williaty

My fiancee got a Giant Dash 2 about a month and a half ago. She feel (first day on clipless) and managed to kick the fork with her cleat as she went down. She damaged one blade of the fork just below the bend to the crown. There's a 1mm diameter chip through the paint and resin and down to the fiber within.

Does this demand that the fork be retired?

badamsjr

Only someone with experience in carbon fiber can tell you that. Take it to a local bike shop you trust, and have them inspect it. If they say to replace it, I would take their advice. The problem with damage to carbon fiber is the possibility of a catastrophic failure. Not worth taking the risk, if a qualified mechanic would not ride it himself. Only my opinion, but you asked.

HillRider

If the chip is only 1mm I expect it's of no consequence. I would have a dealer look at it for a personal inspection but I think you are ok.

operator

If the fibers are damaged, that fork is a toss. You don't want that fork breaking on you doing 80kph down a mountain pass. Your life is probably worth more than the cost of any superlative full carbon fork on the market right now.

BCRider

Since this little chip didn't occur from a forceful event and provided you can look down in there and there's no broken fibers I'd just seal the chip with some good quality 2 hour cure epoxy. A hair dryer set on high to warm up the epoxy after it is applied will thin the glue so it soaks in better and locks things up well.

And tell her next time she falls to chip some other part of the bike instead....