better material...for the dropouts? Could Carbon fiber
crumble/crush under compression over time (compression from the
skewer), but
the fork makers probably have it figured out ok.

Yes, they can be crushed, either by the front wheel skewer or on a car
rack(which is a BIG no-no).
marketing run amok, the weight savings is teeny, tiny...


CF dropouts! This falls under a new category: super stoopid light.
Whatever happened to basic common sense?