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On a ride tonight I stupidly took the wrong line on a descent and my front wheel washed out. Cut a long story short, the bars span right around and the lever forced its way over the top tube (I stupidly adjusted my levers before ride and forgot to spin the bars to check they would not contact the top tube 🙁 )
There is a hairline crack on the top of the carbon frame and if I press down with my thumb I can hear a crunching noise and you can see the carbon move. So it's definitely busted.
Couple of questions.
1) Still rideable?
2) Repairable?
THanks
errrm no replace
I doubt anyone will know if it's rideable or repairable from just a description. I'd buy a new metal frame and chuck the plastic one in the skip.
I'd always been told carbon frames weren't really repairable but there are companies around doing it.
Met a guy on the Isle of Wight with a Cannondale Jekyl like the one below. On his first nightride on the new bike he'd strapped the battery under the top tube at the seat tube junction and on the first big hit the linkage used the battery to snap his top tube.
It had been repaired, including the paint, so well you'd not have known if you weren't told.
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On reflection I must just take the opportunity to go for a titanium frame. I did love the Cube carbon frame, but not sure I can be bothered to purchase another one.
I will have a look at repairs though.
repair should be easy. Easier than fixing a titanium frame tbh as less chance of messing it up. If you are going to chuck it send it my way 🙂
Well going on the op's description, definitely not ride-able.
What ti you thinking flanagaj?
Have a word with http://www.carboncyclerepairs.co.uk/index.html and get it repaired.
I reckon a Lynskey 🙂What ti you thinking flanagaj?
Thanks. The wife has vetoed the above.Have a word with http://www.carboncyclerepairs.co.uk/index.html and get it repaired.
Interesting choice, some of the more recent models look better than before mind.
What Simon said. They're magicians.
Back when no-one made carbon MTBs my final year uni project was in composite repair for military aircraft - it's very fixable if you know what you're doing. Joints should be chamfered to minimise stress concentrations - that's what both our practical testing and FEA agreed on.
It is a bit strange, but given I have a vacuum pump, bagging equipment, carbon, epoxy ... from when I need to repair my windsurfing boards I am half tempted to just try and repair it myself?
hopeychondriact - Member
Well going on the op's description, definitely not ride-able.
How so?
OP why not just ride it and see? I presume you rode it home and lived?
It is a bit strange, but given I have a vacuum pump, bagging equipment, carbon, epoxy ... from when I need to repair my windsurfing boards I am half tempted to just try and repair it myself?
Christ, you've got all that kit and you're asking the ****wits on STW for advice?! Crack on, lad. 😉
Mate had a stumpy repaired around a pivot. It seems fine a year later. It only cost him £100 or so and you can barely tell
It's almost certainly repairable
DIY isn't too tough, but there's plenty of outfits doing repairs, reckon you could have it fixed for ~£150ish...
Xodus Cycles in Exmouth do decent carbon repaires
see 2 carbon frames with that damage repaired successfully, carbon is a wonderful material
Deff recommend CBT, if they take on the repair and say it's sound then it is. I don't get the carbon fear thing it's probably the most repairable frame material out there.
Haha. It's the job for today.Christ, you've got all that kit and you're asking the ****wits on STW for advice?! Crack on, lad.
I reckon a Lynskey
So you don't like your broken bike and are considering a Lynskey?
Frying pan -> fire
100% repairable! (but if not you can always donate the useless broken frame to me. 😉 )
It is a bit strange, but given I have a vacuum pump, bagging equipment, carbon, epoxy ... from when I need to repair my windsurfing boards I am half tempted to just try and repair it myself?
Blimey! Make a coffee, gen up on the web and get to work. A straight length of tube isn't massively stressed anyway so all it needs is a smooth repair with even transitions.
I went through a top tube on a bike and took it to CBT. Fantastic job and included repainting and replacing decals. Good as new and that was 3 years ago