Carbon fiber frame damage: Repair or Replace?

[Kat K]

Down tube cracked on 3/4 sides on my roadie trying to avoid hitting a deer. I love my bike and don't want to see it in a landfill. I'm leaning towards repair, but any thoughts from experience is appreciated!

 

[veganrob]

Down tube cracked on 3/4 sides on my roadie trying to avoid hitting a deer. I love my bike and don't want to see it in a landfill. I'm leaning towards repair, but any thoughts from experience is appreciated!

Had a broken drive side chain stay break on a Cervelo R5. Calfee repaired it beautifully. If you are in the US you can try him.
I also had a Zipp disc wheel badly damaged in shipping. I had local gut that repair carbon parts on race cars fix. It didn't look good put it was straight and stiff.

 

[Kat K]

Had a broken drive side chain stay break on a Cervelo R5. Calfee repaired it beautifully. If you are in the US you can try him.
I also had a Zipp disc wheel badly damaged in shipping. I had local gut that repair carbon parts on race cars fix. It didn't look good put it was straight and stiff.

Hey VeganRob, Thanks for the reply. I researched quite a bit and had 4 companies on my radar. But I took it down to Calfee this week and I'm glad I chose them. The staff there are very professional and friendly. They took the time to show us some of their bamboo work! So cool. I'm confident they will do a good job. :0) ~Cheers

 

[MaxForsyth]

Hey there! Oh man, dealing with carbon frame damage can be a real bummer. I had a similar issue last summer when my bike took a spill. From what I've learned, it's essential to inspect the damage thoroughly. Small scratches or cosmetic stuff might be fine, but if it's a structural issue, you should definitely play it safe and get it looked at by a pro. I've heard of some folks trying DIY repairs with mixed results, but honestly, I wouldn't risk it with a pricey carbon frame.

 

[fewclan]

Down tube cracked on 3/4 sides on my roadie trying to avoid hitting a deer. I love my bike and don't want to see it in a landfill. I'm leaning towards repair, but any thoughts from experience is appreciated!

Hey there, I totally get how you feel about not wanting to toss it in a landfill. Here are some things to consider:
How bad is the crack? If it's super gnarly and looks dangerous, it might not be worth fixing.

What's your bike made of? Aluminum and steel frames are usually easier to repair than carbon fiber ones.

Repairs can cost a pretty penny, so think about whether it's worth it compared to getting a new bike.

Take it to a bike shop or frame repair expert to check it out properly. They'll give you the lowdown on whether it's fixable and safe.

Safety is key, so don't ride it until you're 100% sure it's fixed right.

If you love the bike and it's got sentimental value, that's a good reason to consider fixing it up. It's your call in the end.

 

[Cookster15]

Down tube cracked on 3/4 sides on my roadie trying to avoid hitting a deer. I love my bike and don't want to see it in a landfill. I'm leaning towards repair, but any thoughts from experience is appreciated!

This hasn't happened to me but it does worry me. Hopefully it is fixable. My current road bike was purchased in 2016 and I know the frame won't last forever. The price of top end road bikes has exploded since then. Even if we have the spare cash, we also need to justify to our partners.

 

[froze]

I love my titanium Lynskey.