Assessing a second hand bike with carbon fibre forks - advice for a novice

[idle_chatterer]

Whilst out cycling with my young son I came across what is termed a hard waste collection by the side of the road (we're in Australia at the moment), on top of which was an unloved Gitane Mach 1600 circa 2007 I think which has carbon fibre forks - although I didn't realise any of this at the time. It's my size so to the embarrassment of my son I asked the 'owner' (who was gardening) whether I could take it (as is customary with hard waste collection round here) and was told yes. The aluminium frame is true, the wheels are undamaged, true and original and the tyres are hardly warn. Various bolts are cosmetically rusty - I suspect it lived under a carport for some time, it had many cobwebs too (but no deadly spiders I'm glad to say). I pumped up the tyres and they hold air and the sidewalls aren't visibly cracked. The componentry is Tiagra with little sign of wear.

So, after Googling what on Earth it was I realise I may have something of a bargain since it has some second hand value greater than zero. Most of the componentry I'm happy to fettle but carbon fibre forks concern me - should I replace them 'just in case' ?

I'm not a roadie - preferring steel tourers but I've been thinking of becoming a MAMIL so this might provide the impetus.

Advice gratefully received......

 

[accountantpete]

You probably have an alloy steerer and drop outs.

They are pretty robust (i'm still riding one from 2002) so I would just check for bubbling around the alloy bits (it would need a lot to deter me) and a once or twice look over of the carbon for any knocks and possible wheel rub on the inside.

If the steerer is also carbon then you just need to check for excessive headset wear on the steerer.

 

[idle_chatterer]

You probably have an alloy steerer and drop outs.

They are pretty robust (i'm still riding one from 2002) so I would just check for bubbling around the alloy bits (it would need a lot to deter me) and a once or twice look over of the carbon for any knocks and possible wheel rub on the inside.

If the steerer is also carbon then you just need to check for excessive headset wear on the steerer.

Thanks, the dropouts are certainly alloy and I'd assumed that the steerer is too, it's not a high end bike and I've a feeling earlier models didn't have carbon forks. There is no bubbling or rubbing that I can spot, my concern being the supposed ability of carbon to hide knocks? There's certainly no evidence in the rest of the frame or wheelset of anything significant having happened, a few scratches consistent with being unloved or roughly transported but nothing on the carbon forks that I can see. Assuming it's a 2006/7 bike - how long do carbon components last (I've always relied on Reynolds for my frames so admit to both bias and ignorance) ?

 

[accountantpete]

Usually carbon shows up knocks or blemishes pretty well especially as it is usually covered with clear coat.

The clear coat readily chips or wears or becomes opaque with any outside contact so any major bump will be easily seen.

 

[idle_chatterer]

Usually carbon shows up knocks or blemishes pretty well especially as it is usually covered with clear coat.

The clear coat readily chips or wears or becomes opaque with any outside contact so any major bump will be easily seen.

Thank you, then I suspect I have a 'bargain', I'll clean up those rusted bolts, give it a service, change the pedals and saddle and join the Baysiders (in Melbourne) without shame..... serendipity.