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Carbon is a material which requires special handling
and care during construction, servicing, riding, trans
-
port and storage.
Properties of carbon
Carbon frames are often used for racing bicycles.
The term carbon is commonly used for a com-
posite material of carbon fibres embedded within
a plastic matrix in a number of layers. The mate-
rial is extremely light but still extremely strong.
However it is susceptible to impacts and dents.
How to use carbon components
If you have a carbon frame or parts,
these should not be applied with
grease or oil. Please use special as-
sembly paste for carbon parts.
Carbon parts cannot be bent, dented
or misshapen after an accident/fall. If
this is the case, it is possible that the
fibres have been destroyed or have broken
off, e.g. within the part, which is not visible
from the exterior!
Therefore, it is vital to regularly check carbon
frames and other carbon components very
carefully, especially after a fall or an accident.
•
Look for splinters, tears, deep scratches,
holes or other changes in the carbon surface.
• Check if the parts have got softer or less
stiff than usual.
•
Check if individual layers (paint, finish or
fibres) come off.
• Listen for any cracking or other usual sounds.
If you are not completely certain that your
bicycle is in perfect condition, please allow
a specialist retailer to check the affected
carbon parts!
Do not clamp a carbon frame directly into a
work stand, instead you should secure it by
the seat post. If the seat post is also made of
carbon, use another tube made of metal.
Some carbon components require
lower torques than metal parts. Ex-
cessive torques can lead to hidden
damage, which is possibly not visible from
the outside. Frames or components can
break or warp to such an extent that you
could fall. Therefore please always adhere to
the instructions supplied by the manufactur-
er or ask for advice from a specialist. Always
use a torque spanner to ensure that you get
the required torque. Carbon parts may not
be applied with grease or oil. Special as-
sembly paste is available for assembling and
safely securing carbon components with a
low mounting torque.
Never expose carbon parts to high tempera-
tures! Even in the back of cars, the sun‘s rays
can generate such a heat that it can put the
safety of carbon parts at risk.
The following components and sec-
tions of carbon parts should be
checked regularly (at least every
100 km or 62 miles) for irregularities such as
cracks, breaks or surface changes, as well as
after any accident or fall involving the bicycle:
Transition area of the threaded bushing of
the drink holder, slot of the dropouts, bearing
areas in full-suspension frame, seat clamp,
derailleur hanger, derailleur clamp area, disc
brake mounting or brake boss, press-fit area
of the headset as well as the threads of the
bottom bracket cups.
Carbon =