“Meanwhile, another respected engineer Jobst Brandt told me that the whole idea of a non-heat absorbing rim is nuts. He saw a collapsed carbon fiber wheel in Italy and did not like the stress problems in the spokes. “I think he is more into the art of the wheels than function in manufacture, building and performance,” he remarked [about Ric Hjertberg]. Yes, carbon fiber’s strength-to-weight ratio is off the chart but I do have to consider Jobst’s comments. How well do people know carbon fiber anyway? The engineers behind the new Boeing 787 Dreamliner, built with 50 percent carbon composites, can’t even accurately predict how the structure will behave in the event of a crash. Other experienced engineers remain uneasy in spite of the fancy imagery their computers show them. The material’s true value can be overrated when kept in context with its price.” [Full post here.]

Wheelbuilding guru Ric Hjertberg shows off Mad Fiber's new offering.

Rim failure from overheating is hardly unique to carbon, however. In our callow youth we once blew out an aluminum rim coming down viciously steep Alba Road above Santa Cruz on a 95-degree day.

All that said, we nonetheless were curious about Mad Fiber founder Ric Hjertberg’s response to Jobst’s challenge. (As a side note, these guys know each other well. Back in the day we often ran into Jobst at Ric’s Wheelsmith shop in Palo Alto.)

In an email, Ric offered up his defense. Anyone who knows Ric understands he’s as articulate as they come, so what follows is a minimally edited version of his original email.

First off, Ric makes it clear (and we would second him) that he’s no starry-eyed fiber groupie. “I doubt there’s a perfect bicycle or component design,” he notes. “Certainly, the classic tubular metal diamond with wire wheels, pneumatic tires, and chain drive is a timeless stroke of genius. But it’s a human invention — not a given, like rain.”

What does set Ric and other bike-engineering pioneers (Gary Fisher and Charlie Cunningham are leading examples) apart is their insistence on continuing to innovate. Despite accomplished careers where they reached the pinnacle of their profession, these guys still think there’s work to be done for improving the cycling experience.

As Ric put it, “I recommend we 1) Try and better understand the bicycle’s function, a lofty task, 2) Enjoy and expand our riding, 3) Share the joy of pedaling, and 4) experience the varieties of cycling.”

In other words, no matter how much mileage we have on our tires, let’s keep pinning the fun meter!

To that end, composites bring a whole new aspect to biking. “Cycling’s pioneers attacked the issues of efficiency, weight, durability, aerodynamics, safety, comfort, and beauty with a ferocious determination,” Ric notes. The hallowed names of Colnago and Cinelli and even Schwinn “certainly would have made extensive use of composites, were they available. Reckless, ambitious, challenging? Yes indeed. They pushed the limits in every possible way.”

Variety itself “with bicycles, like art or food, is part of the fun,” Ric says. “Carbon wheels are not ‘better’ than wood or aluminum any more than dirt is better than pavement or ale better than stout. Folks should try stuff out and judge for themselves.” And while “ill-advised uses” of carbon exist in cycling, they’re no different from other materials. Bottom line: “Composites are here to stay.”

Regarding carbon wheels in particular, Ric notes that they are late coming to the carbon-component game, which means they’re still young in their development cycle. “In the early days of suspension forks, there were many obvious shortcomings and skeptics. Carbon wheels will eventually sort it out.”

In terms of brake heat, then? Ric acknowledges that “carbon rims have serious issues with it.” Disc brakes (de rigueur on mountain bikes and getting that way for comfort, commuter and folding bikes) ultimately will solve the issue. “Perhaps the way carbon wheels renewed the popularity of sew ups will also apply to the adoption of disk brakes. Stranger things have happened,” Ric notes.

And what about the ever-colorful, imperiously opinionated Jobst? “His “opinions are always a welcome addition” Ric says, adding that Jobst is a “gifted, out-of-the-box thinker.” It’s important to note, though, that Jobst’s engineering career “predates” the carbon-fiber revolution.

“I doubt he will represent himself as a composites expert,” Ric concludes.

In any case, with dialog being the No. 1 piston for the engine of innovation, Ric says to keep the communication channels open.

“More than ever, we need sage advice on the costs and benefits of high technology,” he notes. While carbon is “not for everyone,” it’s paramount to “keep the conversation going!”

Link: BikeHugger visits the Mad Fiber factory

Today’s penultimate stage of the 2010 Giro d’Italia was highlighted by the legendary Passo di Gavia, this year’s edition’s highest point. The 20th stage packed nearly 20,000 feet of elevation gain (over five climbs) into just 110 miles of riding. While none of the stretches was particularly steep by this year’s Giro standards, that’s a lot of stomping on the pedals.

For us mere mortals, consider some comparisons:

Giro d'Italia 2010, Stage 20 profile, including the majestic Gavia Pass

The Terrible Two through the tough rolling country around Santa Rosa features 16,500 feet of climbing — but that’s over a course of 200 miles.

The Son of Death Ride near Los Angeles, billed as the “toughest one-day road ride in the U.S.,” features 17,000 feet of climbing over 138 miles.

These are as brutal as endurance races get, and they can’t touch the suffering inflicted by today’s Giro stage.

For all that, the racing was not as dramatic as yesterday’s stage. Only Cadel Evans mounted a serious attack, and it was too late (over the final climb) to matter. Through most of the course, the leaders seemed content to concede the overall victory to Ivan Basso, who rode inspiringly and convincingly to take the pink jersey yesterday.

So the 2010 Giro is pretty much over, and those of us following it day-by-day on Universal Sports via its (and Italian televison’s) live coverage have to feel a twinge of regret. In terms of pure racing drama, head-shaking unpredictability and climactic twists and turns, this year’s Giro ranks among the great Grand Tours of all time. It didn’t have Lance (who will end his career never having won a Giro) or Alberto Contador, who won it two years ago. But the other big names were there, and the action was nonpareil.

The Giro will be a tough act to follow for this year’s Tour de France, beginning July 3. Let’s hope the Giro’s challenges have put its contenders — Basso, Cadel Evans, Alexander Vinokourov, Carlos Sastre — into peak form to challenge Contador and the others in the Tour, making a real race out of another Grand Tour.

Besides freeriding and recreation, bike commuting is bringing more women into cycling as well.

A careless driver thoughtlessly opens a car door into the path of an oncoming cyclist, and a respected humanitarian is dead.

Duthie Hill gets ink in The Seattle Times. Not sure where the author came up with 5,000 members for Evergreen, but hey, we’ll take it! (Actual number is slightly above 800.)

On the mend in Bend: Adam Craig. He’ll be back before we know it.

The world’s second biggest bike show, Taipei Cycle, is off ‘n rolling, but where are the bloggers? Not a lot of grist coming out of the show. Must have something to do with travel budgets?

BikingBis’ 10 things to remember the next time you go bike touring. Clip ‘n save!

The final chapter: Jobst Brandt interviews conclude at Cozy Beehive with Part V.

NorCal Bikers gets a facelift. We like!

What’s a “spyclist“?

Mark Cavendish takes a tumble at Tirreno-Adriatico, but somehow sprinters never seem to get hurt.

Sausalito by the Bay is the latest town to consider taxing bicycles, and feel the burn of backlash as a result.

If you bicycle in Florida you have the highest chance of being killed of any state in the union. But that may be true of just about anything you do in Florida. We’ve never been to Florida, but if the novels of Carl Hiaasen are any indication, its infestation of drunken corrupt coke-headed crooks, thieves, liars and politicians might help explain the fatality rate.

In our continuing coverage of continuing series, Cycling Bee‘s latest on Jobst Brandt and Alan Durning’s latest on Juice Hawgs (e-bikes) are up ‘n running.

Kent Peterson covers Trek Demo Day at Duthie Hill.

Good interview with Mark Weir on Muddy Roots … his love of cycling, his burned-down house, his Downieville legendry all explored.

If instead of San Francisco you happen to be in Seattle on Saturday, don’t miss Kidical Mass at Bike Expo. Hope on over to Totcycle and tell ‘em what’s a good time for ya.

Also GoMeansGo and Baron Bicycles will be hosting a Pedal Party starting at 7 p.m. Saturday after Seattle Bike Expo.

You have to root for Jens Voigt in Paris-Nice, if only because many of us thought the guy was finished after his horrific faceplant in last year’s Tour de France. Now word comes he’s thinking of hanging it up after this year’s Tour.

CozyBeehive has another installment in his continuing series of interviews with wheel-building legend Jobst Brandt.

BikeShopGirl’s podcast interview with MTB racing legend Marla Streb is well worth a listen.

I guess if I rode an electric folding bicycle, I’d be going Yike! too…

And the next time you’re complaining about a tough climb or bad roadway or whatever, think of Blind Bobby McMullen, who has a new Web site spreading the inspiration.

Twisted Spoke’s redesign is done and Matt now has his own URL. Looks rad. Too bad TwistedSpoke.com wasn’t available but we all know how that works.