GCN Tech Show: Why is carbon fibre so important in cycling?

We cyclists owe a lot to carbon fibre. A quick look over our bikes, components or shoes will probably reveal that some, if not all, of our kit has been manufactured out of the stuff. In this week's GCN Tech Show, Alex and Hank take a proper look into what carbon fibre actually is and how it has been so pivotal in the cycling world.

Carbon fibre has a long pedigree as a material in both aerospace and Formula One, but eventually, it found its way into bike design. The ability to create free-form, complex shapes with very little waste compared to machining metal makes it the ideal material for modern-day aero-profile frames and wheels.

Carbon fibre is also a very tunable material. Depending on the weave and resin combination, you can give it very different properties, from stiff and strong, to compliant and forgiving. This is one of the wonder properties of the material; it means we can design bikes with the rider in mind, whilst retaining key aerodynamic and weight properties.

In hot tech this week, to carry on the theme of carbon fibre, Alex and Hank take a look at the updated Hope-Lotus track bike. This is the weapon of choice for the Great Britain track team at the upcoming World Championships in Glasgow. Featuring a new fork design, handlebar and a split seat tube that is reported to smooth exiting airflow, this bike really is pushing the limits of design. Not wanting to be left out, Canyon have released an all-new track bike this week, the Speed Max CFR.

Next up, and keeping it carbon once again, the boys turn their attention to the Reform heat-mouldable carbon saddle. When heated up and then sat on, it will mould itself to the profile of your sit bones. This creates a unique and tailored saddle that should hopefully lead to a more comfortable riding position.

In other news, an exciting new partnership between power meter brand 4iiii and Apple has been announced leading to the first integration of Apple’s 'Find My' technology into a power meter. This feature will allow you to track from any Apple device where a compatible power meter (and hopefully, bike) is.

Finally, the long-awaited Himalayas documentary has dropped on GCN+ following Si and Hank as they cover 446 km and over 11,000 metres of climbing in just five days. This documentary encapsulates the very fabric of adventure riding as the duo ride from Kathmandu to the Forbidden Kingdom of Lo Manthang high in the Mustang region of Nepal. Himalayas is now available to view on GCN+ and it is definitely not one to miss!

Of course, we make time for our usual favourites, Comment of the Week and the Bike Vault.

​​Want to see your bike featured in the show? Head over to the GCN App to submit a photo. Just remember that Ollie is a stickler for presentation and it could be the difference between a nice or super-nice vote.