Another carbon would you buy thread

[mtb_frk]

Haha thanks for all the responses. I got a couple more pictures and it looks not as bad as the first pictures, I think.

[Bob Ross]

Originally Posted by mtb_frk

I got a couple more pictures and it looks no near as bad as the first pictures, I think.

Agreed. My 12-year-old carbon Cannondale has probably a dozen similar nicks on the downtube and drive-side chainstay, I just slathered some clear nail polish on them and continue riding the schidt out of it.

otoh, I agree with tuscanyswe: I would ride it if it were mine, but I'm not sure I'd buy a second-hand frame that sported those scars. Not because they look like bad scars, but just because...idunno, just because.

[Tony]

Originally Posted by R3awak3n

I would ride that with 100% confidence. That looks cosmetic and not even that bad.

Agree

[mtechnica]

Looks fine IMO

[weisan]

that's not a CRACK! It's some spit that had hardened from previous rides, just clean it up with this and you are ready to go!

[thoreau]

I may be a little too cautious but id never ride or purchase anything that had any damage that would even make me question the structural integrity of the item. Frame being the biggest determinant of whether something would fall apart under me. Just my 0.02 and i definitely would have it x-rayed and gone over by a pro before riding it.

[mtb_frk]

I guess I should have made this topic a poll. Thanks everyone for your insight. Just one of many reasons I love this virtual place.

[joev]

I have heard about a test you can do...hadn't been "lucky enough" to try it myself. Take a coin and tap the tube in the area of what you think is the crack. If it changes pitch, then there is a crack.

From the pics, it appears to be superficial and it could be OK now. Maybe someone has insight on whether it could develop into something worse. Sharp corners or edges are possible stress risers. The tube looks like it was scrapped by a pedal when on a rack with another bike. Not quite the sharp edges I would thing develop into a crack...that is just my opinion.

[mtb_frk]

Yeah actually the guy sent me a video tapping on the frame and there is no difference in sound in the area. I agree it looks to me like a pedal scraped it.

[sokyroadie]

See if forum member Mike Lopez or Nick Crumpton (nicrump) will respond. some of the carbon guru's.

[C40_guy]

Originally Posted by joev

I have heard about a test you can do...hadn't been "lucky enough" to try it myself. Take a coin and tap the tube in the area of what you think is the crack. If it changes pitch, then there is a crack.

I had a Colnago C40 that showed some very slight roughness in the finish near the top of one of the seat stays. Tapping on that area sounded somewhat "duller" than on the rest of the bike.

I sold the frame, with the disclosure of that issue. I don't know whether it was me, or an insignificant issue, or a disaster waiting to happen...

Now my daily driver is a C50, and I regularly check the frame and fork for cracks and changes in integrity by tapping. It takes only a minute to do, while I'm wiping it down before or after a ride, and provides a little peace of mind...

That having been said, I'm still riding tires too big for the frame (Conti 25mm), which provide minimal clearance at seat tube, chain stays and fork bridge. I really need to move back to 23mm Contis so that there's less chance of gravel pickup scratching the frame...

[nicrump]

you cannot tell SQUAT from a pic... then I continued reading...

Originally Posted by mtb_frk

Yeah actually the guy sent me a video tapping on the frame and there is no difference in sound in the area. I agree it looks to me like a pedal scraped it.

This can be helpful and tonal changes are a an indication of a problem.