Hmmm. Wood is anisotropic (has grain, different strength in different directions, as most Murikun kids know from baseball bats that break less often if they contact the ball with grain edge. Or did, when kid bats were wood). Ergo, if the "biocomposite reinforcement" is cut lengthwise relative to the tree, for maximum strength, it is also important that it be installed with the grain parallel to the long axis of the bike. If it is more than an amulet. :-)
harvey "grouchy pedant" sachs McLean va. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Jim Merz wrote:
>> Most French bikes from the 1970's that I worked on had a wood dowel in the >> steerer tube. Not sure why, but a 25mm diameter steerer is pretty flexible >> and the insert would make it stiffer. Also, if the steerer broke it would >> hold the front end on, for a few seconds anyway.
<sniff>
We cognoscenti refer to it as a "bio-composite reinforced steer tube."
So there!
-- -John Thompson (john@os2.dhs.org) Appleton WI USA