Cracked Carbon - Recommend a repair?

[Heisenberg71]

cleaning the bike I notice a crack has developed on the drive side chainstay about 2" back from the BB. It looks to be surface / gel coat and not dramatically snapped through. I have heard of people repairing frames and carrying on.

A. Would you write it off or repair it?

B. Which repair shop would you recommend?

A mate suggested Carbon Reincarnation in Lancashire. I have also heard of one down in Norfolk, but I can't remember the name of them. What would you do?

 

[Hacienda71]

You need to work out if it is a crack in the carbon or as you say it may be a crack in the paint or filler around the joint. I have a carbon frame that developed a crack near the bb after about 1500 miles. I did a bit of research, monitored the crack size and kept riding it and over 10000 miles later it is still fine.
I would be tempted to send a pic of the crack or take the frame to one of the reputable frame repairers and see what they say.
carboncyclerepairs.co.uk have a good rep and have been around for quite a while.

 

[fossyant]

Paints aren't as flexible as a carbon frame, so sometimes you do get hairline paint cracks. There are quite a few places that now do repairs.

 

[Heisenberg71]

Both good pieces of advice, thanks.
Been riding it two days now and no signs of deteriation so far.

We'll see....

Thanks for the heads up on repairs though. I will perhaps come back to this if it gets worse.

 

[Globalti]

Does it look like this? It's a witness crack where the thick brittle glossy paint has cracked as the frame flexes. Mine was like this for 5000 miles and I sold the bike complete with this photo. Stop worrying and carry on riding.

 

[sidevalve]

Buy steel

 

[Tim Hall]

Buy steel

Because they never break.