Squeezebox

I just watched a couple of videos about a new product, graphene. Very interesting claims on what this will do to bicycle technology.

manapua_man

Just like with electronics, I'll let someone else bite the bullet on 1st-2nd gen stuff.

BigAura

I'm sure the first graphene bicycle produced will be VERY expensive. At that point someone will say "Ah! Most expensive, must be the best!". Bicycle materials change all time, human behavior...not so much.

spinnaker

Steel is real. I don't see steel being replaced as the ultimate touring frame any time soon. Its big plus is that it can be repaired in almost any corner of the world.

Squeezebox

The most real thing about steel is that it has been surpassed by all other materials for bicycles. Look at steel rims for example. Sure Co-motion has some good steel bicycles, but not out of brand X 4120, and for that price I can go full carbon. Little improvement in metal frames and components has happened for quite a while. When did heat treated steel come out? Is Ti any better now than when it was first used for bicycles. Maybe there's still reasons to use those materials if you want.
I can't imagine someone to seriously be foolish enough to buy a steel bicycle in case it needs to be welded later on. I'm much more likely to need a cardiac defribulator.
But carbon continues to be improved. lighter, stronger, more impact resistance. Graphene sounds like it will mean lighter stronger resins. Dyneema as well should mean more impact resistance. Certainly these will produce a better bicycle. Unfortunately all the research and development comes at a cost. It's not the money that makes it a better bicycle, it's the R&D and the material and production costs.
Carbon is real, steel is not.

79pmooney

I'm riding a pair of Vittoria Graphene tires. Vittoria describes them as the next generation tire (my words), describing them on their star chart as being 4 out of 5 for grippiness, rolling resistance and several other characteristics. (I've tossed the packaging.). My experience with several hundred miles lives up tp their claims. I"m riding the 28c tires. Cushy, fat ride. They roll really nicely, feel great on corners and on iffy pavement. Confidence inspiring like the green Vittoria Paves were except I can see already they are far less prone to cutting.

So, for me, they seem to be $70 tires with just one drawback. $70. But maybe they will last long enough to be $70 well spent. Another plus, one that has me wondering why it took 25 years, ribbed tread. Us old farts who rode ribbed tread sewups BITD knew it was wonderful. Good to have it back.

Ben

indyfabz

****

TimothyH

Pretty much sums up my feelings.

I was a fan of Rubino Pro III Slicks but absolutely love the Rubino G+ Speed.


-Tim-

Marcus_Ti

Open Corsa CXIII are nicer than Rubinos....can also get them from overseas for $35 a tire on occasion.

TimothyH

My point was not to turn this into a tire thread but to talk about graphene as a material.

I'm not sure if graphene in the tires is a gimmick or if it actually does what tire manufacturers claim. If the latter is true then it is a wonderful material because the G+ Speed roll incredibly well and are very light weight.


-Tim-

JagR

Didn't Dassi already make a frame w/graphene?? Something like 750g and claim that in the near future it could be half that?

pdlamb

One of the best "training" I ever got was sitting with my parents as a child and making fun of TV commercials. Learning to be skeptical in the face of tailored sales pitches is a skill more people need.

JagR

I think I get your point but an example would be helpful. List a few of today's commercials you are talking about.

alan s 

I don't see a single link in this thread.

Rowan

Can't speak for him, but the medical ones that then have a 15-second disclaimer at the end.

Car commercials. All of them.

Any commercial that is not bike related, but uses a bicycle and rider. Refer ads mentioned above.

On a slightly different note, just imagine winning a Nobel Prize by just using sticky tape and a pencil.

Squeezebox

Something like that. That's one of the you tubes I watched. Someone else said impossible, until large sheets are available. I watched the one about tires also. The claims are interesting.
We'll see what happens!!

indyfabz

Here are a few.

alan s 

Could be bobcats.

BigAura

Lynx vs. Bobcat

willibrord

Too true. But bamboo is the frame material of the future.

spinnaker

Accidents happen all of the time. More than likely on tour. A small knick is nothing for a steel frame but can be a major catastrophe for carbon. Far worse if the damage goes unnoticed.

And you will likely not need a frame repaired is irrelevant. The fact is it can be repaired if needed. Go ahead and try that with exotic materials.

I also have to laugh at people who will spend a fortune on a light weight bike, when it would be healthier and cheaper to drop several pounds of of themselves.

alan s 

Yeah, with a side by side comparison, I'd have to go with links.

Here are some more.

Squeezebox

A nick in a carbon is not catastrophic, BS!! My point was some folks are saying a big jump is carbon quality is coming soon. Also nice that the low end of carbon is getting cheaper. Nothing was said about steel. I don't understand why anyone brought up the subject of steel.
Except that,
Some inferiority complexes are well deserved!!

DropBarFan

Graphene sounds great but consider how few CF production touring bikes there are now despite 30 years of CF racing bikes. Now we have CF cross & gravel bikes yet no CF version of popular LHT. Bike makers consider trad tourists as a captive niche market that is supposed to be happy paying high prices for outdated tech.

Squeezebox

That's pretty much it. CF is about fast light responsive. Go with a cross or gravel bicycle for touring. Look what the self-supported cross country racers are using.
I have no experience with MTB or fat bicycles. I wonder what those folks think about carbon? The 2 MTBers on carbon I saw last weekend were smiling.
Have there been any bicycle advances in the last decade that was other than carbon?