a carbon fiber filled composite reinforcement 40 comprises a circumferential zone 85 of for example approximately 90 degrees e g a quadrant that is axially reinforced with a higher modulus carbon fiber 90 than the remaining circumferential structure of the reinforcement 40 such reinforcement results in a zone of high stiffness 85 such a zone may comprise for example 90 degrees 180 degrees 45 degrees or any suitable zone angle or no particular angle per se for enhancing bending stiffness in a selected zone and hence orientation the zone may comprise a continuous reinforcement fiber e g axial 96 or orientated 95 chop random fiber granular oriented short fabric or any suitable filler for increased structural stiffness in one embodiment the tube 80 includes a high stiffness zone that comprises a base material having a property of high modulus relative to the base material of the remainder of the tube 80 in one embodiment the tube 80 is made from a material having varying states of stiffness around its circumference such varying state stiffness zones may be created for example by selective heat treating in one embodiment a high strength tube is manufactured having a first stiffness and a zone of that tube is heat treated using for example localized induction heating with a corresponding modulus change such as multiphase brass leaving a high stiffness zone in the non annealed area in one embodiment not shown two such high modulus reinforced zones are positioned diametrically opposite one another for example at 180 degrees apart circumferentially in one embodiment the reinforcement 40 comprises a suitable combination of selective high modulus construction or reinforcement and.