DynoD500_SR20-d

I was cleaning the bike and noticed this under the seatpost clamp. Depends on who you talk to it is either paint or the frame. What does it look like to you?

Litespud

DynoD500_SR20-d

That's carbon paste. I am talking about the white part. The frame

DynoD500_SR20-d

Here is the inside.

Hoopdriver

There are definitely cracks radiating from the sides of the bottom hole at 3 and 9 o'clock. I don't think you're looking at a catastrophic failure situation though.

DynoD500_SR20-d

I think the same. I may just do a touch weld grind and paint if it gets worst. Is this normal?

fietsbob

in theory the drilled hole stops the vertical, slot from cracking those horizontal crack lines, have to remove the paint to see if its the metal..

Nessism

I'd leave it alone and wait to see if it gets worse.

GamblerGORD53

Been riding with the seat post too high??
Open bin... throw IN. BYE>>>

DynoD500_SR20-d

nope.

DynoD500_SR20-d

so I should drill a tiny hole at the end of the horizontal hole to keep it from spreading? The vertical were indeed paint.

bakerjw

What is the frame material. Post #4 almost looks like carbon although it could be hone marks.
Nevertheless, in #4 , there looks to be some cracks making it through to the inside.
If it is a steel frame, then a welder trained in frame repair could grind out the crack, weld, grind and repaint it. But, would it be worth it on a steel bike.

Any chance that it is under warranty? Are you the original owner? What does your LBS think?

DynoD500_SR20-d

It is 7005 Aluninum. It was purchased in the UK and sent to me here. I emailed them as it is still under the 2 year warranty. I am going to stop by a cycle repair place here in Brooklyn to see what they think in case Ribble decides they cannot replace the frame or if it is bad. I was going to tap two holes at the end to prevent the sharp edge from running forward in the meantime

Hoopdriver

I wouldn't drill relief holes just yet, but instead just watch for a while. The big question is how the cracks happened. Assuming that the post is the correct diameter, perhaps something happened during initial assembly. If the seat post is too small, flexing could have done it as would over-clamping. It's certainly worth it to get out the calipers and measure. How do the cracks line up with the post clamp?

DynoD500_SR20-d

This is the correct seatpost. 31.8 and the think is super long. It goes down the post way deep.

unterhausen

if you want it to last the longest possible time, don't stop drill. You won't hit the end of the crack and even if you do it just makes the crack longer. Your bike, but people who recommend stop drilling have heard about it but have no technical knowledge of when it is appropriate or not

DynoD500_SR20-d

im gonna put a mark on it and watch if it spreads. In the meantime I contacted the manufacturer and waiting for them to get back to me.

TiHabanero

Those cracks remind me of the Kestrel 400. We sold a few of them back then and they all developed cracks like that freaking out the owners. The cracks were in the paint and it took the Kestrel rep to come in and convince them that the bike was fine.

DynoD500_SR20-d

the companies response to detailed pics

Thanks for getting in touch.

It doesn't look like there's any structural issue with the frame, it could be that a small amount of movement in the aluminium when tightening and loosening the seat collar has caused the paint to separate slightly the best thing I could recommend is you mark the ends of the cracks with tape or a sharpie and see if the crack grows over time.
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If you would like us to further inspect the frame we would need to have it back. If we find a material or manufacturing defect we would look to replace it with the new Endurance AL which you can have a look at at the link below:

MikeyMK

They're offering to take it back. The stuff does crack, and i think they're cracks. And i'd send it.

DynoD500_SR20-d

Ribble Bikes for the win. This alone makes me a lifetime customer. They are even putting a new bottom bracket on for a clean swap. Only thing I have to do is get internal cable now cause this frame is internal vs external.

I 1000% recommend Ribble to anyone looking for a bike online.

RiceAWay

That is definitely cracking of the seat post probably from overtightening the seat post clamp. This is a dangerous condition and this is one of the few areas on a carbon bike that I would trust a repair. It you let this go it can crack around the circumference and the seat post could out on a hard bump in the least safe place.

phughes

Except that the fame is aluminum, and has already been replaced by the company that made it.

Litespud

That's a good call on the part of Ribble. Good for you.

RiceAWay

I made the mistake in thinking the frame was carbon since I saw so many carbon frames broken that way. You made the mistake of misspelling "frame" and Ribble agreed with my assessment that was a dangerous crack.

By the way - There seems to have been a remarkable reduction in breaking carbon frames. I don't know if people are finally getting the idea that you don't complain about a carbon fiber frame breaking when you run into the side of a car at 15 mph or if they are getting the hang of the material and we're getting very few frames and forks breaking without reasons? I have seen this occur but have finally gone back to CF and my Colnago CLX 3.0 is easily the best bike I've ever ridden. But perhaps it just fits me better than most other bikes?