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so all the Tour bikes are carbon and go on roof carriers. Is a modern carbon frame likely to get crush damage in a Thule 591 carrier ? (road bike, but presume no different for mtb)
I've taken mine in a roof carrier for the last 2 and a half years and its been fine. The only damage I've had is I wore a flat spot on the front tyre from where it was wobbling.
So long as you dont over clamp them, I cant see the problem?
Edit: And its a 591 we used
I nearly crushed a mates s works epic once in a Halfords one. That was a while back and a cheap rack.
Saw a carbon 456 on a rack the other day so must be possible.
I've just got back from a drive from poole to devon and back with my 456c on a 591 - no problems at all 🙂
Crushing the frame would surely be user error not the fault of the carrier..
But roof carriers are toss when it comes to fuel ecconomy so hang it off the arse end anyway just to be sure...
http://www.carboncyclerepairs.co.uk/your-questions_4.html
interesting view from carbon repair people
[url= http://cdn.cannondale.com/Manuals/2010_Cannondale_Bicycle_Owners_Manual_124451.pdf ]Page 93 - Guidance on types of racks and Thule model numbers[/url]
from the carbon repair link :
Dont clamp your pride and joy that has probably cost close to three months wages to your roof rack by the down tube even if it is gently holding it, Carbon frames are not designed to be held my there and have 70mph wind drag around it on a motorway..IT WILL BREAK
Hmmmm.....think I will stick it in the back !
ummm
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and that's over cobbles.
watch them hitting the down tube of a carbon santa cruz against a concrete block, I wouldn't have any worries about a roof carrier after that.
comes down to common sense if you want to try and crush it you will
dont overclamp it
much more dangerous are low over overhead barriers
You can certainly make carbon tubes clamp proof - just look at windsurf masts. Bikes ones are pretty feable by comparison though in that direction and the pro bikes above are "free" so a bit of a different senario.
It would make sense for a "consumer" bike (i.e. for the likes of you and me to buy, ride and get from A to B) to have a beefed up area of downtube that was clearly marked and clamp proof. The marginal change in ride characteristic and weight would not be noticed by a pudding like me (or you) I suspect.
I wont be clamping my Addict to any roof rack -the downtube is tissue thin.
Interestingly my mate drove though a barrier with 2 bikes on rood two weeks ago and ripped both bikes and roof rack off the car in one go and cause £1000 worth of damage to car .....mmmmm
margin walker, you mean nearly ex mate if it had ****ed your bike up ?
Mine goes on the roof, I wouldn't buy a bike I couldn't treat like a bike.