cracked frame!

Took my Diva into the shop and the mechanic noticed a crack on the top tube along the ridge. It just happens to be near where I touched up a scratch with black nail polish in the first week that I got the bike 2 years ago. LBS says Orbea won't replace the frame if it is from an accident or fall. The scratch came from leaning it up against a redwood deck. Not sure what to do. Have to send it to have Orbea to look at it and see if they will replace and be without a bike for at least 2 weeks. On the other hand, it rides fine, did 35 miles and 3000 ft. of climbing yesterday. Anyone else had problems with carbon frames?

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Originally Posted by Grasshoppergirl

Took my Diva into the shop and the mechanic noticed a crack on the top tube along the ridge. It just happens to be near where I touched up a scratch with black nail polish in the first week that I got the bike 2 years ago. LBS says Orbea won't replace the frame if it is from an accident or fall. The scratch came from leaning it up against a redwood deck. Not sure what to do. Have to send it to have Orbea to look at it and see if they will replace and be without a bike for at least 2 weeks. On the other hand, it rides fine, did 35 miles and 3000 ft. of climbing yesterday. Anyone else had problems with carbon frames?

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Carbon fiber can fail in a huge way and without warning if it has been compromised. If I were you, I would take the two weeks and have Orbea check it out. It might be fine for years, and it might fail - why take the risk? I do not have a carbon bike myself, but I know people who do and several have had problems...

I have had 2 carbon bikes, a few crashes, and never had any problems with either of my bikes. I have nothing against steel bikes (I have one, too), but carbon is not inherently evil, as some would suggest. Not you Catrin! It's just that in 10 years I've heard this same mantra over and over, yet I don't know anyone who has had a carbon bike "fail."
Get it checked out, of course, as I would get any crack checked out, no matter what material my bike was made of.

Listen to Catrin and have your frame professionally checked out! There are MANy problems that can happen, so having it checked out just might save you from an accident.

Crankin, it seems that the circle around you has had very good luck with carbon, but it you look around there are many people that have had problems.... frames, handlebars, wheels... the list goes on and on. I am a small shop in a very remote area, and in the past two years, I've had customers with cracked wheels(Zipp) frames and handlebars. Most of the people do NOT race, have never crashed, but for some reason there was a problem. Now I also realize that many people do not have problems and this is the other side of the story. However, potentialy there can be problems (like any material)and people simply need to be careful and have suspected problems checked out. No one is pointing fingers, simply stating the truth.

And that is why I said to get it checked.
But sometimes, people get a little over zealous in their "dislike" of carbon :).

I'd say get it checked, why risk it? From your description, it does not sound like the crack was the result of a fall or accident, so Orbea should replace it.

How disturbing! I hope your Diva is OK! Keep us updated alright?

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Originally Posted by Crankin

And that is why I said to get it checked.
But sometimes, people get a little over zealous in their "dislike" of carbon :).

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Oh, I'll always warn people that carbon will can fail catastrophically and that they need to be careful and not to think of it as a bike or piece that they keep forever.

That doesn't stop me from having carbon handlebars on almost all my bikes, a carbon frame, and carbon cranks and seatposts on almost all my bikes. And 1 set of carbon wheels, that I'm currently not riding 'cause I don't trust the rear wheel.

Acknowledgement & realization of the potential limitations of a material doesn't make it a zealous dislike.

I also know that steel bikes are heavy and can rust. I still have a steel bike. I prefer titanium to steel though.

I would also stress get it checked - *damaged* carbon is always a risk.

On the other question - is carbon more risky in general than other materials? I'm skeptical about that. Do I know people who've had carbon break - for sure. I also know people who've snapped aluminum cranks and handlebars. One strong guy I know has suddenly snapped not one set of alu cranks, but two.... OTOH, I've crashed my carbon bike several times (in races and into a car!) without any problems.

All frame materials can break - my husband has snapped the welds on a steel frame and broken right through the chain stay on an aluminum one (another fellow I know has done this to two steel bikes - he's a big guy). A woman racer I know has totaled two ti frames - one bent and one cracked. I've personally had 3 different aluminum wheels fail (parts of the rim blow off...) while riding them and a teammate had one go on a team ride too. I also bent a steel frame... though that was able to be bent back.

My hubby has had 2 bikes develop cracks--an old steel Viner and a carbon Specialized Roubaix Pro. He's a 250# strong dude. He still really likes his carbon frame, but he's glad Specialized has a good warranty and stood behind the bike--it was only 5-6 years old when he had it replaced.

Yes, carbon will fail catastrophically, but the top tube is the least stressed tube on the bike, if that is any comfort. If, seriously, the "damage" came from leaning your bike against a deck, I would be very confident, assertive, and righteous in asking Orbea to warranty it. A crack shouldn't develop from something like that. If they don't warranty it, you have learned something about Orbea. They really should, if you insist. Good luck.

Thanks for all the advice. Yes, I will send it in to be looked at. I'm a teacher on a 2 week fall vacation and have plans to ride up in Tahoe area next week. Many in our club have had problems with carbon and had frames replaced(all makes), but they were usually crashes or big, strong guys. Some have gone to the Calfee factory, not too far away, for repairs too.
Thinking of a steel frame as a back up. My DH's idea as our LBS owner also builds bikes. Been admiring the Eclipse Margo. I'll keep you posted on the warranty/outcome.

Have it checked out.

The integrity of carbon will always be debated. I don't buy into it. I love my carbon bike. Had my first one for years, crashed it in crits, downhills, but it was the slow bobble that killed it...top tube versus uneven pavement, maybe Ti could have survived it, but all my racer friends hate the way Ti feels. My other bike is aluminum with a carbon fork. Drove that one under a clearance bar...my fork looked cracked, but I had it looked at and it was determined fine. 5 years later it's still my winter bike/back-up...I've raced it, it's fine.

I've had a couple of friends had their carbon bikes fixed by Calfee and raced them with no problem. One was a seat tube issue, the other had both his seat stays sheered (nasty crash) For $250, it's the way to go,