Originally Posted by not2fast
The guy at the Trek store tells me, in his sales shpeal, to avoid any bike that says COMPOSITE, only get a true carbon.
So, what is "composite?" He said usually a fiberglass and resin mix?
Any one have any ideas on this? I figure just his way of keeping me out of other bike shops, but is there any truth to it? Is Composite as strong as Carbon?
What bikes say only composite? Carbon fibers frames are Advanced composites. as stated before they are weaves, prepreg and wetted making an extremely strong and light material that is not dependent on tube radius to increase tensil and torsional strengh. Early composite bikes were made of carbon and the method of forming tubes was thermoplastics. these were not stable and reacted to reheating, being left in a hot car , etc. most bikes today are newer advanced composite CF, aluminum, titanium or steel, oh yeah don't forget bamboo. comparing the old composites, that are obsolete, to the new advanced stuff is just sales mumbo jumbo, apples to oranges if you will.