2 weeks and already a crack?
 

:( i just got my madone 5.5 2 weeks ago today, only 224 miles, and noticed this under the seat mast when cleaning the bike. I cant tell if its in the clear coat. I took the bike over to my LBS and they said it was fine, Im in the process of contacting trek, i'm just waiting for an email back just to get a second opinion.
btw I have a torque wrench, the spec is 7nm for the seat clamp. My LBS did say though that if it gets worse it'll definitely be replaced under warranty, I just need to hear back from Trek to see if its safe to ride.
Thanks

http://www.flickr.com/photos/75617289@N05/8747564175/

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8415/8...34f8e770_b.jpg
Image 5 by nelson4568, on Flickr
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8411/8...ed793023_b.jpg
Image 4 by nelson4568, on Flickr
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8260/8...7378117e_b.jpg
Image 2 by nelson4568, on Flickr

I have no long term experience with carbon posts.
I could be wrong but clearcoats and paint are not very integral to the structure of carbon from what I understand.
The paint is there to cover up voids/air pockets left over from the molding process so it looks shiny and nice.

If it's just surface scratches, I wouldn't worry, but if it's in the carbon you should be concerned.
Perhaps a carefully worded letter to Trek stating you are not at ease might get you a new post?
Or maybe mail it to them for inspection.

thanks, I need to hear back from Trek, if I don't by monday i'll post a picture on their facebook page since i've seen some people post pics of their damage, resulting in a warranty.

Hard to tell what that is. It looks like a crack, but it could also just be a scratch on the clear coat. A second opinion from Trek is needed at this point.

Take a quarter out of your pocket. Start tapping the seatpost above the flaw (at this point I think we can agree there is a flaw) and work your way down. If it sounds solid until you get to the flaw and then sounds dull, then starts sounding solid again below the flaw then it's highly likely that your seatpost is cracked.

Do not even think of riding it unless checked by a knowledgeable expert. You don't want to chance it.

Should have bought a frame made out of some sort of metal instead of plastic...

Another uninformed post about carbon frames. If you really feel this way, you shouldn't fly on a modern airliner either because they too are composite-based and have been for about 10 years.

I think he was kind of kidding.....

How did that get so scratched?

I have 8 steel frames ;)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Bike Rebel (Post 15637690)

Take a quarter out of your pocket. Start tapping the seatpost above the flaw (at this point I think we can agree there is a flaw) and work your way down. If it sounds solid until you get to the flaw and then sounds dull, then starts sounding solid again below the flaw then it's highly likely that your seatpost is cracked.

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I did, the bubbled up paint part is muted/dull when I tap on it, so is the crack. I'm still waiting to hear back from Trek

This good advice.

Don't freak out. Clear coat can be very fragile, but it's no big deal.

[QUOTE=nelson4568;15637947]I have 8 steel frames ;)
/QUOTE]

A friend collects old obsolete car as well.

Take it to a shop. let them deal with trek.

what'd you do to it?

Yep - including AA 587, from which the entire vertical stabilizer assembly separated in flight from what, up until then, had been normal control inputs.

Oops.

I don't know unless I see it in person, but my first impression is that it is a scratch and not a crack.

There have been many, many, many aircraft crashes resulting from metal fatigue and failure.

It's a scratch. What a bunch of chicken littles.

oohh yay, another steel vs plastic fight!

:popcorn

Until you get a broken post up your rectum and a diverting colostomy for it to heal. Rectal trauma bad.

You mean there have been others?:eek:

I've got bikes made of each material. I've never seen them fight. They get along fine :-p

What it looks like is someone rode it without the seat post clamp being tight. The scratches are from the post slipping or someone pulling it up without loosening the clamp