How do I evaluate a carbon frame if it's safe?
06-22-20, 03:24 PM
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How do I evaluate a carbon frame if it's safe?
Hi - my wife was driving home from a ride when one of the straps broke on the bike rack and her 3 week new bike went flying off the rack onto the highway. Fortunately she was in the slow lane and the bike ended up in the sand off the highway. The frame shows very little if any damage - wheel were bent and components on the handlebar took a beating. We spoke to the LBS where we bought the bike and they and the manufacturer of the bike helped us out on a replacement bike. My question is - can anyone recommend how we can figure out if the frame is ok on the bike that flew off the car.
TIA
Bob
TIA
Bob
06-22-20, 03:31 PM
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If the shop and the bike builder felt that it was in need of replacement, and it was replaced, why are you hoping it will be salvageable? Do you want to sell it to make $$$ back? Does your wife want to ride two bikes, one new and one all road rashy? I don’t get it. Did you ask the bike shop for a professional evaluation of the damaged bike? That’s where most people would begin this journey.
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06-22-20, 03:56 PM
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If I was in your situation, that CF frame would be relegated to wall art or trainer duty. It flew off a car at speed (I know I know, she was in the slow lane, so....50 mph?, and just because it ended up in the sand at the roadside doesn't mean it didn't bounce along the asphalt a few times en route). It might be completely undamaged or it might not. I don't know that any frame expert would open themselves up to the potential liability of giving the frame the all-clear, absent ultrasound, or X-ray, or however they assess these things, which likely wouldn't be cheap. You have another frame - offer the old one up and double-check your rack straps going forward.
06-22-20, 03:58 PM
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Bike shops won't tell you it's OK due to liability concerns.
I had my chain get jammed into the chainstay. I took it to 3 shops and all said they "think" it's OK but couldn't be sure. So I sent it to Calfee and after they removed the paint, they said while it was not cracked, the strength was compromised. I got it fixed and i'm 100% confident it's safe.
OP... contact your home owners and auto insurance. Thy might cover the cost.
I had my chain get jammed into the chainstay. I took it to 3 shops and all said they "think" it's OK but couldn't be sure. So I sent it to Calfee and after they removed the paint, they said while it was not cracked, the strength was compromised. I got it fixed and i'm 100% confident it's safe.
OP... contact your home owners and auto insurance. Thy might cover the cost.
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06-22-20, 03:59 PM
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06-22-20, 04:02 PM
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06-22-20, 04:19 PM
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Even some credit cards offer new purchase protection for a limited period.
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06-22-20, 04:24 PM
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You have a responsibility to not let that frame get out on the market. I'd go ahead and cut it up and trash it.
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06-22-20, 04:36 PM
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If you are serious you need the opinion of Craig Calfee or someone equally qualified.
Ron Boi, who closed the shop for good on January 1, used to do this. His main problem was no one believed him. He knew perfectly well there was enormous liability if he was wrong. He had forty years experience with carbon fiber. And still no one believed him. For a while he was taking in crashed bikes and repairing them, most were never ridden again. Could not give them away. Could not give them away with a written warranty.
It’s carbon fiber. When you buy fiber this is a built-in problem.
Ron Boi, who closed the shop for good on January 1, used to do this. His main problem was no one believed him. He knew perfectly well there was enormous liability if he was wrong. He had forty years experience with carbon fiber. And still no one believed him. For a while he was taking in crashed bikes and repairing them, most were never ridden again. Could not give them away. Could not give them away with a written warranty.
It’s carbon fiber. When you buy fiber this is a built-in problem.
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06-22-20, 04:51 PM
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06-22-20, 05:05 PM
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Serious issue.
This is part of the reason I am afraid to buy a carbon bike, especially a used one. How to know when they are damaged? I've read articles by companies in the carbon fiber business that say carbon bikes and parts should be considered replacement items after 10 years.
Seems extreme but who knows what to believe? the industry is still pretty young, don't know that sufficient engineering standards exist to even regulate the industry and offer proper guidelines.
Would venture to say that bike's resale value is severely diminished. When carbon lets go it often does so catastrophically and without much warning.
This is part of the reason I am afraid to buy a carbon bike, especially a used one. How to know when they are damaged? I've read articles by companies in the carbon fiber business that say carbon bikes and parts should be considered replacement items after 10 years.
Seems extreme but who knows what to believe? the industry is still pretty young, don't know that sufficient engineering standards exist to even regulate the industry and offer proper guidelines.
Would venture to say that bike's resale value is severely diminished. When carbon lets go it often does so catastrophically and without much warning.
06-22-20, 06:45 PM
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To be clear:
* We don't want to sell the bike - wanted to get it up and running if possible - I was hoping someone might be able to recommend a someone or a company that could analyze the frame - I should have mentioned we are outside of Boston
* We took the bike immediately to our LBS - they said they really couldn't say if the frame was ok or not - to send it back to manufacturer to be analyzed would be very expensive ( taking all components off frame - sending frame to manufacturer - shipping it back - rebuilding the bike ) plus replacing wheels and any broken components would make the whole process expensive
* I had contacted home ins - but was told it wasn't covered due to our deductible
* making it a trainer is a good idea
* we purchased new bike rack after the incident
This happened last summer - just a shame seeing it hanging on the wall of our garage
Bob
* We don't want to sell the bike - wanted to get it up and running if possible - I was hoping someone might be able to recommend a someone or a company that could analyze the frame - I should have mentioned we are outside of Boston
* We took the bike immediately to our LBS - they said they really couldn't say if the frame was ok or not - to send it back to manufacturer to be analyzed would be very expensive ( taking all components off frame - sending frame to manufacturer - shipping it back - rebuilding the bike ) plus replacing wheels and any broken components would make the whole process expensive
* I had contacted home ins - but was told it wasn't covered due to our deductible
* making it a trainer is a good idea
* we purchased new bike rack after the incident
This happened last summer - just a shame seeing it hanging on the wall of our garage
Bob
06-22-20, 07:01 PM
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06-22-20, 07:31 PM
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Hmmmmm.....I want to say TOAST but I am not there to see it but even then, I am no carbon fiber engineer either.......although I was a mechanical engineer major for some time. But since I did not stay in a Holiday Inn last night, I plead the 5th.
06-22-20, 07:48 PM
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If I was in your situation, that CF frame would be relegated to wall art or trainer duty. It flew off a car at speed (I know I know, she was in the slow lane, so....50 mph?, and just because it ended up in the sand at the roadside doesn't mean it didn't bounce along the asphalt a few times en route). It might be completely undamaged or it might not. I don't know that any frame expert would open themselves up to the potential liability of giving the frame the all-clear, absent ultrasound, or X-ray, or however they assess these things, which likely wouldn't be cheap. You have another frame - offer the old one up and double-check your rack straps going forward.
