Bicycle Tech for Caterham

[scannon]

Stronger and lighter.

 

http://www.pistonheads.com/news/general/bicycle-tech-for-caterham/33160

[Davemk1]

Cool stuff.

 

I'm a bicycle framebuilder who has a decades long relationship with Reynolds and their top guy Keith who is named in the article. I use Reynolds tubes exclusively on my bikes and they make many of the tubes I use just for me and to my specs. I can see no reason why they can't cut the chassis weight by 10% while making is stronger at the same time....no doubt in a true space frame there are a long of places the tube walls could be significantly thinner and since they should be in tension of compression only they can deal with the stresses well.

 

I know Westfield uses Reynolds tubes on their wide track front A arms with great success and expect that this kind of thing will spread. The only problem is that the cost will go up in a serious way. DOM steel tubes are as cheap as dirt but good high strength butted steel isn't....not even close.

 

dave

[toedrag]

On a semi-related note, another composite used on bicycles that could also be interesting for an automotive application is 'carbon fiber flax', which is supposed to be stronger, lighter, and much cheaper than traditional carbon fiber.

[DaveStruve]

Im curious to actual weight savings. They are saying 10%, but is that only from the frame? Seems like that would only translate to around 10 - 15lbs.