Carbon frame damage - help needed

[Illaveago]

If it was mine I would repair it. I like a challenge.
It is interesting to see how many layers they have used in the lay up.
What is the bike and can we have a picture of the rest of it ?

 

[Big John]

I'd go for a DIY repair but that's just me. I've done a carbon fibre repair using a small kit purchased off the net. Not pretty and certainly wouldn't win any awards but has lasted for years and the bike was used for TLI races over a long period of time after the repair (cracked the seat tube near where the seat post goes in during an off in a race). Carbon fibre matting and resin. Your call, of course.

 

[silva]

Good you noticed the damage before the fender finished the job.

 

[Vantage]

Plastic frames.........

 

[I like Skol]

Plastic frames.........

Same could/would happen to Ali, just more slowly. Steel should be reasonably safe?

 

[Illaveago]

Same could/would happen to Ali, just more slowly. Steel should be reasonably safe?

It can happen to steel bikes as well. My Woodrup had to have a new chain stay fitted because a chainring cut through it .

 

[ColinJ]

It can happen to steel bikes as well. My Woodrup had to have a new chain stay fitted because a chainring cut through it .

How did THAT happen...!

Did someone fit an undersize bottom bracket by mistake?

 

[Vantage]

Same could/would happen to Ali, just more slowly. Steel should be reasonably safe?

From a mudguard? Unlikely. Even a steel mudguard wearing through an alloy chainstay would take some serious doing.

 

[Illaveago]

How did THAT happen...!

Did someone fit an undersize bottom bracket by mistake?

It looks like they fitted it round the wrong way. Short side on the drive side.

 

[mattjg01]

I'd go for a DIY repair but that's just me. I've done a carbon fibre repair using a small kit purchased off the net. Not pretty and certainly wouldn't win any awards but has lasted for years and the bike was used for TLI races over a long period of time after the repair (cracked the seat tube near where the seat post goes in during an off in a race). Carbon fibre matting and resin. Your call, of course.

Might give this a try, but also keeping my eyes out for a nice steel frame.

For those that were interested this is a Specialized Roubaix frame

 

[wafter]

Might give this a try, but also keeping my eyes out for a nice steel frame.

For those that were interested this is a Specialized Roubaix frame

I resisted bowling in with the steel propaganda, but I'm glad to hear you're looking at this route

 

[Illaveago]

Might give this a try, but also keeping my eyes out for a nice steel frame.

For those that were interested this is a Specialized Roubaix frame

From the picture it only looks like a small hole in the stay approx 1/4 inch or slightly bigger. You have been riding it up to this point without it giving way.
If it was mine I would buy a cheap carbon fibre repair kit and repair it. I would try and find a bar or wooden dowel of similar slightly smaller diameter. Wrap sellotape or pvc insulation tape round it to act as a release. Lay up a couple of layers of carbon with resin about the size of the hole and let it cure. Once cured I would sand it down so that it fitted inside the depression. Mix up some more resin and bond the piece into the frame with more layers of carbon on top.

 

[wafter]

For a long time....

Yes and no.. probably a lot quicker than you'd think if ridden in grimey conditions and constantly covered in grit.