Originally Posted by
JohnDThompson
Sure, but aircraft also have mandatory inspections and replacement of parts that we don't find on production bicycles.
Thats correct - i am an A&P mechanic, but damaged carbon on an aircraft surface is repairable while damaged aluminum often needs a re-skin (talking control surfaces because that is the biggest carbon application in mainstream aviation so far )
But as a counterpoint , First generation Trek OCLV's and early Kestrels are already at or close to 30 years old and putting in service under recreational riders around the globe (by recreational, I mean very few people are actually still racing anything over 10 years old ) -- im leaving bonded carbon out of the discussion - because those bike's do have a rep for de-laminating and coming apart at the joints )
but some of these bikes had issues with hairline fractures early on that was usually sussed out within the first few years but the vast majority are still usable today ----- and the frames have only gotten better in the years since
I cant speak for no name Chinese open mold frames with suspect quality control processes, but any modern CF bike from one of the big dogs is built to last , and an impact that would damage a carbon bike now would also more than likely damage a steel bike as well
Both steel and carbon is repairable too , but the cost effectiveness for either depends on what you are starting out with. You wouldn't have a framebuilder replace a dented tube on a $800 frameset, as the labor plus cost to re-paint would add up to the cost of the frame --- but your $2500 Waterford frameset? or classic Paramount or something like that? --yes, would be worth repairing.
Same with a carbon bike -- repairing a base model Cannondale Synapse with an msrp for a complete bike of 2k or so might not be worth the hassle, but your higher end bike , sure --- and if you leave paint out of the equation, carbon can be repaired cheaper than steel. I live in Oklahoma City, and formerly lived in Wichita KS - both areas with a rich aviation heritage, - its easier to find someone here who can repair carbon than it is to find someone qualified to replace a damaged tube on a steel bike
And while i sound like a staunch carbon defender , and my regular use road bike is carbon - my dream custom was built using modern steel
