Bicycle Mechanics - Carbon fiber damage

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ScottNotBombs
10-04-09, 11:22 AM
So I was riding my bike on a worn chain and cassette, not really knowing how dangerous it could be and not having money to fix it. One day when I was sprinting the chain broke and got caught on the rear derailluer and locked up my wheel. I'm pretty sure my rear derailluer and hanger are garbage and my collar bones broken and my carbon drops are cracked. The chainstays, stem, and fork look fine, but how can I really tell? Cf can hide damage right? Should I just keep riding on them as long as there's no visible damage? I don't really want to take any more chances, I'm already off my bike for the next 4 months...

Panthers007
10-04-09, 01:15 PM
Bring it to a bike-shop. You need to have the frame/fork, etc. - examined by an expert who can determine if it has sustained damage. And what your recourse may be. Do NOT ride on a carbon-frame that is suspected of having sustained damage. Next time it may be a lot worse than a broken collar-bone.
wrk101
10-04-09, 01:24 PM
Bring it to a bike-shop. You need to have the frame/fork, etc. - examined by an expert who can determine if it has sustained damage. And what your recourse may be. Do NOT ride on a carbon-frame that is suspected of having sustained damage. Next time it may be a lot worse than a broken collar-bone.
+1 What he said.

If you want to start riding again, find yourself an inexpensive garage sale/thrift store bike.

FBinNY
10-04-09, 02:53 PM
+1, Have parts you want to continue using examined by an expert. The problem is that separating true experts from wannabes is about as difficult as knowing if a CF structure has hidden damage.

Before going any further, eyeball each component for evidence of direct impact or stress cracking in the gel coat. Depending on how you crashed components at the front end of the bike may not have suffered high impact.

But if in doubt, throw it out is always good practice on bikes the same way it is on food that's been left in the fridge longer than you remember.
ScottNotBombs
10-04-09, 03:16 PM
Thanks, looks like I'll be going to the bike shop when I can find someone to take me. I have a couple good ones around me. I'm pretty sure I went over the bars and the bike came straight forward with me because both the brifters were turned all the way inward. Those seem fine though, other than some aesthetic damage.
I have an old miyata that I use as a beater so I still have something for when I'm better.