donk730

So I went on a ride downtown chicago last night and on the way back the other bike that was on my bike rack gouged my caad 9 carbon fork pretty deep. It definetely went past the clear coat and scratched into what looks like metal where the stem goes into the separate fork legs.

Do you think this is still safe to ride? also would anyone have any suggestions on a replacement fork or even have one that they might be looking to get rid of?

this is a like of what my exact bike looks like https://roadcyclingtips.com/2009-cannondale-caad9-7/

I am very sad I just purchased this bike 2 weeks ago for 600 it has full ultegra 6600 with a little dura ace and it rides like a champ but I don't want to risk the fork breaking on me. Any advice would be appreciated thanks

Vinci

If it didn't gouge into carbon, then you're fine.

donk730

here are some photos of said bike

pallen

...

Vinci

The fork should be carbon in that area. Personally, I would still ride it.

GiantDefyGuy

That seems to be an aluminum fork, and the scratches don't look bad enough to do any "real" damage.

If that were mine, I'd ride it. And at the least, I'd dab a little clear nail polish on the problem areas just to stop any more paint from chipping off.


edit: If that's a carbon fork, I reserve the right to completely change my mind. But it looks like metal to me.

donk730

thanks alot guys the fork is

is a carbon fork with aluminum steerer but the part I gouged certainly looks and feels aluminum

GiantDefyGuy

It kinda looks like you got an Aluminum fork with a Carbon steerer!

Or maybe you have just uncovered a Cannondale Conspiracy! Oh man, this is gonna be awesome!

donk730

so the consensus is that its probably safe?

ilovecycling

Yes, that one is probably safe. However, I'd also like to know where I can get a replacement slice carbon fork for my caad9. Between the steerer being cut way too short by the previous owner and the fork having some other damage to it from a crash and me having a roof rack "incident," quite frankly I don't trust it anymore. Worst of all there is a pretty big gouge in the steerer that looks to be caused by the clamp of a stem. Either it was tightened too much or the pinch bolt area had a sharp edge to it and it dug in. Whatever caused it I can't stop worrying about it when I ride.

I'd like to find a slice premium fork like the one I have now. It's full carbon and like 340 grams. I don't want a heavier aluminum steer and I don't want to pay a lot of money for a 3T or Enve fork. I'm tempted to sell the entire frameset if I can't find another nice fork at a reasonable price. In the mean time I took the Record group off and moved everything over to my Look 595 frameset. :-)