XC Alu V carbon bars

So it's been a while since we had one of these.

Now I have carbon bars on the big bike, and quite happy with them as they are uber strong DH things, but what about carbon XC bars?

EPIC XC always has some crazy stuff on spins, so would you trust XC bars to take the punishment? I only have the one face so would be annoyed if it got stoved in by fragmenting carbon bars. Having said that I've never heard of anyone in the club ever breaking bars of any sort.

And what about carbon feeling better than Alu, what's that all about?
I had a mega wipeout one day at speed on my HT, and the bars hit the ground so hard that they twisted the ritchy alloy stem so that one side of the handlebar was over an inch lower than the other.
I thought that the bars were fcuked as if you saw the way the stem twisted it was hard to figure out. got a new stem and still using the bars since over a year.
plus they were bought on ebay of some dodgy chinese guy even though they are ritchy branded i have my doubths.
I also find that they dullen the vibrations compared to the alloy ones.
I had a mega wipeout one day at speed on my HT, and the bars hit the ground so hard that they twisted the ritchy alloy stem so that one side of the handlebar was over an inch lower than the other.
I thought that the bars were fcuked as if you saw the way the stem twisted it was hard to figure out. got a new stem and still using the bars since over a year.
plus they were bought on ebay of some dodgy chinese guy even though they are ritchy branded i have my doubths.
I also find that they dullen the vibrations compared to the alloy ones.
once you've tried black (carbon weave) you don't go back...

carbon bars are more shock absorbing that alu -
never heard of anyones bar breaking suddenly either - just look around
on the next xc spin - we all have our faces on
I've been using a pair of Easton XC risers for almost 3 years, I'd say I put at least twice the load on my bars, compared to the rest of yiz, they're still fine.

Alum xc bars are usually very under built, you have to take more material away with alum to achieve the same weight loss, but, alum will yeild in a crash so you'll bend your bars, probably still crash, but you'll be able to ride back to your car / home

Seems like a stupid argument though, you'll crash either way, can't see someone landing with such force that they bend aluminum and not crash

The real issue with bike components isn't overload, it's fatigue, constant repetative load and unload, small scratch from ringing a brake lever, crack propogates, bang, fall on face.

Same thing can happen with carbon but it's usually a de-lamination process which is different to crack propogation.

So long story short, carbon is fine as long as you look after it properly, don't chip it or gouge it, don't use it if it crackles and creaks...

Oh and it does dampen out vibrations, which is nice
Propogates.......Propogation, are these a make of carbon bars I have not heard off!!!
Originally posted by ColinB View Post
crack propogation.
ah, crack, yes - reminds of this episode of The Wire, if you ain't never seen this series, get your wifey/lovey/partner person to buy you the full boxset on DVD for Christmas - it's going chaep in HMV
Originally posted by Smithers View Post
Propogates.......Propogation, are these a make of carbon bars I have not heard off!!!
nothing proper about you, apple juice guzzler
Why have alu or carbon when you can have scandium....mmmmmmm! All the strength of alu and the weight of carbon.
Originally posted by robmca View Post
Why have alu or carbon when you can have scandium....mmmmmmm! All the strength of alu and the weight of carbon.
Christ! That's one of the saddest nerdiest things I've ever done!!!
Don,
Alfie is doing very reasonably priced Crank Brothers Iodine carbon riser bars from 680-740mm wide, they are lovely and blingy! and his prices are better than CRC!
So it's been a while since we had one of these.

Now I have carbon bars on the big bike, and quite happy with them as they are uber strong DH things, but what about carbon XC bars?

EPIC XC always has some crazy stuff on spins, so would you trust XC bars to take the punishment? I only have the one face so would be annoyed if it got stoved in by fragmenting carbon bars. Having said that I've never heard of anyone in the club ever breaking bars of any sort.

And what about carbon feeling better than Alu, what's that all about?
I had a mega wipeout one day at speed on my HT, and the bars hit the ground so hard that they twisted the ritchy alloy stem so that one side of the handlebar was over an inch lower than the other.
I thought that the bars were fcuked as if you saw the way the stem twisted it was hard to figure out. got a new stem and still using the bars since over a year.
plus they were bought on ebay of some dodgy chinese guy even though they are ritchy branded i have my doubths.
I also find that they dullen the vibrations compared to the alloy ones.
I had a mega wipeout one day at speed on my HT, and the bars hit the ground so hard that they twisted the ritchy alloy stem so that one side of the handlebar was over an inch lower than the other.
I thought that the bars were fcuked as if you saw the way the stem twisted it was hard to figure out. got a new stem and still using the bars since over a year.
plus they were bought on ebay of some dodgy chinese guy even though they are ritchy branded i have my doubths.
I also find that they dullen the vibrations compared to the alloy ones.
once you've tried black (carbon weave) you don't go back...

carbon bars are more shock absorbing that alu -
never heard of anyones bar breaking suddenly either - just look around
on the next xc spin - we all have our faces on
I've been using a pair of Easton XC risers for almost 3 years, I'd say I put at least twice the load on my bars, compared to the rest of yiz, they're still fine.

Alum xc bars are usually very under built, you have to take more material away with alum to achieve the same weight loss, but, alum will yeild in a crash so you'll bend your bars, probably still crash, but you'll be able to ride back to your car / home

Seems like a stupid argument though, you'll crash either way, can't see someone landing with such force that they bend aluminum and not crash

The real issue with bike components isn't overload, it's fatigue, constant repetative load and unload, small scratch from ringing a brake lever, crack propogates, bang, fall on face.

Same thing can happen with carbon but it's usually a de-lamination process which is different to crack propogation.

So long story short, carbon is fine as long as you look after it properly, don't chip it or gouge it, don't use it if it crackles and creaks...

Oh and it does dampen out vibrations, which is nice
Propogates.......Propogation, are these a make of carbon bars I have not heard off!!!
Originally posted by ColinB View Post
crack propogation.
ah, crack, yes - reminds of this episode of The Wire, if you ain't never seen this series, get your wifey/lovey/partner person to buy you the full boxset on DVD for Christmas - it's going chaep in HMV
Originally posted by Smithers View Post
Propogates.......Propogation, are these a make of carbon bars I have not heard off!!!
nothing proper about you, apple juice guzzler
Why have alu or carbon when you can have scandium....mmmmmmm! All the strength of alu and the weight of carbon.
Originally posted by robmca View Post
Why have alu or carbon when you can have scandium....mmmmmmm! All the strength of alu and the weight of carbon.
Christ! That's one of the saddest nerdiest things I've ever done!!!
Don,
Alfie is doing very reasonably priced Crank Brothers Iodine carbon riser bars from 680-740mm wide, they are lovely and blingy! and his prices are better than CRC!