Cracked frame(?)

[Tokie]

Oh, I hope that Trek gives you a replacement at no cost - that's just not right to crack like that, when your bike is almost brand new! good luck! When I crashed my Ruby I had my frame sent off to Calfee (I live in California) and they fixed my chain stay for I think 450$ - not cheap. That was without a paint job to cover/match the repair to my frame. I have put many miles on it since, but did stop racing on it (I figure it might not hold up well in another crash). when you haven't even crashed your bike, no reason for the frame to crack like that. Glad you spotted it before it failed - yikes! tokie

[ny biker]

Oh, I hope that Trek gives you a replacement at no cost - that's just not right to crack like that, when your bike is almost brand new! good luck! When I crashed my Ruby I had my frame sent off to Calfee (I live in California) and they fixed my chain stay for I think 450$ - not cheap. That was without a paint job to cover/match the repair to my frame. I have put many miles on it since, but did stop racing on it (I figure it might not hold up well in another crash). when you haven't even crashed your bike, no reason for the frame to crack like that. Glad you spotted it before it failed - yikes! tokie

Calfee was the company they mentioned for the repair option. It's good to know that you had a good experience with them.

This potentially messes up my plans to re-test the Affinity RL saddle to see if it's more comfortable than I had thought back in the spring. I figured my butt is as tough as it's going to get at this point in the year, which is ideal for saddle testing. If I'm off the road bike for too long, it will be too cold for long test rides.

Oh well. This is certainly not the worst thing in the world. Just a bummer.

[westtexas]

I worry about this a lot with my carbon frame. It fell into a wall about a month after I had it, but luckily the paint was just scratched. Plus with all the travelling I do with it - I worry every time when I unpack it that it will be smashed to bits. But I came to the same conclusion as you - I can afford a new frame if it breaks because the parts will still be good. But I really like my frame (the colors are why I got it) and I don't know if it's replaceable.

[ny biker]

I think if carbon frames were really fragile, there would be plenty of us posting about cracked frames here. So I think they are generally reliable. Of course I might feel differently about them by the time this little adventure is over.

The issue of frequent travel is an interesting one. I wonder what the pros do to protect carbon bikes and components when they travel.

[westtexas]

The issue of frequent travel is an interesting one. I wonder what the pros do to protect carbon bikes and components when they travel.

Obviously, I am not a pro. But I got the Helium Biknd case and so far have been very satisfied with its ability to protect my bike despite airline luggage handlers' best efforts. It's a softshell, lightweight case (bike + case is less than 50 pounds) that utilizes air bladders to protect the frame from the wheels and from injury. The frame itself is bolted to the bottom of the case on a quick release skewer and it has nice wheels to move it along with. I pack my bike according to the case's instructions and put foam PVC pipe protectors around the top tube/down tube/seat stays/etc. etc. (also the derailleur). It got lost in Dallas on my last trip but arrived a day later without a scratch. Seems to be working so far. Supposedly this is the case that a lot of pros use, too. After my first flight with it, and now having it been lost in the airport at a plane change, I feel pretty secure using it and don't have any anxiety concerning it's condition while travelling. But then there's always that moment when you unzip the case and see the frame...

[Kiwi Stoker]

Pros have multiple bikes and just contact their bike sponsor when something happens.

One triathlete broke her carbon seatpost while on the bike leg and RODE the entire way standing up. WOW.

New carbon seatpost was urgently DHLed to her the next day.

[goldfinch]

I worry about this a little with my Madone 4.7 because I am clumsy and I am afraid I will do something to hurt the frame, and if I had to make a claim Trek can't replace it because they don't make that frame size anymore. So, I am not sure what would happen.

The very few people I have heard talk about making claims to Trek on their frame warranty have reported a good experience.