Has anyone ever cracked a carbon fiber frame?

Question

How many miles did you have on the bike? Was it a crash?

Answer 1

My first carbon frame failure was back in the early days of carbon bikes. The bike was a 1976 Exxon Graftek ... carbon tubes with steel lugs. The big issue there was breaking the tube at the joint where it met the steel ... my first one happened at around 1900 km (1180 miles). Since it occurred during a high-speed portion of an endurance race (about 70 km = 45 miles from the start/finish) and I ended up in the hospital for 6 months recovering from broken bones, I swore off carbon bikes for a while.

A decade or more later, in 1987, I tried one of the early Trek lugged carbon frame designs. Much better than the early Exxon, in both look and feel! But alas, it too ended up with a cracked frame - this time by being knocked off the rack during a triathlon and having the seat tube hit the kerb at an acute angle. The good news is that the bike actually had some time on it ... almost 8000 km (5000 miles). However, it effectively put me out of triathlons for a few months, while I scraped enough cash together to get another ride.

Last attempt at carbon fiber was in 2004, with a custom-built full-carbon Guru. So far, everything still works like a charm ... with around 6000 all-purpose km (3700 miles) on it. Even the Zipp 303 carbon rims have been exceptional .. and I've put them through a couple of rough rides in the last year especially.

Answer 2

You will find a lot of people who have cracked carbon frames. Most of these frames are very very reliable, but as designers start to push the envelope for weight, failures do happen. I had a carbon fork fail on me this year near the stem. No crash, just failure.

Answer 3

A big reason I prefer aluminum over carbon. I've owned two full carbon frames in the past and they rode well but the thought that carbon failure occurs without an signs frightens me. It's said that 9 out of 10 carbon frame failures end with a nasty crash. The scarier part is that it's almost impossible to early detect stress points to prevent possible failures. With steel and aluminum frames, you can see the problem spots. Titanium frame failure is almost non-existent.
One of my riding buddies is a pro racer. He told me that contrary to what the manufacturers and dealers say, carbon frames aren't a safe bet if you're over 180 lbs.

Answer 4

I have witnessed a guy totally breaking his front fork. This was when carbon fiber frames were first coming out. I have not seen any such thing since. I have read a website recently which talked about carbon fiber frames.

Answer 5

i could want carbon over aluminum i could believe Anna on her placed up in case you propose on traveling carbon is a bad decision. If traveling is a purpose i could want metallic over aluminum on a similar time as I even have not chosen Aluminum as my huge style one decision in the two i could additionally say that that is an dazzling cloth for a bike physique. My mountain bike is an aluminum alloy and that i admire that bike. I even have owned the two for highway motorcycles and prefer my carbon extra beneficial and not by using rather. to be honest my aluminum bike became into no longer a similar high quality as my carbon. Sora vs Ultegra and various of little modifications. on the line I even have got here upon aluminum stiff and unforgiving while in comparison with carbon this is stiff and forgiving. maximum motorcycles incorporate carbon forks for that reason. Cannondale is a superb device and that i could be proud to possess the two bike. My daughter rides a Synapse this is an aluminum physique. as far as sturdiness I even have had no themes with carbon. My bike gets between 60-a hundred miles a week and commonly plenty extra and has no indicators of cracks and or different themes. for people who say the lifespan of carbon is ten years i'm uncertain if this is authentic. in spite of the fact that maximum Rec Riders aspects on a bike have seen adequate use after ten years to warrant a clean bike at that element.

Answer 6

Yes, I had a sudden catastrophic failure of a Trek OCLV. A chainstay unexpectedly split which made the wheel cock out of place and caused a pretty spectacular fall.

I had about 3000 miles on it. No crashes.

Answer 7

I had a friend crack his Colnago in a big crash. I'm not sure if you need help getting one repaired but I will post regardless. He sent it off to Craig Calfee and you cannot even tell where it was repaired. He is about 190lbs and has not had any issues since it was repaired. I think Calfee's website is www.calfeedesign.com

Answer 8

Mine took an extremely hard hit - at 70km/h I had to jump over a pipe on the road, the rear wheel had to be replaced but the frame is fine.

They are stronger than most people think...

Answer 9

No, but I saw Lance Armstrong crack one of his chain-stays in half and he kept racing!

Answer 10

yup. giant tcr compsite....hit by a car...destroyed
ridley domocles....bb failure cracked(creaking, not a total break)
old trek, lugs went bad