What happened to my carbon frame?
08-13-16, 08:22 PM
#1
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 172
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 83 Post(s)
Liked 157 Times
in
55 Posts
What happened to my carbon frame?
Today I had a minor crash - lost balance while climbing too slowly on a steep road. I landed on my left side, got a bruise on the left thigh but no other damage. Or so I thought until I noticed a big scratch or crack on top tube. I don't understand how could it happen? The bike is Bianchi Infinito 2016, one month old, no other crashes. All my previous bikes were steel, I had a few of minor crashes, never any damage to the bikes (except scratched saddle in one case).
frame1.jpg
frame2.jpg
frame1.jpg
frame2.jpg
08-13-16, 08:26 PM
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: midwest
Posts: 2,528
Bikes: 2018 Roubaix Expert Di2, 2016 Diverge Expert X1
Mentioned: 14 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 482 Post(s)
Liked 151 Times
in
105 Posts
Have you been clamping the top tube in a bike stand?
Other than that I would guess in the fall your leg slammed into it Or you torqued it with your body somehow.
Other than that I would guess in the fall your leg slammed into it Or you torqued it with your body somehow.
08-13-16, 08:35 PM
#3
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 172
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 83 Post(s)
Liked 157 Times
in
55 Posts
No, I didn't clamp it in any way. It is quite possible I hit it with my right leg when going down. Does it mean carbon frame are such fragile that may not survive a minor fall? I'm going to the shop where I bought the bike first thing when they are open. I'm wondering what would they tell me...
08-13-16, 09:54 PM
#11
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: New Rochelle, NY
Posts: 38,873
Bikes: too many bikes from 1967 10s (5x2)Frejus to a Sumitomo Ti/Chorus aluminum 10s (10x2), plus one non-susp mtn bike I use as my commuter
Mentioned: 140 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5872 Post(s)
Liked 2,718 Times
in
1,517 Posts
Both. Bianchi is not likely to warranty a crash, though no harm asking, since they may offer a deeply discounted replacement out of sympathy.
As for the thread, any moment the "ride CF and die!" folks will find it, and tell you all the reasons CF is dangerous and unpredictable.
BTW, it's possible, even likely, that the frame didn't fracture because your knee hit it, but if the circumstances of the crash were right, your knee might have acted as a fulcrum with both ends of the tube bent across it. Not saying that's what happened, just that I don't think a knee bump alone caused the damage.
As for the thread, any moment the "ride CF and die!" folks will find it, and tell you all the reasons CF is dangerous and unpredictable.
BTW, it's possible, even likely, that the frame didn't fracture because your knee hit it, but if the circumstances of the crash were right, your knee might have acted as a fulcrum with both ends of the tube bent across it. Not saying that's what happened, just that I don't think a knee bump alone caused the damage.
__________________
FB
Chain-L site
An ounce of diagnosis is worth a pound of cure.
Just because I'm tired of arguing, doesn't mean you're right.
“One accurate measurement is worth a thousand expert opinions” - Adm Grace Murray Hopper - USN
WARNING, I'm from New York. Thin skinned people should maintain safe distance.
FB
Chain-L site
An ounce of diagnosis is worth a pound of cure.
Just because I'm tired of arguing, doesn't mean you're right.
“One accurate measurement is worth a thousand expert opinions” - Adm Grace Murray Hopper - USN
WARNING, I'm from New York. Thin skinned people should maintain safe distance.
08-13-16, 10:03 PM
#13
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: New Rochelle, NY
Posts: 38,873
Bikes: too many bikes from 1967 10s (5x2)Frejus to a Sumitomo Ti/Chorus aluminum 10s (10x2), plus one non-susp mtn bike I use as my commuter
Mentioned: 140 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5872 Post(s)
Liked 2,718 Times
in
1,517 Posts
I'll ride just about anything, but that's beyond my limit. It would probably be safe if splinted properly, and there are skilled people who repair CF, but riding as is, is foolish by any definition.
__________________
FB
Chain-L site
An ounce of diagnosis is worth a pound of cure.
Just because I'm tired of arguing, doesn't mean you're right.
“One accurate measurement is worth a thousand expert opinions” - Adm Grace Murray Hopper - USN
WARNING, I'm from New York. Thin skinned people should maintain safe distance.
FB
Chain-L site
An ounce of diagnosis is worth a pound of cure.
Just because I'm tired of arguing, doesn't mean you're right.
“One accurate measurement is worth a thousand expert opinions” - Adm Grace Murray Hopper - USN
WARNING, I'm from New York. Thin skinned people should maintain safe distance.
08-13-16, 10:12 PM
#14
Full Member
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 398
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 214 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Super expensive material destroyed by a single minor drop. Crazy.
I don't even want to ask how much it would cost to fix it.
08-13-16, 10:21 PM
#16
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: New Rochelle, NY
Posts: 38,873
Bikes: too many bikes from 1967 10s (5x2)Frejus to a Sumitomo Ti/Chorus aluminum 10s (10x2), plus one non-susp mtn bike I use as my commuter
Mentioned: 140 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5872 Post(s)
Liked 2,718 Times
in
1,517 Posts
Likewise Deb, broke her pelvis in a zero energy fall when her front wheel slipped out on a sub 5mph turn. There was no other injury, not even road rash, and not a mark on the bike, yet despite excellent bone density the pelvis cracked -- go figure.
So, I agree it's sad, and feel very bad for the OP, but compost happens, and can happen to anybody riding anything at any time.
He might also consider that if a knee impact was a factor, the breaking frame absorbed large amounts of energy, and his knee might have done much worse otherwise.
__________________
FB
Chain-L site
An ounce of diagnosis is worth a pound of cure.
Just because I'm tired of arguing, doesn't mean you're right.
“One accurate measurement is worth a thousand expert opinions” - Adm Grace Murray Hopper - USN
WARNING, I'm from New York. Thin skinned people should maintain safe distance.
FB
Chain-L site
An ounce of diagnosis is worth a pound of cure.
Just because I'm tired of arguing, doesn't mean you're right.
“One accurate measurement is worth a thousand expert opinions” - Adm Grace Murray Hopper - USN
WARNING, I'm from New York. Thin skinned people should maintain safe distance.
08-13-16, 10:24 PM
#17
Banned.
Join Date: Aug 2016
Posts: 91
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 62 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
"This process uses nano-scaled particles to reduce the microscopic gaps between the resin and the carbon, increasing strength and fracture-resistance by a claimed 49% compared to standard epoxy resin."
08-13-16, 10:27 PM
#18
Full Member
I slipped walking down an icy ramp with my bike at the start of my morning commute, the full weight of my body came down on top of the bike, it ended up on its side under me(full carbon felt frame). No damage, this happened a year a go, so you are mighty unlucky to have damaged your frame in the way you describe
08-13-16, 11:23 PM
#19
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 135
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 10 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
It's also totally possible that the frame was already slightly damaged (small crack from shipping or whatever) and your accident just finished it off. I wouldn't be so quick to throw the blame on yourself when you ask your LBS about it. Just tell them the bike took a hit and then that gash appeared, but that you honestly feel like it wasn't hit hard at all.
08-14-16, 12:09 AM
#20
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Ukraine Kharkov
Posts: 160
Bikes: CUBE Acid 29er, Salsa El Mariachi SSGT Avalanche X 2009, MMVZ Minsk 1980, Trek 4300 custom, HVZ Ukraina 111-411, Cannondale Trail 5
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 22 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
You need required replacement frame in shop where she bought!
08-14-16, 12:20 AM
#22
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Ukraine Kharkov
Posts: 160
Bikes: CUBE Acid 29er, Salsa El Mariachi SSGT Avalanche X 2009, MMVZ Minsk 1980, Trek 4300 custom, HVZ Ukraina 111-411, Cannondale Trail 5
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 22 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
. I want write about change frame in the shop. 1 month old
08-14-16, 03:13 AM
#23
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 39,401
Mentioned: 211 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 18481 Post(s)
Liked 15,775 Times
in
7,406 Posts
10 year member but these are his first posts?
