Damaged carbon fibre frame...

[Edwardoka]

Hi guys,

Tonight as I was riding home along a winding road, a car came up behind me, so I tried to shift up to the big ring to get through the corners faster to let him through, at which point the chain came off, I tried shifting back down a couple of times to get it back on and then gave up and stopped after an unpleasant noise.

On inspection the chain had jumped off the big ring and snagged on my pedal before pulling the whole thing round. As I disentangled the chain I noticed some white-ish flecks and a gouging in the frame around the bottom bracket where the chain had jammed and ground against the frame.

I wouldn't say that the gouge is more than 1mm deep but should I take it to be looked at? I've done the pound coin test which didn't indicate any difference, and I rode 7 miles on it after the chain slip, but obviously I'm wary of carbon's reputation for catastrophic sudden failure.

Any recommendations for carbon frame safety checks / repair in Scotland?

Thanks
Ed

 

[Yellow Saddle]

You will be fine. No catastrophic failure is imminent. It is ugly though but bikes get battle scars. You can prevent it using a special washer that fits behind the BB cup (if you have a screw-in BB) that is bigger than the cup's OD and gives the chain a steel surface to ride on when it has fallen off like that.

 

[Globalti]

Yes, as YS writes it's nothing serious, just disappointing. You could also fit one of the very excellent chain catchers by K-Edge or ask ColinJ of this parish if he still sells a deflector called a Dog Tooth or summat.

 

[fossyant]

Looks fine. It's blooming dirty though.

 

[Edwardoka]

Thanks guys. I've seen plenty of telltale cracked frames on t'interwebs but not many with surface gouges. On giving the bike a bit of a clean and having had a look at it in daylight I'm inclined to agree that it is largely cosmetic. Might hold off on the mountain descents for a bit just to make sure, and will have LBS look at it when i next get it serviced!

Thanks again
Ed

 

[Mobytek]

No probs.

 

[fossyant]

Don't get too worried. It's good stuff this plastic. The top end steels are paper thin. It works and does the job.

PS don't get carbon wet

 

[Edwardoka]

PS don't get carbon wet

I live in Scotland

 

[Cubist]

I live in Scotland

In which case, don't let it dry out.....