The Giant TCR Advanced 3 Disc carbon road bike
Check the pro peloton. If you want the fastest, lightest road bike, carbon composite is king. For some of the most highly rated bike companies, no other material competes. Think Cervélo.
But isn’t carbon comparatively fragile?
Its use in aerospace applications informs us that carbon is plenty strong.
Even if your thighs are Hoy-like, you can expect decades of service from a carbon frame made by a reputable bike company – as long as you understand that carbon bike frames and components come with their own care and maintenance protocols.
1. NO CLAMPING
As mentioned above, carbon is designed to be very strong but if you put any forces on it that it is not designed for, it can cause damage to the carbon. Clamping is one of these forces. A carbon tube can be crushed if it’s over-tightened, so beware of clamping a carbon frame in the jaws of a workstand’s clamp. Another consideration is in terms of transport – it is unwise to use a car rack that uses a clamping mechanism to secure your bike either on a boot mounted rack or a roof mounted one.
2. Talk the Torque
When dealing with carbon frames, handlebars or seatposts, it is impoprtant not to over-tighten them. In fact our best advice for working on a carbon bike frame or components is to invest in a torque wrench, so you can be sure that every part of the bike is fitted as tight as it has to be – and no more.
A quality torque wrench lets you know – via the universal language of ‘clicking’ – when your clamp is tight enough. Don’t crack your seatpost.
3. Give it a pasting
Talking of carbon seatposts and the like, don’t grease them as you would metal components. Use a gripper paste like this. Carbon Gripper compounds introduces a measured degree of friction to ensure a non-slip secure grip. What’s more, the part you’re fitting won’t demand the tightening torque that, say, a greased metal seatpin requires.
Use normal grease on carbon at your peril. Specific carbon-friendly products like this stop components from fusing.
4. Keep it looking and running great
All of the usual self maintenance applies, namely, keeping the chain clean and the tyres pumped up but if you want to go the extra mile and make your bike really sparkle, you could invest in a frame polish that’s made for the job such as Muc Off Silicone Shine.
Get your carbon bike looking its absolute best with a nice shine.
5. Servicing
As with any quality bicycle, a carbon bike benefits hugely from an annual deluxe service where the bike is stripped down then carefully reassembled. This is your best guarantee that your carbon bicycle will offer the smooth, quiet ride it was built for.
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