Carbon Fiber Handlebars
Carbon Fiber is light weight, great strength...
but?
Carbon Fiber handlebars are typically chosen by those individuals
that are really focusing on weight as their primary objective. Easton
puts out a top of the line handlebar that uses the newest in carbon
nanotube technology to increase strength and still weigh in under
200g.
An elite Kestrel handlebar made of a carbon-aramid blend, with
a full lifetime warranty comes in at 170 g, but of course you may
need to win the lottery first... all that being said there is one
other feature of carbon fiber that is interesting and that is its
ability to absorb vibration. This makes that long trek a little
less stressful on the upper body and may justify the purchase of
a carbon handlebar.
Here's a list of features to look for:
Clamping Area: One challenge of using a carbon handlebar
is tightening down the brake levers and mounting on the stem, without
using so much clamp pressure that you risk crushing the tube. Slick
clear coated carbon fiber bars make the job more difficult and don't
provide a nice grabbing surface. They tend to result in your stem
and levers migrating out of position at the most inopportune times.
Newer designs include a textured clamping area, often reinforced
with fiberglass or aramid fibers to address this issue. Its a feature
well worth paying for.
Cabling: carbon bars come with both internal and surface
grooved designs to accommodate both brake and derailleur cables.
Seems to be more a function of personal preference and manufacturers
design.
Clip-on Aero Bars: Not all carbon fiber handle bars are
designed for aero bars. Clip-ons require reinforcement of the fiber
at the strategic points where the clamps meet the bar.. if the bar
has not been designed for this added stress you'll fracture your
handlebar in no time.
Kevlar Coating: KevlarŪ is the most common aramid type fiber
that is sometimes used as a coating material, particularly in the
clamping zones to improve abrasion resistance. Carbon
fiber, has poor abrasion resistance and scratches can compromise
the integrity of the bar and lead to fatigue, thus kevlar coating
of carbon fiber handlebars adds one more layer of protection and
gives your bars a longer life expectancy.
Hint: Covering small scratches with a coat of clear nail polish
will help protect the carbon fiber below. It is critical that any
fixtures that clamps carbon composite components is free of sharp
edges and burrs.
Warranty: All over the map, from nothing at the low end,
to lifetime on the really expensive $350 versions. Some manufacturers
offer a discount on a replacement if you crash, so you may want
to ask. Then "when" it happens you'll know if it is worth
hauling the broken parts out of the bush.
I've also noticed that some manufacturers have chosen to invalidated
their warranty if you don't use their proprietary stem, so once
again ask. No point is paying big bucks for a warranted bar only
to find out you can't collect because you're using your old stem.
Maintenance/Notes:
- as suggested earlier, inspect before each ride for scratches
and or fracture lines.
- don't over tighten or you'll crush the fiber
- don't grease the clamp zone, or you will have to overtighten!
Carbon fiber does not tend to seize in the clamp the way aluminum
or steel bars tend to.
- If you need to cut your bar, support it in an appropriately
designed jig (see below) so that you don't damage the tube.
- inspect and remove all sharp edges and burrs using a fine emery
cloth before clamping.
Weight: from 170 g up to 300g but always less then a similarly
designed aluminum or steel handlebar of the same strength.
Pricing: $100-$350. How broke do you want to be?
Related Articles:
Carbon Fiber: a general
discussion
Bike Handle Bars:
Design & Style Considerations
Bicycle Handle
Bars: Features to look for
Cutting
Down your Carbon Fiber Handlebars: Easton Site (pdf)
|
