Will putting sticks on a carbon frame create any long term harm to the overall structure? Doesn’t seem like it would, but just making sure I am not missing the boat on a big no-no here.
Bonus question, Any effects on aerodynamics? I see some people taking the Zipp stickers off their wheels for aero… Any science behind that?
Really depends what color the sticker is
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No.
Really depends what color the sticker is
I’ll be sure to keep an eye out for Yaw Angles Vs. Stick Color in the next Cannondale installment
I asked my buddy at Zipp about sticker aerodynamics, and he says it’s so small they can’t measure it. So I wouldn’t worry about putting on some stickers.
A sticker will pull on the exterior injection-molded resin that makes up a carbon fiber frame. Over time, this resin could weaken, thus compromising the integrity of that spot on the frame or wheel. Consider this: almost every carbon frame that has ever failed has a sticker on it. It’s also bad for aerodynamics. The raised edges at both the leading and trailing edge of a sticker create unnatural turbulence, which creates drag and slows you down. I’d highly recommend you put stickers all over your frame and wheels if you like going slow, or want to have a horrible crash.
As we all know adding stickers to any part of your bike will gain you at least 12-16watts. after 10 stickers the watts per sticker drops a little bit to 7-9watts. But even still. Thats a huge advantage.
This thread made my day!
I’m not believing anything until Specialized tests this in the wind tunnel.
I have a sticker on my helmet every race. What does this mean???
I asked my buddy at Zipp about sticker aerodynamics, and he says it’s so small they can’t measure it. So I wouldn’t worry about putting on some stickers.
Some Zipp wheels have 1/2 the dimples covered by stickers. The fact that they couldn’t measure a difference doesn’t say much about the stickers, but it does about the dimples.
purely aesthetics
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Will putting sticks on a carbon frame create any long term harm to the overall structure? Doesn’t seem like it would, but just making sure I am not missing the boat on a big no-no here.
Bonus question, Any effects on aerodynamics? I see some people taking the Zipp stickers off their wheels for aero… Any science behind that?
sticker weight can add up fairly quickly. Is there a particular obligation you need to do so? You could easily be adding 40grams.
I put my tri bike away for the winter after my last race of the year. I left a race # sticker on it and when I pulled it off months later, it took the clear coat with it. Not structural but still not ideal.