a short time ago, i rode into side of a car while doing about 23-25mph (38-40kph). it had made a left turn in front of me. “i couldn’t see you”. yeah, yeah. whatever.
i appear to be OK (barring what feels like having had my left thigh beat on by a baseball bat). however, i was riding an aegis T2 carbon frame and there is a pair of paint work cracks, at right-angles to each other, about 2/3 of the way along the top tube. each about 2cm long. the bike frame probably hit an edge on the car body after i came off.
i could take into my (excellent) LBS, but i’m wondering if there really any magic to this process, or if I can determine if the frame is cracked myself…
From the guru Leonard Zinn as published in Velo News:
“Inspect all tubes for cracks, gouges, buckles, dents, and paint stretching or cracking, especially near the joints where stress is highest. With a carbon frame, use the “coin test” to check for damage to underlying carbon layers. Tap on the tube with a quarter in the questionable areas and compare it with the sound on other tubes, in surrounding areas, and on the opposite side. If you have delamination or cracking in underlying carbon layers, especially in central areas away from the joints, you’ll be able to hear the difference; the damaged fibers deaden the nice “clack” sound you hear when tapping on an undamaged tube. If in doubt, take it to an expert for advice. Carbon structures that look good on the outside shouldn’t get softer unless the layers start delaminating, and the coin test may be able to detect such areas.”
Would likely be way cheaper than a new frame. I’m sure there are folks on this board that have used their service and could speak to the quality of the repair.
LOL! An excuse for a new bike! I’ve crashed at least 10 times on my Soloist Carbon and the last one (at 41.9 mph - confirmed on the GPS immediate drop off) finally was my ‘excuse’. Bike seems fine and has been incredibly durable (been through 2 cranksets, 2 brakesets, a million chains, 3 STI levers, 1 rear derailleur, couple of seats, and the front derailleur just died) But, once you piece enough together, you just start to lose confidence, and that is priceless bombing down hills (that I think you like to do as well)
yeah, well the frame is definitely cracked. i will talk to calfee about repair, and to my insurance company about replacement. i’m not going to lose confidence - i was going uphill when this happened however, i think savageman and AmZof may be off the menu at this point.
I can have the same folks that made your bike take a look at it and fix it for you. The people who made your T2 now work for us making frames, and we repair Aegis frames all the time.
You can call the shop and describe the problem, but John will most likely need to see the frame to tell you the extent of the damage (if any other than cosmetic). At the very least, the paint can be touched up.
Regardless of how you decide to get it fixed, best of luck to you. Let me know if there is anything I can do.
I can have the same folks that made your bike take a look at it and fix it for you. The people who made your T2 now work for us making frames, and we repair Aegis frames all the time.
You can call the shop and describe the problem, but John will most likely need to see the frame to tell you the extent of the damage (if any other than cosmetic). At the very least, the paint can be touched up.
Regardless of how you decide to get it fixed, best of luck to you. Let me know if there is anything I can do.
But, once you piece enough together, you just start to lose confidence, and that is priceless bombing down hills (that I think you like to do as well)