http://road.cc/content/news/68109-carbon-mudguard-equipped-road-bikes-next-big-thing
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"Carbon mudguard-equipped road bikes: the next big thing?"
(9 posts)-
Posted 12 years ago #
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Carbon anything for road bikes is always the next big thing...
Posted 12 years ago # -
The tifosi looks good.
Just another twist on the variety of specs. Carbon now probably can stand up to rain and salt so if people are going to run carbon all year then they should fit mudguards, they will protect the components if long enough and have the flap at the end. Also they will stop people out with you getting covered in the spray from your back wheel.
Obviously, there are plenty of other options that would suggest this is more of an indulgence but horses for courses.
I would not think carbon will become the choice of commuting bikes any time soon however
Posted 12 years ago # -
Traditionally one might ride a carbon road bike through the summer, and come winter store it away and press a steel bike with 'guards into service until it's dry and warm enough to bring the best bike out of hibernation. That's all very good and everything, but what if you don't want to compromise and want to ride your 'best' bike all the time? And still want the convenience of mudguards?
What on earth is 'traditional' about a carbon fibre road bike? How long have they been manufactured? Not that long. Available to a wider market than elite racers? Even less time.
Clearly there are some very short-lived 'traditions' in certain parts of the cycling scene. Next we'll hear it's 'traditional' to use GPS or Googol Maps; for a Brit to win the Tour de France; or for Team GB to dominate the Olympic velodrome.
Posted 12 years ago # -
Laid back, I see how you have parsed the headline but not quite as crazy as actual carbon mudguards. Just crazy that carbon is now the norm for frames and if you fit aluminium muguards you can run it through the winter. Road cc will cover all types of materials but as crow river says they do suggest that carbon is the new aluminium for frames and everyone has at least one carbon bike now, mostly for summer of course but also now with clearance and eyelets for fenders
Posted 12 years ago # -
When I was putting together the Strava bike, I was surprised by the low cost premium of going to a carbon frame over conventional (Planet X do them for £399, whereas their metal frames seem to RRP around £200).
I still didn't go for it, since I was trying to go in at minimum cost, but I can see people finding a couple of hundred quid if they're keen road riders. Would be interesting to know the proportion of carbon:alu frames Planet X sell.
You can get mudguards made of carbon...
Posted 12 years ago # -
After the "summer" we've just enjoyed I'd have thought simply road bikes with mudguards would be the next big thing!
Posted 12 years ago # -
How long have they been manufactured? Not that long. Available to a wider market than elite racers? Even less time.
Carlton (rather, Raleigh Special Products Division) came up with the "Flyer" one of the first carbon-framed road bikes, in 1969 Road.cc article. It was of lugged construction. The mass market carbon-framed road bike for the magic £999 number is but 2 or 3 years old. Focus and Boardman came out with one around the same time. Before that there had been quite a few composite (carbon stays) frames for around the £1,200 mark. This was when I was first looking to get a more expensive road bike and still came away with an aluminium frame as at the time you could get a much better aluminium framed road bike towards the top of the price band for the same money as a worser carbon framed one at the bottom of that price band.
Ultimately, Carbon could probably end up getting much cheaper than metal frames if you think about the energy requirements of smelting steel or aluminium, drawing it into tubes and welding it vs. layering up carbon weave and glue and popping it under the hairdryer for 20 minutes*
*yes, crude analogy but you get the idea!
Everyone knows that turning up on a road club ride on a nice old steel frame makes you stand out far more from the crowd that a carbon superbike.
Posted 12 years ago # -
"
turning up on a road club ride on a nice old steel frame makes you stand out far more from the crowd
"...
Posted 12 years ago #
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