Vapin' Joe
Formerly known as Smokin Joe
- Location
- Bare headed cyclist, Smoker
You haven't been listening to that bollocks about pro teams having X-Ray machines to examine frames after a crash, have you?
How to tell if carbon has been damaged?
- Thread starter Welsh wheels
- Start date
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derrick
The Glue that binds us together.
- Location
- On the edge of London
Then take it to someone who knows what they are doing.
Globalti
Legendary Member
Er... photos of what?
Another common misconception. An x-ray would give you a nice picture of the cables inside your frame but wouldn't show a crack in the wall. There are some people who claim to be able to detect cracks with ultrasound but this also looks like expensive quackery - or crackery. Carbon frames have such thin walls that any damage will be obvious as cracks in the brittle paint or the resin with strands of carbon possibly visible. Here's a pic of my buddy's RH chainstay after he collided with a car with sufficient force for the flexible plastic front of the car to bounce his bike over my head onto the top of a high hedge fifteen feet behind me. The tube remained intact for half of its circumference and I'm sure the bike would be rideable. It now deforms with a cracking sound if you squeeze it but the carbon fibres embedded in the resin have kept the shape intact.
Drago
Legendary Member
- Location
- Suburban Poshshire
That is indeed rubbish. They actually use ultrasound scanners.
BurningLegs
Guru
D
Deleted member 35268
Guest
if it just the forks, then they can be replaced.
D
Deleted member 35268
Guest
Yellow Saddle
Guru
- Location
- Loch side.
Then take it to someone who knows what they are doing.
Who will then also inspect, manipulate and listen.
derrick
The Glue that binds us together.
- Location
- On the edge of London
Yes but they will know what to listen for. The OP is not sure.
fossyant
Ride It Like You Stole It!
- Location
- South Manchester
Your bike is obviously scrap OP. I shall dispose of it for you. 
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derrick
The Glue that binds us together.
- Location
- On the edge of London
You can't have been on here very long.
Vapin' Joe
Formerly known as Smokin Joe
- Location
- Bare headed cyclist, Smoker
Anyone who is paranoid about every little knock or scratch on a carbon frame really ought to stick to aluminium or steel. They'll sleep better.
S-Express
Guest
You mean the 'highest' presumably..?
BurningLegs
Guru
What were the weather conditions like when the bike was crashed? If it was wet then I'd be very careful with the frame.
Carbon components are precision engineered for compliance and rigidity. The problem is that modern carbon frames (and forks) are so compliant and rigid that external factors such as rain interference combine with the carbon layup to deliver unexpected lateral forces on the material. Therefore, if it was raining at the time of the crash there is a heightened risk of damage.
Considering all of this, I'd agree with @fossyant - the bike must be replaced. Some parts may be salvageable though, so I'll give you £50 for it!
Seriously though - if you've lost confidence in the component, then either get it checked by someone you trust and knows what they are doing, or get rid of it. If you're anything like me, then a niggling doubt in your mind will play games with you, particularly on descents! I might be inclined to use such an incident as a ride to upgrade city!
Carbon components are precision engineered for compliance and rigidity. The problem is that modern carbon frames (and forks) are so compliant and rigid that external factors such as rain interference combine with the carbon layup to deliver unexpected lateral forces on the material. Therefore, if it was raining at the time of the crash there is a heightened risk of damage.
Considering all of this, I'd agree with @fossyant - the bike must be replaced. Some parts may be salvageable though, so I'll give you £50 for it!
Seriously though - if you've lost confidence in the component, then either get it checked by someone you trust and knows what they are doing, or get rid of it. If you're anything like me, then a niggling doubt in your mind will play games with you, particularly on descents! I might be inclined to use such an incident as a ride to upgrade city!
