Just a rock chip??

[redturbo]

During a group ride my fork took a hard hit from a rock maybe a little bigger than a golf ball. I looked at it later on and it was just a chip in the paint. A month later it migrated into a full on crack. I usually clean my bike once a week and would of noticed it, but I was lazy and not in a position where it was convenient to clean it.

[justinf]

New fork time, my friend. Once the carbon weave is compromised it's toast. If you're asking that is. . .

[ashwa64]

good thing it wasn't the sachs....

[Too Tall]

PHEW!!!!! Good catch. Thanks for the pics. and reminder.

[Chance Legstrong]

daggummit! glad you caught it and went no further


(i hope this doesn't turn into: what CF fork is that?)

[SteveP]

count yrself lucky.

check yr bikes over... esp yr forks, bars, stems.
frequently, replace if at all questionable...
way cheaper than new teeth.

[drewmanchew]

That fork looks to be a Reynolds UL fork painted to match.

[Blue Jays]

Wow, close call.
Glad you observed the damage from a safe vantage point.

[sloji]

count yrself lucky.

check yr bikes over... esp yr forks, bars, stems.
frequently, replace if at all questionable...
way cheaper than new teeth.

It's these kind of comments "replace if at all questionable" that had my panties in a bunch after I found a dent in my fork on my Sachs so I sent it to atmo for a checkup, it passed the exam so I can ride again and keep smiling...how perfect does perfect have to be?

[Chance Legstrong]

It's these kind of comments "replace if at all questionable" that had my panties in a bunch after I found a dent in my fork on my Sachs so I sent it to atmo for a checkup, it passed the exam so I can ride again and keep smiling...how perfect does perfect have to be?

steel v. carbon
apples oranges

[El Chaba]

Did Gita import that fork? ......maybe it's covered by warranty!

[ides1056]

Have a Sintema fork that came with a bike, and came with a tag from Sintema that said replace after a year if you race, after a crash period, and after five years- I think- if you are a recreational rider. My carbon cranks- 1st gen Campy- are to be kept out of sunlight, not cleaned with solvents, etc. I haven't opted for a carbon fork for my ss mtb because I don't want to find its limit the hard way.

[hupomone]

going to check my forks today. I had a rock chip on a time fork that went to the fibers and the clear seemed to bubble up. I retired it and it hangs in the garage mostly because i keep meaning to cut it up for my own curiosity.

glad you caught it!

[allerge99]

Get Sacha to paint you a Edge fork to match if the geometry matches up. You'll be amazed. Was this on the MD ride or BB ride? just curious.

[redturbo]

Get Sacha to paint you a Edge fork to match if the geometry matches up. You'll be amazed. Was this on the MD ride or BB ride? just curious.

Yes, It happened on Cemetery RD.

[Keith A]

BTW, what bar tape do you have on your Vanilla?

[redturbo]

BTW, what bar tape do you have on your Vanilla?

Fizik

[962]

thanks for sharing. I am pretty cavalier about carbon being strong under most conditions but it is informative to see a case where real damage can be done.

I do wonder how intact the layers underneath are, though. (apparently enough not to collapse completely) How long did you ride it before it cracked further? Maybe it is just the outside checker-weave that is cracking now as the layers underneath deform more.

[OnTheEllipse]

um, can i have the cracked one? I'll attach a bar and stem to the steerer and run around the house with it. Closest I'll ever get

[MIN]

wonder if some CF epoxy mixtures are inherently resilent/brittle. i've never seen that sort of damage.