krazyderek

My trek 5000 just arrived via UPS. I was going to buy one locally but saw a good deal on ebay and decided to save myself over 500$.

https://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?...e=STRK:MEWA:IT

Well i put the bike together and, discover what i can only imagine is repair to the carbon frame. See the pics below. When i saw this in the auction pics, i assumed it was just reflection of the sky. After all the seller did state "Bike is in Immaculate Condition." He also says "nude carbon" but other then those "nude" (repaired spots) the bike is all painted black.

I checked out this bike locally before buying on ebay to check the fit, and to know what i was buying. Maybe i just didn't notice this at the store, i might go have another look, but here are my pics taken inside.

Also the chain looked really cruddy until i realized it was wax dipped. But for "143 miles. 6 months old" the bike appears to have alot of wear on the sprokets. I'll take it into my LBS and have it overhauled cause the brake lines look a little over the hill too, just wanted to see what you guys though first.



help!!

Waldo

I'm not having much luck discerning anything from your photos, as I see similar markings elsewhere on the frame. I'd say it's rather unlikely it's ben repaired as there aren't many guys out there capable of doing so. I could be wrong; I certainly have been before.
As an aside, you checked it out at the LBS, had them size you up and all, and then bought it on ebay? That was very thoughtful. You should have someone at your local Trek shop evaluate the frame-they know what to look for in these cases. Of course, if there is an issue, you have no warranty recourse, and the shop isn't going to be too excited about helping you out after what you pulled.

PepsiMan

lol.

that really blows, though. the ebay pics look nicer than yours. i would be having serious buyer's remorse. hopefully everything is cosmetic and you'll love the bike.

zelah

hopefully your LBS isnt stocked with jerks and they'll actualy help out a fellow cyclist

krazyderek

It's kind of accepted here, as the maratimes have the highest tax rate in north america, 15% (woo hoo harmonized sales tax), plus i've been buying parts, and getting maintainance there for years, maybe not as big as profit on a bike, but income i give them on maintainanance is alot more in the long run. Heck i've pretty much already baught this bike from them in money i've spent on derailleur fine tuning, shifter and brake cable replacements, new chains, new clipless shoes every year (stupid growing feet!), tires, tubesm, etc.

Anywhere else though, and i know what you're saying.

So that just looks like normal carbon weave then? thought it was supposed to be all grid like, did you let the big picture load with the big red arrows?

Matt_1

post your findings/repair jobs. I'm really interested in seeing what you come up with. It's like a greyhound with a broken leg.......

perhaps curing a few patches of carbon on the cracks will help?

kip2714

I am somewhat familiar with this frame. From what I can recall and what I can discern from the photos, that is simply the paint finish of that particular frame, brushed finish. It is not naked carbon as I know it to be. I could be wrong.

krazyderek

Actually now that you mention it, i suppose it could be reflective type brushed paint, as it does fade right into the normal black, and all the "brush strokes" go right under the origianl logo's and stickers on the bike, And unless they redid the clear coat on the whole bike, it seems to be original then

Fewf.. lol,

slvoid

It would probably cost more to repair a horrifically crashed frame in 4 spots like that than it would be to just buy a new frame. It's probably the paint and the way the carbon's layered.

CAAD5AL

Kind of accepted here too - it's called a free market. Eesh, some would have us tithing to our LBS each week.

RoadToad

I have my 10% automatically payroll deducted every week...

RT

ShinyBaldy

what you're pointing out is just the finish

nude carbon doesn't look like that

if there is repair - it isn't where your pictures are pointing

Serpico

check out roadbikereview.com, lotta complaints about the finish on Trek oclv

I don't think it looks damaged/repaired.

good luck

biker7

Believe most agree the frame hasn't been wrecked. Likely just the finish. Alay your concerns by contacting Trek. Take some high resolution pictures with the bike serial no. and ask them their expert opinion. Once you know, your mind will be put at rest.
HTH,
George

SAB

From the picks, can't tell if it's damaged or not. In general if a carbon bike is crashed and the frame is cracked/broken it can't be repaired. Surface scratches/markings can be re-painted. It may also be Trek's lousy paint job. If you have any question take it to an authorized dealer and have them take a look at it. If they have any uncertainties, have them ship it trek's factory in Waterloo, Wisconsin and have them check it out....

Metro

I wouldn't sweat the e-bay purchase either. I too give virtually all my business to my lbs. I am not rich and could not afford a carbon frame either. At my budget, I would have been riding around on an aluminum frame with Sora/Tiagra components if I purchased at my lbs. For the same money I got CF with 105 throughout and Mavic Cosos wheelset online. I personally don't thing wholesale distributors are going to bankrupt the lbs. They don't provide service and you don't see what you actually get until it is delivered. My lbs assembled my bike and gets all my incidental purchases.

Would they prefer to sell me a carbon frame? Absolutely, then again I would love to purchase a Serotta from them too. Maybe in my next life as a millionaire.

Waldo

So you mean it's acceptable to you and your buddies or the shops as well? I'm guessing you didn't go into the shop and say "Hey, I found the same bike you sell on ebay. Mind if I use your time and professional expertise to make sure I'm making a wise decision? Oh, can you fit me too?"
As one other poster said and I neglected to mention, the pictures you provided are indicative of the paint finish that Trek employs-there is much in the way of misconception about what CF actually looks like.

So you would have no objections if someone used your time and professional expertise to evaluate goods/services for free so that they might purchase these same goods/services elsewhere?

krazyderek

funny you say that, cause my raleigh (the bike the trek is replacing) is exactly that, Alum frame with all sora parts that i purchased locally 2 years ago lol

cyclingute

Looks like the Carbon weave layers that make up the OCLV.

I've sent an OCLV back to Trek for repair. They did an incredible job, and did it for free. Gotta love warranties. I've seen your particular model on the road, it looked very much like yours. I wouldn't sweat it too much. Like someone else said, if you're really worried about it, take it to a Trek dealer, have them check it out. But I wouldn't sweat it.

krazyderek

Waldo - to a certain extent i can really understand what you're saying, but i had also gone over one thrusday around 1 in the afternoon, it was a rainy day, and there were about 4 guys just sitting around talking (working) cause it was dead at that time of day. I just went in to look around at a couple of things, one of them being the bike, and they approached me to talk, cause honestly they had nothing else to do there that day. The rest of the stuff, carbon handle bars, nova scotian jersey, bib shorts, and now fitting, and tune up, i all plan to go there and pay for.

I don't want this to turn into a debate, i know there will always be two sides to this story, if it helps i used to ski with two of the guys there, and i happen to know they don't work on commision at that store so they really don't care as they make their 9.50/hr either way.

But thank you very much for you verification on the info for the frame, much apreciated

roadwarrior

No. A free market would be you go into the bike shop and hire them as a consultant to help you make a purchase on the internet and pay them for their advice and counsel. To not do so is stealing.
If you are not smart enough to do it on your own, don't ask for advice for free.

Ebbtide

Could it have been damaged in shipping, such as simple rub marks?

Phatman

The bike is fine. That is the carbon finish underneath a clear coat.

generally, that fine basket weave you see on carbon bikes is not the strutural part of the carbon fiber, it is there to look pretty.

I think its possible that for the 5000 (the lowest CF bike in trek's linup) they did not bother with putting a pretty carbon weave on, so instead you can see the unidirectional carbon fiber thats actually used (its not as pretty as the cosmetic stuff)

If your really worried, try to find a 2004 trek 5000 in a bike shop. It'll look just like that.

Waldo

krazyderek, so long as they're cool with it I guess it works. Out of curiosity do you know how makes that Nova Scotia jersey? Got to tour Nova Scotia and PEI two years ago-absolutely beautiful Would've loved to have enough time to do some biking, plusI've got the Canadian heritage going...

Waldo

Probably meant "free to me" market. Self-justification, I suppose. Whatever it takes.
As an aside, do you know much of the Major Taylor velodrome? I haven't had much luck getting info off the interweb...