{"id":21292,"date":"2022-02-11T16:18:27","date_gmt":"2022-02-11T15:18:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bikeradar.com\/?p=664239"},"modified":"2022-02-11T16:31:17","modified_gmt":"2022-02-11T15:31:17","slug":"starlings-first-carbon-frame-utilises-thermoplastic-technology-and-could-shine-a-light-on-the-future-of-bike-design","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/rss_feed\/starlings-first-carbon-frame-utilises-thermoplastic-technology-and-could-shine-a-light-on-the-future-of-bike-design\/","title":{"rendered":"Starling\u2019s first carbon frame utilises thermoplastic technology and could shine a light on the future of bike design"},"content":{"rendered":"

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By Oscar Huckle\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Friday, 11 February 2022 at 12:00 am<\/p>

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Bristol-based Starling Cycles has created its first carbon frame in a radical departure from the brand\u2019s signature steel machines, shining a light on what could be the future of carbon fibre construction.<\/p>\n

Starling\u2019s founder, Joe McEwan, has called upon his experience as a former composites engineer to create this full-suspension electric mountain bike<\/a> frame, made from braided thermoplastic carbon tubes in the front triangle and steel at the rear.<\/p>\n

The frame is a collaboration between Starling and the National Composite Centre, also based in Bristol, and is a test bed for a range of innovative technologies that may represent the next developments in the manufacture of carbon fibre bicycle frames<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The use of thermoplastics results in a frame that is tougher, easier to repair and less energy intensive to manufacture, according to McEwan, while offering the opportunity to improve quality control.<\/p>\n

\u201cWith all these benefits, the project looked to develop a new high-volume, low-cost, high-quality manufacturing process for carbon fibre bike frames,\u201d says McEwan.<\/p>\n

A departure from steel<\/h2>\n
\""Starling\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
There is no steel to be seen here in the front triangle.<\/span><\/figcaption> Starling Cycles<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

McEwan\u2019s career has come full-circle. Initially a composites engineer in the aerospace industry focusing on carbon fibre R&D, McEwan started Starling Cycles in the shed at the bottom of his garden.<\/p>\n

He began with the aim of building simple and elegant single-pivot full-suspension mountain bike frames made from steel, after finding inspiration in a frame-building course he attended.<\/p>\n

Today, the brand\u2019s range includes the full-suspension Murmur, Twist and Swoop, with all models available in \u2018Trail\u2019 and \u2018Enduro\u2019 flavours.<\/p>\n

There are also McEwan\u2019s more unconventional creations, which range from the high-pivot, gearbox-equipped Spur to the downhill, gnar-focused Sturn, with a Jack Drive suspension system. It\u2019s a wild bike that you might remember from the 2018 video on our YouTube channel \u2013 check that out below.<\/p>\n