Road Grime Road Cycling Forums

You hear so many conflicting arguments about whether to repair carbon fibre or not. I recently went over the bars and damaged my frame. I'm just wondering what others think. Here's some of the things I've considered:

• Cost of repair vs cost to replace
• Policy by some companies (eg. Specialized) of no repair, no matter what
• Insured or not
• Age and/or value of frame
• Availability of repairers. eg. Paintmybike (Brissie), LeuscherTechnik (Melb), Carbon Cycle Repairs (Perth)
• Risk of not repairing. Just about every Pro I've seen crash, on Carbon Fibre, gets straight back on the bike

As an aerospace engineer with composite build and repair experience, I'm reasonably qualified to answer. I also ride a Giant TCR SL0 that has been repaired on the down tube by a composite specialist company in Toowoomba.

My advice is:

Let the experts be the judges and if you're still unsure, err on the side of caution and replace rather than repair. Mitigate your risk.

Some damage is wholly repairable and 100% safe post repair. Some will be risky and some just downright unsafe. It all depends on where and how much. Piece of string conundrum.

Few, if any, companies will give you assurance that the frame is 100% safe post repair unless it is by the OEM.

Post some pictures, I'm sure everyone is curious!

...and (he) they give 5 year warranty on work..that don't come cheap

Quote: ojfluro

I know of at least three people who have had frames repaired successfully after sustaining damage. Two were repaired at the Gold Coast (someone recommended by QAS) & the other by Raoul Luescher at Luescherteknik near Melbourne.

The one sent to Luescherteknik was also tested by their test methodologies to find any damage that wasn't visible to the human eye.

The big question that comes up is always about how safe reliable etc it will be after the repair. If you wanted a level of comfort or assurance tests of this type might help. Copied from www.luescherteknik.com.au. BTW I'm in no way advocating anyone use this particular company.

Luescher Teknik has 20 years experience in non destructive inspection methods. These methods provide an
insight into a product's integrity and suitability for purpose without changing
its form or function. These methods are used extensively on composite materials
to verify manufacturing quality, assess damage and confirm repair
methods.

Raoul has held certfications and approvals in both commercial and military aerospace as well as
other commercial qualifications.

Methods available
include:

Ultrasonic Testing, Radiographic Testing, Penetrant Testing, Accoustic Emission, Resonance Testing

Personal experience - two wrecked frames - both insured - paid the excess & got new frames on insurance.

My comments earlier relate to enquiries I made around the traps about repairs and specifically about getting the Prince frame looked at because of it's original high purchase cost. In the end the cost analysis dictated the path I chose.

Another frame I had split in the seat tube & the manufacturerer replaced it under warranty as per their warranty procees in accordance with their defective product policy. This frame had never been crashed.

On a generic view however :

there's almost an industry here that does repairs to carbon fibre whether it's for aircraft, cars, bikes etc. We're relying on their repairs on some occasions when we choose to fly. Some warrant their repairs & you will pay extra for that level of comfort.

in my own industry of electronics all manufacturers do not offer warranty in situations such as physical damage & I understand bike brands doing the same. Their process is buy another one.

Like Gary K im an aero engineer with traning and a little experience in composite repair. I haven't spoken to the Paint My Bike guys to try and get any further information but when i heard about them i went looking at what they have on their website, based on their background and that research I dont have any information that gives me confidence in their techniques which they state are from doing vehicle repairs. "Looking fantastic" isnt my measure of a repair.

As for Luescherteknik, i dont know Roul myself but i am well aquainted with a couple of his coleagues who have been building, fixing testing and riding carbon bikes with him over the years and these guys day job is designing and manufacturing, among other things, the Boeing 787components and the processes used to do it as well as the repairs and modifications during production and maintenance. If they repair it then they can inspect/test the repair to a degree of confidence that exceeds what you would find in any bicycle production environment.

I dont know if it is woth the cost and hassle to fix it but i know where id go to get it done if i was going to ride it down a mountain.

Quote: junior123

Quote: Gary_K

...all depends on where...

I think this is probably the mose important point. IMHO.

I think its dependent on where and what type of damage is done.

I have a Pinarello Prince which I crashed during a race and the rear seat stay was snapped as a result.

I had the Prince fixed just to see if it would work (not too much coin), and I can safely say, no it did not. No hard feelings against the repairer either. Purely an excercise to see if it would work. The frame was buggered! Crack at the brake mount, and crack at the hanger mount too.

Because the seat stay snapped half way down, all the the tension in that stay was lost and once it was repaired, I could really feel the softness on that side of the seat stay. So now, it is just a plain old commuter until its gets too soft.

Give the frame to Nik Nak, he can't tell the difference and is soft himself, so they'll make a fine partnership