An unfortunate chain of events.

M

MrPlow

TMBC
Brett said:
So I stripped the bike today and took a closer look at the damage. It might just be the clear coat which has cracked but who knows? The guy at the bike shop was pretty convinced it was cracked. I also found some damage where the cable to the rear brake has rubbed maybe 2 - 3 mm into the swing arm...

A few months back I had my Giant road bike replaced under warranty for a tiny hair line crack in the seat tube which i thought was just cracked clear coat. Regardless of the extent of damage to this frame i think at a minimum i'll get some kind of repair done as appose to simply leaving it.

Now that the bike is stripped i can feel how thin the tubing actually is. I can't fit some verniers in there but at a guess the tubes can't be much thicker than a few mm. I think from memory some of those Santa Cruz frames have up to 10mm thick carbon at critical joints.





I also heard back from Specialized I can pick up a Large 2011 epic frame for a discounted price. I've only just sent an email to a carbon repair place to see what the damage will be to get it fixed but I had a rough quote of between $400 and $600.

So it's decision time, repair or new?
Click to expand...
We (zelvycarbon.com) could repair it. If you decide to get a new one let us know. Might be interested in buying your old frame too :) Last frame we did (another epic) was $400.00. That cable rub is pretty bad. How is it around the BB?
 
Hugor

Hugor

Likes Dirt
I think Specialized have been pretty fair with this one.
I'd buy the new 2011 frame if I was you.
It's amazing how many people in here feel quite comfortable recommending and committing fraud for relatively small gains.
Hope I don't ever have any business dealings with any of you.
 
pharmaboy

pharmaboy

Eats Squid
Question is, whats the "discounted price"? - if its a grand for a new frame - i'd be all over it - if its $2000, it'd be repair time (and maybe alloy next time round).

Bit of a waste though, when you get a replacement, and they'll take the old one (perfectly repairable) and cut the poor thing up.
 
M

MrPlow

TMBC
pharmaboy said:
Question is, whats the "discounted price"? - if its a grand for a new frame - i'd be all over it - if its $2000, it'd be repair time (and maybe alloy next time round).

Bit of a waste though, when you get a replacement, and they'll take the old one (perfectly repairable) and cut the poor thing up.
Click to expand...
He is right. The beauty of carbon is the repair doesn't sacrifice strength. It is stronger in that area. A Carbon frame should last you forever. Just dont store it in the sun if it has raw finish :)
 
S

sfinlay

Cannon Fodder
finlay racing carbon bike repairs.com

Big companies can be difficult to get warranty. I recently repaired a Specialised Tarmac top tube with the same carbon ribbon weave redone & paint for a much better price than my competitors $380 & they could not re produce the special carbon weave.
Happy to help Scott (www carbonbikerepairs.com)
 
rone

rone

Eats Squid
sfinlay said:
Big companies can be difficult to get warranty. I recently repaired a Specialised Tarmac top tube with the same carbon ribbon weave redone & paint for a much better price than my competitors $380 & they could not re produce the special carbon weave.
Happy to help Scott (www carbonbikerepairs.com)
Click to expand...
Cool. Can they repair spiced meat in a can?
 
B

Brett

Likes Dirt
I'm finally back on a bike. Specialized sorted me out with a crash replacement frame for a reasonable price and after a few issues it's finally built up.

The biggest issue was that the 2009 fork crown didn't fit on the 2011 frame. The guys at the bike shop and Specialized sorted it out free of charge though. Took it out for a ride this afternoon and I'm pretty impressed. Maybe it's because I've only been road riding for a few months but the new bike defiantly felt stiffer and faster. The brain suspension is noticeably better and quieter compared to the 2009 model.

I have to admit I prefer the black colour scheme but the red and white were the only 26" frames available.



Now I just have to figure out what to do with the old frame?
 
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The Duckmeister

The Duckmeister

Has a juicy midrange
Brett said:
Now I just have to figure out what to do with the old frame?
Click to expand...
Get it fixed & build up a spare bike. :smile:

*General comment, not specifically targetting anyone*:

Although carbon fibre is extraordinarily strong for its weight under tension, it is a relatively soft material and does not cope all that well with highly localised impacts. You can have a monumental crash, but if the impacts are borne primarily by accessories such as wheels, fork and handlebars, or is spread over a large area of the frame then the material is well and truly capable of surviving the crash. It's when you land on a rock or pile of tools as the case may be, and the impact is concentrated on a small area that the material will break. remember "carbon fibre" is a composite material comprising both the fibre and a resin binder to stick it together. A concentrated impact damages the bonds between the fibres as much as anything else.

The good news is that a crack, even a fairly major one is most definitely NOT the end of a frame's useful life. Carbon can actually be more reliably and more integrally repaired than aluminium. Where it gets expensive (but still cheaper than a new frame) is that it is fairly time intensive, and in order to do the job properly the frame needs to be X-rayed or ultrasonically scanned to find the full extent of the damage.

Note: I do not have any affiliation with any carbon bike repair companies. I do have some professional experience in the composites industry, although I no longer work in that field.
 
Big JD

Big JD

Wheel size expert
good on you Brett

Well done mate.

You stuck to your story and presented the facts without any ill will. You were honest from the start and didnt try and swindle a new frame out of Specialized (had lots of encouragement here). You came on here for advice and got some fairly dodgy responses. I have seen others post pics and whinge before they have even spoken to the company. I can definitely see how a seemingly small incident can cause damage as described - the fact that others doubted you when you had nothing to gain (and werent trying) from your story is pathetic. Im with Hugor on that.

Well done Specialized - good to see even the big guys have decent CS and are not soulless corporate bastards. Please let me know if you have any XL FS 26er frames kicking around- real cheap.

I cracked an enduro many years ago and even though I was the second owner they replaced the rear triangle free of charge because they were rather shocked the frame would do that. I think the fact that I didnt spin a story bigger than Ben Hur and asked them for options - work in my favor.

Glad it all worked out mate and I admire your honesty and ability to handle what is a shitty situation with some level of grace.

Oh and the red and white sucks - get it painted and some new decals from your new friends at Specialized

go ride those beautiful Brissy trails
JD
 
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