Specialized Epic Comp Road Bike??

[Jon C C on a Bianchi]

Hi All

I need some help/advice (no surprise there then! ). A friend of a friend is selling his Specialized Epic Comp Road bike for £200. It's about 10 years old. I saw it about 2 years ago and it looked brand spanking just-out-of-the-box new!!! He's hardly ridden it - still got its original front tyre. I think it's carbon frame - not sure about the forks/stays, shimano 105s?? - I'm thinking of getting it for Sam. Fortunately his growing spurt appears to have ended - but at 5'11'' he still looks huge for his Bianchi.

Do any of you know anything about the Epic Comp?

I've heard that carbon deteriorates but does that depend on how much it is ridden or is it just an age thing (bit like carbon dating)??

other than that any draw backs buying a 10 year old bike regardless of how well looked after it is and how little it's been ridden?

thanks in anticipation

Jon

I would be very surprised if it is carbon.

May be carbon forks and aluminium triangle.

I have not heard of carbon deteriorating with age, certainly not in the short term....some quotes below. However, it has very different properties to steel or aluminium and can crack if involved in an accident and not be obvious from the outside. Be careful if buying secondhand.

[quote]Carbon Fiber Resists Corrosion, Fatigue
Carbon fiber also will not deteriorate like steel. Carbon fiber is used extensively in airplanes partially because its fatigue strength far exceeds that of steel, Saadatmanesh said. "It can bend almost an infinite number of times."

It's also highly corrosion resistant. Saadatmanesh left a piece of carbon fiber material in an acid bath with a pH of 2.5 for 20,000 hours, and it was as strong when it came out as when it went in. "Steel in the same solution would melt in a few hours," he said.

[Jon C C on a Bianchi]

Thanks, Paul. I'll check it very carefully. i've just heard that some carbon frames turn into jelly about a few years. anyway I know it cost him over £1000 new. I've tried looking it up on the web but can't find a thing. doesn't help that one of their mtb range is also called Epic Comp. if Ok it sounds a bit of a bargain. if you find out anything let me know.
best wishes

Jon C

[Andrew G]

If it's an alu frame with carbon forks then most specialized stuff is pretty good so it should be a reasonable deal. Picking it up will tell you how light it is and riding about on it will help tell you what the fit is like and if it's suitable. A good once over to check for any cracks/scratches and the like should be okay.

The biggest downside I can think of with buying a bike of this age is the groupset. Firstly what condition is it in and then what is it. Reason being that even if in good nick then bits (cassettes for example) will wear and spares may be more difficult to get hold of and you end up buying new bits to effectively upgrade it to 10 speed for ease of replacements.

[mrP(Boonen)VT]

[quote]i've just heard that some carbon frames turn into jelly about a few years.

[Jon C C on a Bianchi]

Hi Andrew

I was thinking more the other way - less worried about wear and more that it's been ridden so rarely over the last 10 years that everything will be seized up, the cables stuck, and the bearing grease dried rock solid or something!! It's been kept indoors hanging on the wall of his front room!!!

anyway thank you both for the interest - I'm seeing it Saturday. I'll let you know how I get on.

cheers

Jon

[Grahame]

If it's the right size, for £200 I'd buy it.

If I remember correctly, the "Epic" in a Specialized name meant it was carbon fibre, it'll probably be aluminimum lugged and carbon fibre tubed.

Even if all the cables are shot and every bearing needs regreasing (headset, both wheels, forget the bottom bracket - it's probably a cartridge unit) the whole thing will only take a competent amateur about £20 in parts and 2 hours (max) to do the job. We could even do it one clubroom evening as a demonstration.

[quote="mrP(Boonen)VT"]I would be very surprised if it is carbon.

May be carbon forks and aluminium triangle.

I have not heard of carbon deteriorating with age, certainly not in the short term....some quotes below. However, it has very different properties to steel or aluminium and can crack if involved in an accident and not be obvious from the outside. Be careful if buying secondhand.

[quote]Carbon Fiber Resists Corrosion, Fatigue
Carbon fiber also will not deteriorate like steel. Carbon fiber is used extensively in airplanes partially because its fatigue strength far exceeds that of steel, Saadatmanesh said. "It can bend almost an infinite number of times."

It's also highly corrosion resistant. Saadatmanesh left a piece of carbon fiber material in an acid bath with a pH of 2.5 for 20,000 hours, and it was as strong when it came out as when it went in. "Steel in the same solution would melt in a few hours," he said.

[Jon C C on a Bianchi]

Thanks for the offer, Graham - I might just take you up on it.

Yes, it is a carbon frame. and a 'mates rates' price. Just hope it fits the boy!

cheers

Jon