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When I was at Interbike last year, I remember seeing thousands of carbon bike components from nearly every vendor present. To nobody's suprise, the trend continues, with several companies pushing carbon component design. "Taking a first Look" reveals the details on Look's new all-carbon fork - carbon steerer, carbon legs, even carbon dropouts. There is no aluminum anywhere on the fork. Not only that, it's designed to work without a lower headset race. The fork weighs a mere 295 grams (10.4 ounces) and will sell for $500.

Look also revealed a new carbon frame, the 585, which weighs an impressive 990 grams (just shy of 35 ounces). The new frame should be standard equipment for the Credit Agricole team during this year's Tour de France.

Carbon is a great material for building high-end bike components, but I'm wary of using carbon on any of my bikes. Not only is the initial cost higher (which is kinda dumb, since it's pretty inexpensive to make carbon components), but your chances of equipment damage are a lot higher than with aluminum, steel or titanium, and the replacement cost is higher. I guess I might be in the target market if I were a serious racer, or had lots of money to burn.