Carbon tax on carbon frames and components

by RD6

Jul 1, 2012

Today is Carbon Sunday, the govt introduced the so called "carbon tax"

One of my friends raised some good points

1.Consider the environmental impact of a custom steel frame - locally built, 20 years+ lifetime, easily repairable, against a carbon frame that is seen as 'disposable' after say 5 years. That's a big part of the reason I went back to steel.

2.Carbon fibre manufacture is high emission. Higher than any other material used for bicycle construction, taking into account the materials life cycle.

Thoughts, would we see the price of carbon frames and components increased?

 

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    Terry C

    I ride bikes because I enjoy doing so, and saving the planet has nothing to do with that.  A bicycle uses such a small amount of material of any type in its manufacture relative to other forms of transport, that no matter what it was made of, it would not affect my buying decision. The steel used in  a chro-moly frame is an alloy of iron, carbon, chromium and molybdenum, all of which has to be mined and refined.  I have one chro-moly bike and two aluminium bikes, and the next one is likely to be titanium, and I won't be worried about what carbon emmissions are generated by its production.  Just enjoy the ride.   

    Jul 2, 2012

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      Simon

      I remember reading that a bicycle manufacturer was already recycling carbon frames.
      I think it was Trek?? (or one of the major American manufacturers at least?)

      Has anyone else heard of this?
      2

      Jul 2, 2012

      • up

        David B.o.R.

        I may be wrong, but I thought that aluminum was the highest emission material for bike construction?
        1

        Jul 2, 2012