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Carbon Frame chipped by chain.. thoughts?

Hey guys! 

 

No clue where I'd ask a question like this, so here we go:

 

My carbon frame has been chipped from the chain dropping hard on the inside, most likely from an accidental static gear change. I've noticed it for maybe about 2 weeks of riding but only have seen the entirety of it today while I was greasing and cleaning the bike. 

 

Here is an imgur album of the images I've taken of the chip I'm worried about.

https://imgur.com/a/OR71pdI

** To note: the cut is much cleaner to the naked eye, for some reason some of the pictures kind of make it look "fuzzy" or hairy or whatever. You'll see what I mean.

 

What are your thoughts? Is this something still safe to ride, considering the bottom bracket area handles a lot of force? Is this something I will need/can take to a local carbon repairer and not have to worry about?

Or is this something I can just apply nail polish to and re-cover it with helicopter tape and put it towards the back of my mind?

 

Thanks for your thoughts, folks!

If you're new please join in and if you have questions pop them below and the forum regulars will answer as best we can.

Add new comment

36 comments

Avatar
Welsh boy replied to Xena | 5 years ago
2 likes

Xena wrote:

Welsh boy wrote:

Xena wrote:

I have 2 sub 4 kilo carbon bikes and tune a lot of parts out myself and have a custom carbon parts made .  I have sanded the paint off of 3 frames down to the raw carbon  and cut and tuned carbon parts  with no issues . 

Its very difficult to tell from the photo .  You can do a tap test . Use a coin and gently tap the area and see if there is any notable difference this does work . It’s not bro science.

ideally you should sandpaper the area so you can see what’s going on . 

I stripped the paint off of all my bikes down to the raw carbon .   Even if some of the carbon has flaked at the top it could still be fine ,especially as it’s around the bb area it’s usually built up a bit more.  If a little bit of carbon has flaked just sand it down smooth . If you spot a definitive crack and you squeeze it and you can see it move then you need to get it fixed . London carbon repairs are brilliant if you need to go that route. 

When  I stripped my carbon trek I took off strips of carbon and the bike was absolutely fine . My hunch looking at the photos is that your ok . 

This does not sound like advice from someone who I would like to risk my life with.  Sanding strips of carbon off a frame then claiming that it was absolutely fine" sounds like someone who doesnt really know what they are on about.  How do you know it was fine?  Do you think you can make a better frame that Trek by rubbing it down with sandpaper?

I think this should be regarding as a comment from a nut case rather than good, sound advice on how to check if a component is safe for use.

I’ll tell you how I know it was fine

because I’ve been riding the bike for 10 fucking years without a issue .

secondly ,I could see how the fibres were layered so I knew that it was safe  i.e.    i know what I’m doing, I’m have enough experience tuning out parts making parts and customising carbon parts .My Freind ED owns tsubasa bikes and owns London carbon repairs. If I’m not sure about something I ask him . 

So let’s recap shall we a few top layers of carbon we’re stripped off my trek frame . It had no effect on the integrity of the frame , I rode the frame for over ten years up and down some well known french cols as well and not one issue . 

I have built  3 ,,,,,4 sub kilo racing bikes using high end components , ax lightness, THM  etc etc  and have custom seat post and bar stem combos ( carbon)  made , I tune out the carbon shifters and mechs etc .

I have been doing this for a long time .  It’s a area where I have experience , road cc asked to do a profile on my sub 4 kilo custom guru .  I’m to busy .   

Listen , you don’t  have to take my advice .I don’t a give fuck .  I’m riding the sub 4 kilo bikes ,I’ve rode them all over the world ,not one fucking issue with any of the parts I have made or customised.  I have just stripped down a cervelo frame size 54cm and got it sub 700 gram and it’s a fucking awesome bike to ride .  I’m not a lightweight neither. I lift weights most days ( used to be a bodybuilder)  I have a muscular upper body and lower body, im not a skinny armed sky fan boy ,so these bikes  take a hammering , I’m quite fucking intense when I’m out riding / training . I do a lot short high intensity hill climbs etc for around a hour ,hour and a half , 4 , 5 times a week .  These parts hold up great including my FUCKING TREK for ten years so you are completely wrong.

i know most posters don’t like me and to them i say  I don’t give a fuck buts at least  you get honesty and truth and not the same old safe boring posts that are posted day out . Big up to you all out there and just go ride your fucking bikes and have fun and stop trying to get one up on people . Emotions are not always the truth.  

 

 

 

 

Thanks for taking the time to correct me, i will now go and check my frame for safety by tapping it with a coin.  A steroid user maybe?

Avatar
alansmurphy replied to Welsh boy | 5 years ago
2 likes

Welsh boy wrote:

 

Thanks for taking the time to correct me, i will now go and check my frame for safety by tapping it with a coin.  A steroid user maybe?

 

Bell end maybe?

 

Leave the fella be, the opening poster asked for advice and has some from someone who clearly knows more about carbon lay up than the poster that asked the question. Not your issue...

Avatar
Sniffer replied to Xena | 5 years ago
1 like

Xena wrote:

Welsh boy wrote:

Xena wrote:

I have 2 sub 4 kilo carbon bikes and tune a lot of parts out myself and have a custom carbon parts made .  I have sanded the paint off of 3 frames down to the raw carbon  and cut and tuned carbon parts  with no issues . 

Its very difficult to tell from the photo .  You can do a tap test . Use a coin and gently tap the area and see if there is any notable difference this does work . It’s not bro science.

ideally you should sandpaper the area so you can see what’s going on . 

I stripped the paint off of all my bikes down to the raw carbon .   Even if some of the carbon has flaked at the top it could still be fine ,especially as it’s around the bb area it’s usually built up a bit more.  If a little bit of carbon has flaked just sand it down smooth . If you spot a definitive crack and you squeeze it and you can see it move then you need to get it fixed . London carbon repairs are brilliant if you need to go that route. 

When  I stripped my carbon trek I took off strips of carbon and the bike was absolutely fine . My hunch looking at the photos is that your ok . 

This does not sound like advice from someone who I would like to risk my life with.  Sanding strips of carbon off a frame then claiming that it was absolutely fine" sounds like someone who doesnt really know what they are on about.  How do you know it was fine?  Do you think you can make a better frame that Trek by rubbing it down with sandpaper?

I think this should be regarding as a comment from a nut case rather than good, sound advice on how to check if a component is safe for use.

I’ll tell you how I know it was fine

because I’ve been riding the bike for 10 fucking years without a issue .

secondly ,I could see how the fibres were layered so I knew that it was safe  i.e.    i know what I’m doing, I’m have enough experience tuning out parts making parts and customising carbon parts .My Freind ED owns tsubasa bikes and owns London carbon repairs. If I’m not sure about something I ask him . 

So let’s recap shall we a few top layers of carbon we’re stripped off my trek frame . It had no effect on the integrity of the frame , I rode the frame for over ten years up and down some well known french cols as well and not one issue . 

I have built  3 ,,,,,4 sub kilo racing bikes using high end components , ax lightness, THM  etc etc  and have custom seat post and bar stem combos ( carbon)  made , I tune out the carbon shifters and mechs etc .

I have been doing this for a long time .  It’s a area where I have experience , road cc asked to do a profile on my sub 4 kilo custom guru .  I’m to busy .   

Listen , you don’t  have to take my advice .I don’t a give fuck .  I’m riding the sub 4 kilo bikes ,I’ve rode them all over the world ,not one fucking issue with any of the parts I have made or customised.  I have just stripped down a cervelo frame size 54cm and got it sub 700 gram and it’s a fucking awesome bike to ride .  I’m not a lightweight neither. I lift weights most days ( used to be a bodybuilder)  I have a muscular upper body and lower body, im not a skinny armed sky fan boy ,so these bikes  take a hammering , I’m quite fucking intense when I’m out riding / training . I do a lot short high intensity hill climbs etc for around a hour ,hour and a half , 4 , 5 times a week .  These parts hold up great including my FUCKING TREK for ten years so you are completely wrong.

i know most posters don’t like me and to them i say  I don’t give a fuck buts at least  you get honesty and truth and not the same old safe boring posts that are posted day out . Big up to you all out there and just go ride your fucking bikes and have fun and stop trying to get one up on people . Emotions are not always the truth.  

 

 

 

 

A wee bit angry again?

Time to get some help.

Avatar
Rapha Nadal replied to Xena | 5 years ago
1 like

Xena wrote:

Welsh boy wrote:

Xena wrote:

I have 2 sub 4 kilo carbon bikes and tune a lot of parts out myself and have a custom carbon parts made .  I have sanded the paint off of 3 frames down to the raw carbon  and cut and tuned carbon parts  with no issues . 

Its very difficult to tell from the photo .  You can do a tap test . Use a coin and gently tap the area and see if there is any notable difference this does work . It’s not bro science.

ideally you should sandpaper the area so you can see what’s going on . 

I stripped the paint off of all my bikes down to the raw carbon .   Even if some of the carbon has flaked at the top it could still be fine ,especially as it’s around the bb area it’s usually built up a bit more.  If a little bit of carbon has flaked just sand it down smooth . If you spot a definitive crack and you squeeze it and you can see it move then you need to get it fixed . London carbon repairs are brilliant if you need to go that route. 

When  I stripped my carbon trek I took off strips of carbon and the bike was absolutely fine . My hunch looking at the photos is that your ok . 

This does not sound like advice from someone who I would like to risk my life with.  Sanding strips of carbon off a frame then claiming that it was absolutely fine" sounds like someone who doesnt really know what they are on about.  How do you know it was fine?  Do you think you can make a better frame that Trek by rubbing it down with sandpaper?

I think this should be regarding as a comment from a nut case rather than good, sound advice on how to check if a component is safe for use.

I’ll tell you how I know it was fine

because I’ve been riding the bike for 10 fucking years without a issue .

secondly ,I could see how the fibres were layered so I knew that it was safe  i.e.    i know what I’m doing, I’m have enough experience tuning out parts making parts and customising carbon parts .My Freind ED owns tsubasa bikes and owns London carbon repairs. If I’m not sure about something I ask him . 

So let’s recap shall we a few top layers of carbon we’re stripped off my trek frame . It had no effect on the integrity of the frame , I rode the frame for over ten years up and down some well known french cols as well and not one issue . 

I have built  3 ,,,,,4 sub kilo racing bikes using high end components , ax lightness, THM  etc etc  and have custom seat post and bar stem combos ( carbon)  made , I tune out the carbon shifters and mechs etc .

I have been doing this for a long time .  It’s a area where I have experience , road cc asked to do a profile on my sub 4 kilo custom guru .  I’m to busy .   

Listen , you don’t  have to take my advice .I don’t a give fuck .  I’m riding the sub 4 kilo bikes ,I’ve rode them all over the world ,not one fucking issue with any of the parts I have made or customised.  I have just stripped down a cervelo frame size 54cm and got it sub 700 gram and it’s a fucking awesome bike to ride .  I’m not a lightweight neither. I lift weights most days ( used to be a bodybuilder)  I have a muscular upper body and lower body, im not a skinny armed sky fan boy ,so these bikes  take a hammering , I’m quite fucking intense when I’m out riding / training . I do a lot short high intensity hill climbs etc for around a hour ,hour and a half , 4 , 5 times a week .  These parts hold up great including my FUCKING TREK for ten years so you are completely wrong.

i know most posters don’t like me and to them i say  I don’t give a fuck buts at least  you get honesty and truth and not the same old safe boring posts that are posted day out . Big up to you all out there and just go ride your fucking bikes and have fun and stop trying to get one up on people . Emotions are not always the truth.  

 

 

 

 

Well, that's quite a Lonely Hearts advert you've got there.  Does it get you many dates?

Avatar
Jackson | 5 years ago
2 likes

Standard disclaimer that only a proper carbon repairer can tell, not some guys on the internet.

However, +1 on looks fine, but clean it up and put nail varnish on it. I've done the same from chain suck on my main bike and it's been fine for three years and counting. The BB area handles a lot of force and hence has a lot of carbon in it. 

Avatar
StraelGuy | 5 years ago
1 like

I'm no expert but that doesn't look structural at all. I'd degrease the scratches and paint some clear nail varnish over them and carry on riding.

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