Giant momentum Anleitung Seite 38

While fatigue life is an advantage of carbon fiber, you must still regularly inspect your carbon fiber frame, fork, or components.
Carbon fiber composites are not ductile. Once a carbon structure is overloaded, it will not bend; it will break.
break, there will be rough, sharp edges and maybe delamination of carbon fiber or carbon fiber fabric layers. There will be no
bending, buckling, or stretching.
If You Hit Something Or Have A Crash, What Can You Expect From Your Carbon Fiber Bike?
Let's say you hit a curb, ditch, rock, car, other cyclist or other object. At any speed above a fast walk, your body will continue to
move forward, the momentum carrying you over the front of the bike. You cannot and will not stay on the bike and what happens to
the frame, fork and other components is irrelevant to what happens to your body.
What should you expect from your carbon frame? It depends on many complex factors, which is why we tell you that crash
worthiness cannot be s design criteria. But we can tell you that if the impact is hard enough, the fork or frame may be completely
broken. Note the significant difference in behavior between carbon and metal. See Section 2. A, Understanding metals in this
Appendix. Even if the carbon frame was twice as strong as a metal frame, once the carbon frame is overloaded it will not bend, it will
break completely.
WARNING: Never use clamping devices on the tubes of carbon frames. Clamps such as those found on bicycle work
stands and car racks can cause serious damage to the carbon frame.
Inspection of Composite Frame, Fork, and Components
Cracks:
Inspect for cracks, broken, or splintered areas. Any crack is serious. Do not ride any bicycle or component that has a crack of any
size.
Delamination:
Delamination is serious damage. Composites are made from layers of fabric. Delamination means that the layers of fabric are no
longer bonded together. Do not ride any bicycle or component that has any delamination. These are some delamination clues:
1. • A cloudy or white area. This kind of area looks different from the ordinary undamaged areas. Undamaged areas will look glassy,
shiny, or "deep," as if one was looking into a clear liquid. Delaminated areas will look opaque and cloudy.
2. • Bulging or deformed shape. If delamination occurs, the surface shape may change. The surface may have a bump, a bulge, soft
spot, or not be smooth and fair.
3. • A difference in sound when tapping the surface. If you gently tap the surface of an undamaged composite you will hear a
consistent sound, usually a hard, sharp sound. If you then tap a delaminated area, you will hear a different sound, usually duller, less
sharp.
Unusual Noises:
Either a crack or delamination can cause creaking noises while riding. Think about such a noise as a serious warning signal. A
well maintained bicycle will be very quiet and free of creaks and squeaks. Investigate and find the source of any noise. It may not be
a crack or delamination, but whatever is causing the noise must be fixed before riding.
WARNING: Do not ride a bicycle or component with any delamination or crack. Riding a delaminated or cracked frame,
fork or other component could lead to complete failure, with risk of serious injury or death.
C. Understanding components
It is often necessary to remove and disassemble components in order to properly and carefully inspect them. This is a job for a
professional bicycle mechanic with the special tools, skills and experience to inspect and service today's high-tech high-performance
bicycles and their components.
Aftermarket "Super Light" components
Think carefully about your rider profile as outlined above. The more you fit the "shorten product life" profile, the more you must
question the use of super light components. The more you fit the "lengthen product life" profile, the more likely it is that lighter
components may be suitable for you. Discuss your needs and your profile very honestly with your dealer.
Take these choices seriously and understand that you are responsible for the changes. A useful slogan to discuss with your dealer if
you contemplate changing components is "Strong, Light, Cheap –pick two."
Original Equipment components
Bicycle and component manufacturers test the fatigue life of the components that are original equipment on your bike. This
means that they have met test criteria and have reasonable fatigue life. It does not mean that the original components will last
forever. They won't.
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At and near the