Carbon Fork Lifespan?
and my Google fu sux.
11-14-22, 07:54 AM
#77
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Here is the thread, for those who want a trip down memory lane:
https://www.bikeforums.net/road-cycl...ng-temper.html
https://www.bikeforums.net/road-cycl...ng-temper.html
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Originally Posted by rjones28
Addiction is all about class.
11-14-22, 08:00 AM
#78
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Here is the thread, for those who want a trip down memory lane:
https://www.bikeforums.net/road-cycl...ng-temper.html
https://www.bikeforums.net/road-cycl...ng-temper.html
.
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I knew where I was when I wrote this
I don't know where I am now...
05 Gunnar Roadie Chorus/Record
67'er
11-19-22, 05:11 PM
#79
Steel is real
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I have a 2008 time carbon fork on my 1993 peugeot prestige road bike with a steel steering pivot, never had a problem with it
11-20-22, 08:17 PM
#80
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I've recently purchased a new road bike to replace my old all steel one. I was a bit wary about getting this one because it had a carbon fork instead of a steel one, but I got it anyway, because I figured I can get the info about the average lifespan of this type of material on the Internet.
Well, since I am writing here, you can probably guess I couldn't find anything useful at all. Occasionally I'd find something about how many cycles a carbon fork would last, but that isn't very useful since I don't know how many cycles a fork will go through in one of my typical rides, and usually the info is about a specific brand and model.
Does anybody know what is the average life of a carbon fork in terms of years or distance? I average about 1800 miles a year, pretty low milage in the grand scheme of things. Normally I wouldn't be so concered if it weren't for the fact that unlike steel, which usually bends when it fails, carbon tends to snap. Or is my concern outdated? Do recent carbon forks have something in them that will keep them from failing catostrophically?
Any info or web site referrals will be greatly appreciated.
Well, since I am writing here, you can probably guess I couldn't find anything useful at all. Occasionally I'd find something about how many cycles a carbon fork would last, but that isn't very useful since I don't know how many cycles a fork will go through in one of my typical rides, and usually the info is about a specific brand and model.
Does anybody know what is the average life of a carbon fork in terms of years or distance? I average about 1800 miles a year, pretty low milage in the grand scheme of things. Normally I wouldn't be so concered if it weren't for the fact that unlike steel, which usually bends when it fails, carbon tends to snap. Or is my concern outdated? Do recent carbon forks have something in them that will keep them from failing catostrophically?
Any info or web site referrals will be greatly appreciated.
I've got a bike with a 32 year old ALUMINUM fork and I have no fear of dying because of it. You should be fine for the next several hundred years with that carbon fork.
Go out and ride!
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11-28-22, 11:04 AM
#81
Full Member
I just took my 2004 Bianchi Vigorelli (steel, with carbon fork) on a metric century last month. Cranked up 2k feet so I could bomb down the other side - IIRC, Strava said I nearly hit 50mph on that run, with an average on that descent of over 27mph. And then I got to go up 2k ft again, and bomb down the same road that I climbed up at the beginning of the day - nearly a dozen hairpins that required some hard braking. The fork (and the whole bike) did fine.
There's a small chip in the clear coat by the crown (which is alloy, I think) from an argument with a bike rack early in the bike's life, but she was my main bike for 14 years, and certainly has mileage in the 5-figure range.
There's a small chip in the clear coat by the crown (which is alloy, I think) from an argument with a bike rack early in the bike's life, but she was my main bike for 14 years, and certainly has mileage in the 5-figure range.
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11-29-22, 03:00 AM
#82
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I just took my 2004 Bianchi Vigorelli (steel, with carbon fork) on a metric century last month. Cranked up 2k feet so I could bomb down the other side - IIRC, Strava said I nearly hit 50mph on that run, with an average on that descent of over 27mph. And then I got to go up 2k ft again, and bomb down the same road that I climbed up at the beginning of the day - nearly a dozen hairpins that required some hard braking. The fork (and the whole bike) did fine.
There's a small chip in the clear coat by the crown (which is alloy, I think) from an argument with a bike rack early in the bike's life, but she was my main bike for 14 years, and certainly has mileage in the 5-figure range.
There's a small chip in the clear coat by the crown (which is alloy, I think) from an argument with a bike rack early in the bike's life, but she was my main bike for 14 years, and certainly has mileage in the 5-figure range.
11-29-22, 06:09 AM
#84
Senior Member
I would expect the carbon fork to last you the lifetime of your bike. I've had full carbon bikes that were 20+ years old and had no issues...
Any bike can be destroyed due to misuse, no matter the material.
My carbon fork (from 2009 BMC bike) has suffered minor damage from a pebble getting lodged in between the tire and fork. It is missing the paint on that spot, and perhaps a little bit of the resin has been chipped off. This caused me some concern at first. But I've since ridden it for another 5 or 10 000 km with no issues.
Honestly I cannot believe how many threads on this forum are made up of discussions on carbon fiber and whether or not it is safe/ prone to failure / better or worse than steel or alloy.
Any bike can be destroyed due to misuse, no matter the material.
My carbon fork (from 2009 BMC bike) has suffered minor damage from a pebble getting lodged in between the tire and fork. It is missing the paint on that spot, and perhaps a little bit of the resin has been chipped off. This caused me some concern at first. But I've since ridden it for another 5 or 10 000 km with no issues.
Honestly I cannot believe how many threads on this forum are made up of discussions on carbon fiber and whether or not it is safe/ prone to failure / better or worse than steel or alloy.
Last edited by maartendc; 11-29-22 at 06:14 AM.
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11-29-22, 09:20 AM
#85
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Agree, I think it is a result of the much more graphic/explicit nature of the photos one sees of failures or damage (assplode photos) as opposed to steel or aluminum which are often just dents. True Temper, Deda, Kestrel, Columbus, Look, Reynolds, Easton forks have no life limit unless damaged.
11-29-22, 09:55 AM
#86
Full Member
For an eventual n+1, I've considered just taking my Bianchi into a custom frame builder and asking for identical geometry, with modern adjustments such as disc brakes and clearance for 30mm. Actually, I'm pretty sure her frame can clear much wider than the 25mm I have on her, just not sure about the brake calipers...
12-02-22, 07:25 PM
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Not a big supporter of cancel culture, but even before the woke mob arrived, it was still generally frowned upon to punch out your colleagues
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You could fall off a cliff and die.
You could get lost and die.
You could hit a tree and die.
OR YOU COULD STAY HOME AND FALL OFF THE COUCH AND DIE.
You could fall off a cliff and die.
You could get lost and die.
You could hit a tree and die.
OR YOU COULD STAY HOME AND FALL OFF THE COUCH AND DIE.
12-06-22, 10:29 AM
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C&V is in the eye of the beholder. To me, it means bikes well beyond "Department Store" level, the ones you'd have had to find an actual bike shop for, with at least some pretense of performance.
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