>From Trek on care and Maintenance of Carbon fiber frame and forks
http://www2.trekbikes.com/
This is way past 1983 cut off line but go to site and read about one of the great materials replacing steel built frames and forks. Here is one statement from Treks web site on Carbon fiber, "Warning Damaged carbon fiber can fail suddenly causing serious injury or death. Carbon fiber can conceal damage from an impact or crash. If you suspect your bike has been impacted or crashed, immediately stop riding. Take the bike dealer for inspection." I crashed into a car front wheel and fork first. A Litespeed Ti frame and Look / Litespeed fork. No visual damage to fork. I took it too a bike shop ( not a Trek dealer) and their advice, junk the fork which was my concussion. Yes perhaps a great material if you do not run it into anything big while going fast. Have a nice Holidays Charles Nighbor Walnut Creek, CA PS My bicycle club on Jan 1st 2006 has their annual ride up all of Mt. Diablo 4000 feet of climbing .All are welcome contact me off site