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Carbon cycle wings interest list

Echidna - 1/6/09 at 09:25 AM

So, how many of you will be interested for a pair of carbon fiber cycle wings? The width of these are 220mm and their cost is 140 GBP for a pair.
If there are more than 5 orders for UK/Europe, i will offer free shipping!
In a few hours i will post some pictures.
Thanks for your time!

[Edited on 1/6/09 by Echidna]

cd.thomson - 1/6/09 at 10:16 AM

i will wait for pictures.. also I will need full dimensions to check that my 17inch wheels will fit underneath them

Echidna - 1/6/09 at 10:17 AM

Pics will come soon! Thanks!

cd.thomson - 1/6/09 at 02:18 PM

Also how will they be constructed? wet lay with a fiberglass bottom layer?

Echidna - 1/6/09 at 02:24 PM

quote:
Originally posted by cd.thomson
Also how will they be constructed? wet lay with a fiberglass bottom layer?

No, they will be made by vacuum bagging consolidation and all the layers will be of carbon fibre (4 layers of 200gsm 2x2 3K twill carbon). Don't be fooled by the hype that the fiberglass layers adds flexibility or lessens the brittleness of the carbon. Fiberglass adds nothing to the whole composite part.
Brittleness of carbon fiber composites is there ony when the part is not made properly, i.e. made with wet-layup technique where you come out with a resin rich and brittle composite part. Vaccum bagged carbon parts or vacuum infiused parts are next best to autoclaved prepregs.
It's hard to believe how stronger is a part made by vacuum bagging when comparing the same part made with cheap wet layup. And it's quite lighter too!
Hope this makes sense!

[Edited on 1/6/09 by Echidna]

cd.thomson - 1/6/09 at 02:28 PM

It does, thanks echidna, I will look forward to pictures - especially considering the low price

Echidna - 1/6/09 at 02:43 PM

Craig, the arches resembles perfect the arch of a common 17 inch wheel (with low profile tyre off course), but how wide your tyres are?

[Edited on 1/6/09 by Echidna]

iiyama - 1/6/09 at 03:41 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Echidna

quote:
Originally posted by cd.thomson
Also how will they be constructed? wet lay with a fiberglass bottom layer?

No, they will be made by vacuum bagging consolidation and all the layers will be of carbon fibre (4 layers of 200gsm 2x2 3K twill carbon). Don't be fooled by the hype that the fiberglass layers adds flexibility or lessens the brittleness of the carbon. Fiberglass adds nothing to the whole composite part.
Brittleness of carbon fiber composites is there ony when the part is not made properly, i.e. made with wet-layup technique where you come out with a resin rich and brittle composite part. Vaccum bagged carbon parts or vacuum infiused parts are next best to autoclaved prepregs.
It's hard to believe how stronger is a part made by vacuum bagging when comparing the same part made with cheap wet layup. And it's quite lighter too!
Hope this makes sense!

[Edited on 1/6/09 by Echidna]

Actually that isnt true. Carbon is strong and light but is also brittle, regardless of how its put together, thats just the nature of the material. Witness any accident in F1 or superbike or MotoGP race and youll see shards of carbon all over the road. The monocoques in F1 cars are not only made from carbon but also Nomex honeycomb. The weave direction and the way its laid up make a big difference to the strength and the honycomb is in effect a crumple zone.

For small components such as cycle wings its actually better to have a face ply of carbon backed up with glass. The glass adds a little flexability that carbon alone does not have. Pure ridgidity that an all carbon lay up will give is not really necessary for this sort of component, although I have to say that the cost that is normally associated with a total carbon layup would not appear to be associated with the product your offering! If it really is a 4 ply constuction of pre-preg carbon, Ł140 is a bargain.

[Edited on 1/6/09 by iiyama]

Echidna - 1/6/09 at 03:51 PM

I agree, carbon is a brittle material by its nature. I have written this in the past too. Read the last post of the thread in the link.
http://locostbuilders.co.uk/viewthread.php?tid=112666

Carbon is brittle, it will break in a brittle fashion, like the carbon parts you see all over the road when a F1 car collides somewhere. But, a carbon part will take a lof of effort prior collapsing.
When properly made, carbon has good flexibility, not that good as kevlar but good enough. Adding a layer of fiberglass to the carbon composite will not change anything just because the carbon fibers will still snap.

Tons of pages have been written on composite mechanics. Carbon is brittle but not extremely britle as people tend to think. And they think that way because they are used to parts not properly made. Carbon has gotten this bad name due to inapropriate techniques of manufacturing, this is wet layup.

140GBP for a 4-layer carbon part is really a bargain, 200GBP or 300GBP with a layer of cheap fiberglass is just insane!

[Edited on 1/6/09 by Echidna]

Jon Ison - 1/6/09 at 04:11 PM

Slightly off topic but on topic to, I have looked several times for a set of rear arch's in carbon, to date don't have any ?

Are they next on production list, as for interest list, a set of four yes (front & rear), two fronts not just yet.

Echidna - 1/6/09 at 04:13 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Jon Ison
Slightly off topic but on topic to, I have looked several times for a set of rear arch's in carbon, to date don't have any ?

Are they next on production list, as for interest list, a set of four yes (front & rear), two fronts not just yet.

Yes, i will soon have rear wings in my production list, i will keep you updated!

goaty - 1/6/09 at 05:59 PM

any pics yet??
will they suit 205/60/13 tyres??
especially round the diameter fo the tyre and rim??
cheers

Echidna - 5/6/09 at 01:26 PM

Pic1
Rescued attachment DSC00624.jpg