Should I take it back?
#26
BNSF is right -- I just zoomed in on the photo.
The line gets gradually shallower as it travels away from the cable port. It starts all the way through the paint, exposing the carbon. Then you see that it doesn't make its way to the carbon, or even all the way through the top coat.
If carbon cracks, the next thing that cracks is the paint or primer right on top of it. When cracks develop in carbon and it begins to show in the paint, it looks like a tight line. Like a crack coming up through ice that's still solid.
This looks exactly like damage caused from the outside by something sharp. When the force was enough to cut all the way through the paint, it splintered, which is what paint like this does when you cut it. Then the cut makes a shallower valley, until you can see clearly it's just a scratch through part of the paint. Sure looks like the work of a box cutter or razor blade to me.
Also, if you really zoom in, I think you can see untouched paint between the cable port and the start of this cut. In other words, this damage does not look like it extends to the hole in the frame.
Of course, carbon can be cracked from an external force. Just hit it with a hammer or something. There will be paint damage and splintering, and also cracked carbon underneath.
But if the idea is that this frame cracked due to stress risers, or fatigue or whatever, it would not look like this.
To the OP, if you decide to return it, do not show them the photo with your chain wrapped around the crank like that. That looks like a crazy mess. Poorly adjusted chains drop, but whoa.
The line gets gradually shallower as it travels away from the cable port. It starts all the way through the paint, exposing the carbon. Then you see that it doesn't make its way to the carbon, or even all the way through the top coat.
If carbon cracks, the next thing that cracks is the paint or primer right on top of it. When cracks develop in carbon and it begins to show in the paint, it looks like a tight line. Like a crack coming up through ice that's still solid.
This looks exactly like damage caused from the outside by something sharp. When the force was enough to cut all the way through the paint, it splintered, which is what paint like this does when you cut it. Then the cut makes a shallower valley, until you can see clearly it's just a scratch through part of the paint. Sure looks like the work of a box cutter or razor blade to me.
Also, if you really zoom in, I think you can see untouched paint between the cable port and the start of this cut. In other words, this damage does not look like it extends to the hole in the frame.
Of course, carbon can be cracked from an external force. Just hit it with a hammer or something. There will be paint damage and splintering, and also cracked carbon underneath.
But if the idea is that this frame cracked due to stress risers, or fatigue or whatever, it would not look like this.
To the OP, if you decide to return it, do not show them the photo with your chain wrapped around the crank like that. That looks like a crazy mess. Poorly adjusted chains drop, but whoa.
#27
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 468
Likes: 173
From: Land of Enchantment
Bikes: Domane SLR7 Project One
Personally, I'd try for a refund take my business elsewhere. The scratch/crack is bad enough but any shop that lets a brand new bike out the door that is that badly out of adjustment isn't to be trusted IMHO. It's not like this a cheap Walmart bike bike. And setting up and adjusting the Di2 derailleurs is really a pretty simple process once you've done a time or two. No excuse for this type of mess.
#28
Banned
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 12,585
Likes: 6,538
From: TN
Will be interesting to see how this pans out!
#30
Full Member

Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 356
Likes: 75
From: Raleigh, NC
Bikes: Specialized Crosstrail
My first bicycle purchase and first ride had the chain fall to the inside front chain ring twice. I was new to cycling so I gave it a second chance. It scratched up the frame some. I turned around to head home slowly and the handle bars fell out of the stem. I walked the bicycle home and took it right back to the LBS and said I want my money back. No questions were ask by the LBS. I know you have COVID going on here, but I would not deal with this LBS. I went to another LBS in town and had a great experience. I look back on this and think it was like a message from God, I knew nothing about bicycles, but after this I made sure to do some research first. This forum was one thing that helped in understanding what I needed to buy. The LBS blamed it on the number of bicycles they had to put together as it was the spring season.
#31
Clark W. Griswold




Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 18,378
Likes: 6,707
From: ,location, location
Bikes: Foundry Chilkoot Ti W/Ultegra Di2, Salsa Timberjack Ti, Cinelli Mash Work RandoCross Fun Time Machine, 1x9 XT Parts Hybrid, Co-Motion Cascadia, Specialized Langster, Phil Wood Apple VeloXS Frame (w/DA 7400), R+M Supercharger2 Rohloff, Habanero Ti 26
That is most certainly a warranty and Cannondale should honor that, obviously they might need the shop to be involved usually with bikes you cannot file a warranty claim on your own but hopefully someone at the shop can help out with that even if closed and get you sorted. If not reach out to Cannondale directly and explain the situation. They may not have a bike to send you right now but see what is possible. I don't really fuss over a small scratch but cracks or what appear to be cracks are a different affair.
I can say if you had Synchro shift set up on the bike for Di2 that can cause front derailleur issues as it might shift at the wrong time. I busted my Ultegra front derailleur near the start of a 3 day ride going up a hill. My GM luckily had a Dura Ace front derailleur in his kit from doing NRS and one of the support crew picked it up for me but I opted to just ride in the small ring and spin out a bunch but have the easy gear uphills since I figured I would rather put it in a stand and make sure the firmware is all correct and see what may have caused it before just replacing the part and having it happen again. Needless to say for me the Semi Synchro just wasn't the move but Shimano replaced the derailleur under warranty and it is still going strong after 2 years.
I don't think I have ever cursed that much and so loudly for so long. I was pissed in that moment luckily I didn't decide to throw the bike or something stupid like that, that would have hurt. That bike is my baby (well one of many babies but probably the most prized)
I can say if you had Synchro shift set up on the bike for Di2 that can cause front derailleur issues as it might shift at the wrong time. I busted my Ultegra front derailleur near the start of a 3 day ride going up a hill. My GM luckily had a Dura Ace front derailleur in his kit from doing NRS and one of the support crew picked it up for me but I opted to just ride in the small ring and spin out a bunch but have the easy gear uphills since I figured I would rather put it in a stand and make sure the firmware is all correct and see what may have caused it before just replacing the part and having it happen again. Needless to say for me the Semi Synchro just wasn't the move but Shimano replaced the derailleur under warranty and it is still going strong after 2 years.
I don't think I have ever cursed that much and so loudly for so long. I was pissed in that moment luckily I didn't decide to throw the bike or something stupid like that, that would have hurt. That bike is my baby (well one of many babies but probably the most prized)
#32
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 2,841
Likes: 1,062
From: South Shore of Long Island
Bikes: 2010 Carrera Volans, 2015 C-Dale Trail 2sl, 2017 Raleigh Rush Hour, 2017 Blue Proseccio, 1992 Giant Perigee, 80s Gitane Rallye Tandem
If they don't want to do a refund tell them you need to drop the bike off for adjustment and then request a charge back, Credit cards don't like to do chargebacks unless the property is in the possession of the seller. Should be easy once they have it though. I'd be disinclined to deal with a shop that let that out the door with no notice and poor adjustment.
#33
Banned.
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 821
Likes: 67
Bikes: Wahoo of Theseus, others
If they don't want to do a refund tell them you need to drop the bike off for adjustment and then request a charge back, Credit cards don't like to do chargebacks unless the property is in the possession of the seller. Should be easy once they have it though. I'd be disinclined to deal with a shop that let that out the door with no notice and poor adjustment.
#34
I've seen a lot of scratches and gouges from dropped chains, but cannot recall ever seeing a chain get completely wrapped around the crankarm.
This reminds me of a Canadian lawsuit against a toothbrush manufacturer a few years ago - the plaintiff was brushing their teeth, the toothbrush allegedly snapped, and the plaintiff continued the brushy-brushy motion with the jagged broken stub of the toothbrush, resulting in mouth injuries for which they wanted compensation. The judge laughed the plaintiff out of court - you have some responsibility to not make a situation worse after a product fails... such as continuing to pedal after the chain is off. No, the chain should not have fallen off if the bike was properly adjusted, but it's on the buyer to get it fixed when a problem is noticed and not continue pedalling despite the chain being off.
This reminds me of a Canadian lawsuit against a toothbrush manufacturer a few years ago - the plaintiff was brushing their teeth, the toothbrush allegedly snapped, and the plaintiff continued the brushy-brushy motion with the jagged broken stub of the toothbrush, resulting in mouth injuries for which they wanted compensation. The judge laughed the plaintiff out of court - you have some responsibility to not make a situation worse after a product fails... such as continuing to pedal after the chain is off. No, the chain should not have fallen off if the bike was properly adjusted, but it's on the buyer to get it fixed when a problem is noticed and not continue pedalling despite the chain being off.
#35
Senior Member

Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 4,628
Likes: 943
From: Ontario, Canada
Bikes: iele Latina, Miele Suprema, Miele Uno LS, Miele Miele Beta, MMTB, Bianchi Model Unknown, Fiori Venezia, Fiori Napoli, VeloSport Adamas AX
I've seen a lot of scratches and gouges from dropped chains, but cannot recall ever seeing a chain get completely wrapped around the crankarm.
This reminds me of a Canadian lawsuit against a toothbrush manufacturer a few years ago - the plaintiff was brushing their teeth, the toothbrush allegedly snapped, and the plaintiff continued the brushy-brushy motion with the jagged broken stub of the toothbrush, resulting in mouth injuries for which they wanted compensation. The judge laughed the plaintiff out of court - you have some responsibility to not make a situation worse after a product fails... such as continuing to pedal after the chain is off. No, the chain should not have fallen off if the bike was properly adjusted, but it's on the buyer to get it fixed when a problem is noticed and not continue pedalling despite the chain being off.
This reminds me of a Canadian lawsuit against a toothbrush manufacturer a few years ago - the plaintiff was brushing their teeth, the toothbrush allegedly snapped, and the plaintiff continued the brushy-brushy motion with the jagged broken stub of the toothbrush, resulting in mouth injuries for which they wanted compensation. The judge laughed the plaintiff out of court - you have some responsibility to not make a situation worse after a product fails... such as continuing to pedal after the chain is off. No, the chain should not have fallen off if the bike was properly adjusted, but it's on the buyer to get it fixed when a problem is noticed and not continue pedalling despite the chain being off.
Cheers
#36
Thread Starter
Banned.
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 273
Likes: 2
From: Your Moms House
Bikes: 16' SS Hi-Mod, 15' CAAD12
Good news. Shop took it back no problems.
bad news. My replacement bike had a chip on the frame but the good news in that is they are ordering me a fresh one from the warehouse that hasn’t been built yet
. Bad news. About another week of waiting. Lol. Oh well
this is the only way I can exercise with COVID. Going to be gaining some weight in the meantime
bad news. My replacement bike had a chip on the frame but the good news in that is they are ordering me a fresh one from the warehouse that hasn’t been built yet
. Bad news. About another week of waiting. Lol. Oh wellthis is the only way I can exercise with COVID. Going to be gaining some weight in the meantime
#37
MUP World Champ
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 419
Likes: 33
From: Oceanside, CA
Bikes: '19 Trance 3, '17 Defy Adv 2, DK Legend, Electra Verse 21D
#38
Senior Member


Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,717
Likes: 155
From: SW Florida
Bikes: '06 Bianchi Pista; '57 Maclean; '10 Scott CR1 Pro; 2005 Trek 2000 Tandem; '09 Comotion Macchiato Tandem; 199? Novara Road; '17 Circe Helios e-tandem:1994 Trek 2300
I wondered how my tandem chain managed to form two loops when it derailed from the big ring the other day. Now I see from this photo, or do I?. The chain was usable but noisy and had to be changed.
#39
Member
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 30
Likes: 4
Bikes: 2015 Cannondale Synapse Carbon, 2016 Cannondale Supersix EVO HM, 2020 Lynskey GR300
It doesn't look like a crack to me. It looks more like the pick or screwdriver being used to push in that grommet slipped. If you've ever tried installing them, you'll know what I mean. I would still definitely take it back though.






