Originally Posted by dvdslw

If you bend aluminum, it can be straightened. If you crack aluminum, it can be welded. We have an aluminum welder at our auto shop and I have seen several parts including body panels repaired so your theory of not being able to repair aluminum is flawed. As far as carbon goes, sure you can patch it but what about the layup? The strands of carbon fiber are "laid" down in certain lengths and patterns to give it strength so just patching a hole only fixes the cosmetic damage but leaves the affected part more susceptible to a catastrophic failure. Sure an aluminum or even steel bike could be damaged beyond repair but the same amount of force that noodled the metal frame would surely wreck a carbon frame as well.