I was wondering what proportion of crashes on a carbon bike lead to it needing structural repairs. I’m not talking “hit by a car” crashes, rather “hit a slippery patch at speed” or “caught a bump the wrong way” wipeouts. Just curious what people’s experiences are.
I’ve wrecked both my TT and road bikes never needing repairs to the frame.
Unless you’re hit by some kind of vehicle, I would think it very unusual that a frame would need repair after a wreck.
I’ve crashed on my S5 VWD 3 times and have needed no repairs on it.
My wife has crashed on her Litespeed C3 Carbon bike like 5 or 6 times (pro bike racing problems) and it has needed no repairs.
One of her team mates went down 2 or 3 times on her S5 Team a couple times and it is still going strong.
A friend of mind ran his carbon P2 into a car, head on. He broke 13 ribs and a collarbone and the P2 was completely unharmed.
It is actually fairly rare for a frame to be damaged in a crash. The frame usually does not hit anything.
No repairs on mine. Sharp left turn on wet pavement. I was skinned up from ankle to armpit (did the superman) but the bike just got a scratch on the pedal and bar tape on non-drive side.
Is their anyone who races and has never wrecked their bike ? Most probably have carbon, most get up and keep racing.
I’ve wrecked my road bike 3 or 4 times and have never had to do more than true the wheels.
Tri bike: only once (I hit a truck instead of him hitting me) and it was fine with the exception of the front wheel needing truing. Not even a scratch on the bike!
I had a Trek 5500 fly off the roof of my car at 70 mph. It needed a new fork, handlebars, saddle and one pedal. The frame was unscathed.
Crashed my Cervelo p3 last year, broke collar bone in 5 place fractured 3 ribs and not a scratch on the frame.
Fell over in a hill last year. I was waiting for someone, started on an 10-11 percent grade. Tried to start is more like it! Not really as crash, but no repairs on the P2 nonetheless!
I was wondering what proportion of crashes on a carbon bike lead to it needing structural repairs. I’m not talking “hit by a car” crashes, rather “hit a slippery patch at speed” or “caught a bump the wrong way” wipeouts. Just curious what people’s experiences are.
People crash carbon bikes all the time and don’t need repairs.
I crashed in a race at a little over 25mph - both brake/shift levers were trashed and I got road rash on both hips plus one shoulder, arm and hand, and my helmet cracked. The frame was fine as far as I know. Been riding it for a few years since.
I had a bad wreck on my Shiv. Just try and land body first. Bones heal better than carbon.
I was involved in a horrendous crash last year this time. Still riding the same bike. Same carbon wheels. New helmet clothes and skin.
Just raced today and saw a nasty crash with 10-15 hitting the deck pretty hard. Some bikes came away unscathed and some looked banged up but no outright shattered carbon that I could see.
Wow – these stories are crazy. I had the impression that (especially high-end, super-light) carbon frames are on the fragile side if you hit the deck. Guess they can take a lickin’ and keep on tickin’ better than I thought.
Crashed my P2, bike was fine. I was not.
Wow – these stories are crazy. I had the impression that (especially high-end, super-light) carbon frames are on the fragile side if you hit the deck. Guess they can take a lickin’ and keep on tickin’ better than I thought.
Carbon is not delicate
A well designed carbon bike will be very durable, and will be well chosen material laid up in well chosen ways in just the right places to handle crashes well. Like putting kevlar in the head tube for instance.
A cheaper, heavier carbon bike may not have been designed as well.
But most of the time it doesn’t matter because the wheels, handlebars, and pedals are what hit the ground, not the frame.
I had the impression that (especially high-end, super-light) carbon frames are on the fragile side if you hit the deck.
Don’t trust whoever told you that.
Sure, superlight bikes of any material can be damaged in certain types of impact, but it’s not like crashed carbon bike are generally damaged. Actually, even not super-light bikes can be damaged in crashed.
Hit a pothole during a HIM triathlon in July and hit the ground. Needed surgery for finger tendons repair and fractured 5th finger bone. Carbon fork in bike was slightly bent or dropouts slightly twisted. Had LBS check it out and they recommended fork replacement which I did.
Hit a pothole during a HIM triathlon in July and hit the ground. Needed surgery for finger tendons repair and fractured 5th finger bone. Carbon fork in bike was slightly bent or dropouts slightly twisted. Had LBS check it out and they recommended fork replacement which I did.
If a carbon bike part is twisted or bent, there’s no need to check it out - it should be replaced.
Hardcore trials riders on carbon.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HhabgvIIXik&feature=youtube_gdata_player
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ZmJtYaUTa0&feature=youtube_gdata_player
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5z1fSpZNXhU&feature=youtube_gdata_player
I think it is interesting that people believe carbon fiber is as fragile as paper. I’m not saying they are invincible, but mtn bikes go through a hell of a lot more than triathletes put their bikes through without damage.
Carbon fiber is damn strong. If you damage your carbon frame, the odds are that you would do the same damage to your steel/aluminum bike.
Don’t worry. slipping on a wet road has nothing on this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NxYvJAQyH3s