Aluminum Bike Framesīefore carbon fiber became affordable and accessible to cyclists, aluminum was the most common frame material. For example, the type of resin used, the thickness of the layers, the construction style, the way the material is heated, the direction of the fibers, the grade of carbon fiber, and the density and types of fibers used all play a role in the ride characteristics, durability, stiffness, and comfort of the finished frame.įor more info, check out this interesting article about how carbon frames are manufactured. There is a lot of variation in the way that carbon frames are built as well as the way the carbon fiber itself is made. This means that the head tube, downtube, top tube, and seat tube consist of one continuous piece. Some high-end carbon bikes use modified monocoque construction. Some frames are made by bonding together individual carbon fiber tubes with a type of glued insert. Manufacturers use a number of different techniques. This material is then shaped into bike frames using molds and heat. The carbon and resin material is called a composite. Tows are bonded together with an epoxy resin. Thousands of these filaments are combined to form a tow or ribbon. It is also extremely rigid.Ĭarbon fiber is made by processing a polymer into strings or filaments of carbon atoms that measure 5-10 microns in diameter. It offers an incredibly high strength to weight ratio. The material was originally developed for use in the aerospace industry where parts need to be as light and strong as possible. Carbon Fiber Bike FramesĬarbon fiber is basically a plastic that is reinforced with super strong fibers. To help you decide between a carbon vs aluminum frame, I’ll start off by outlining each material and explaining how the frames are built. Steel and titanium are popular choices for custom made or ‘do it all’ types of frames. High-end bikes are almost exclusively made of carbon fiber these days. The majority of modern mountain bike and road bike frames are made of either carbon fiber or aluminum. Bike frames are most commonly made of carbon fiber, aluminum, steel, or titanium.
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