Ok, maybe carbon bikes aren't throw away after all

[Lister Farrar]

As the president of the retro-grouch skeptics committee of tripleshot, I've been occasionally dubious of plastic bikes and parts. But a few recent experiences may make me mange mes mots.

First Galen Davison fixed his own cracked Orbea with some carbon fibre cloth and resin. Still working after more than a year of riding.

Then Kirsten Arenson broke the carbon drop out on her Cervelo. Cervelo and Calfee said 'sorry'. Then Sam Whittingham of Naked Bikes said he could do a new stainless drop out with sockets to accommodate the seat and chain stay. I think Kirsten's going that route. I take some grumpy comfort that Sam had to go to METAL to fix it though.

Then this list of repairers and testimonials came out. http://velonews.competitor.com/2011/10/ ... mes_196178

But here’s a little secret: that beautiful carbon frame is easily repaired, provided the cure is administered by the right hands. In fact, repairing carbon is easier and more effective than any of its metallic brethren. The repair itself will be stronger than the surrounding frame, adds just a tiny bit of weight (we’re talking the equivalent of a decent sized loogie here), and, if you’re willing to pay for it, can be made almost invisible.

Steel is dead. Long live steel!

Oh yeah, but can they do lugs in carbon fibre?

[Evan.Carey]

nice to see that you have been updated. Do they go a little floppy after lots of riding though? And by lots I mean LOTS!

[Lister Farrar]

Wikipedia says this:

It has also been suggested that these materials are vulnerable to fatigue failure, a process which occurs with use over a long period of time.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bicycle_frame#Carbon_fiber

Calfee, who make carbon frames and repair them, say this:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bicycle_frame#Carbon_fiber

Carbon fiber also has a better fatigue life than steel, titanium, or aluminum, and the resins typically used to bond the fibers offer extremely good vibration damping.

There are many similar quotes google can find, most from cf companies though. Not enough time to look via google scholar.

But that's in normal use. I'm not sure it's the best choice for say, a guy who likes to tail whip his road bike, land hard on curb edges, and cartwheel backwards down steep hills still attached to his cross bike.

[Rolf]

Hmm... but on carbon do you pass everyone going downhill, without even pedaling? I think not.

[Barman]

Rob Mulder has fixed lots of carbon bikes http://www.robertscomposites.com/

[EricS]

and Rob fixes carbon wheels too. He repaired Henry De Boever's Zipp 404s.