Carbon fiber seat stay protection

[mfx007]

Have always been wary of carbon fiber seat stays. Over the years have considerd GF FS bikes, but have not liked the CF seat stay common feature. Now that my brother got a GF HIFI, I thought I would find out for him if there is anything that can be done to protect the CF.

I saw a post in here that mentioned "rino film".

There are plenty of bikes with CF seat stays and I don't know how much of a problem it is, but is there a little cheap insurance? I know I have crashed a time or two in the rocks and my steel frame doesn't care.

Thanks

[soupboy]

Not sure what any film is going to do for a rock impact. It will protect it from minor abrasions which, cumulatively, could lead to issues.

For FS bikes - 100% aluminum works for me.

[Stonehenge]

, I thought I would find out for him if there is anything that can be done to protect the CF.

I saw a post in here that mentioned "rino film".

There are plenty of bikes with CF seat stays and I don't know how much of a problem it is, but is there a little cheap insurance? I know I have crashed a time or two in the rocks and my steel frame doesn't care.

Thanks
Use your favorite old beer cans - use a tin snip and cut to fit then tape in placec. Style points too !

[dvo1]

So add a bunch of material on top of the carbon so it doesn't damage, but makes it heavier the aluminum version.:eyeroll:

Weight weenies at there best.:cool:

[Stonehenge]

So add a bunch of material on top of the carbon so it doesn't damage, but makes it heavier the aluminum version.:eyeroll:

Weight weenies at there best.:cool:

Exactly!

Clear tape patches can be ordered at LBS. They will help more with scratches than smashing impact. May lessen the damage if you rock it.

I do like the idea of an aluminum skin in your favorite beer colors.. helps you find your bike in a crowd too.:hit:

[mfx007]

I completely agree that CF for anything but a road race bike is not warrented and actually detrimental. That's why it is too bad that GF and others put CF on a bunch of their bikes. Cuts down the choices. For instance, my brother rode a Trek EX8 for a few weeks and just did not like it. Now went to a GF HIFI and feels much better to him - but now has the CF to contend with. Of course, there are other choices, but the LBS has has a few brands and the GF felt the best.

A close-out CAKE might be a good bike for the cost, but then there is the CF.

I could care less about the few oz. of weight savings that CF brings. Now that I think about it, there probably not much you can do to protect it. An added film may help some it it is tough. It would be nice if you could just order the bike with AL seat stays if you like everyhting else about the bike.

[Paul Swenson]

CF seatpost + AL frame = lots 'o preventive maintenance.

From what I'm reading the CF reacts with the AL creating a stuck seatpost. The only way to prevent this is to make sure there's a thin film between the seat post and AL.

[gopherhockey]

I wonder if, back in the day, people talked about aluminum like we're talking about CF now.

[Paul Swenson]

I wonder if, back in the day, people talked about aluminum like we're talking about CF now.

If memory serves me correct people would talk about the fatigue factor of AL.

[steef]

If memory serves me correct people would talk about the fatigue factor of AL.

Exactly!

Steel is real!:crazy:

[dvo1]

Yes we should all go back to steel framed single speed rigid bikes.

:banghead:

[Paul Swenson]

Yes we should all go back to steel framed single speed rigid bikes.

:banghead:

Dont forget the card in the spokes and the streamers in the handlebars.

[biking_stickman]

I purchased a carbon fiber frame because I dented the seatstay on an aluminum frame.

Dent an aluminum frame...throw it away...there isn't a good way to fix it.

It takes quite a crash to break carbon fiber...something that would definitely dent an aluminum frame.

While steel is still the way to go for durability, I think carbon fiber offers the best weight vs. durability and aluminum offers the best weight vs. cost.

[crux]

The rino-film option will help in eliminating abrasion and some minor point loading. Carbon is fairly robust but when it is agianst a sharp edge it will snap. This includes everything from how tight your stem is to when you bash up agianst a rock on the trail. If you must have carbon would highly recomend the film where ever you have a exposed cable to prevent it from snaping agianst the surface and usig a torque wrench when your doing home repairs.

[Kingbozo]

I have had the same carbon fiber bars for 5 years with no issues.