Can see fibers where the chip in the carbon is. It’s about 10mm or the length of 1 spacer.
It is well within where the stem clamps so maybe not a problem?
Likewise I could lose 10mm from the stack height re-cutting the fork and only be 5mm below my usual stack.
UserM16 on
You paid for this?
Proud-Scallion-3765 on
Just curious but isnt that thing going to weaken as it gets wet?
OscarLHampkin on
It’s poor cutting, like when you cut wood and the last few fibres at the end split off. Similar here, they probably just went too fast/we’re not supporting it properly. I wouldn’t say it’s unsafe, the stem will hold it all together, but I wouldn’t particularly be happy about it.
Edit: I wouldn’t cut it shorter myself, I’d ride it if it was my bike.
Working_Cut743 on
I’d be tempted to put a layer of superglue (cyanoacrylate?) over it, just to ensure that the fibres don’t start fraying.
Dazzling_Invite9233 on
Looks like they used a pipe cutter and it pulled a section of carbon up. I’d take it to them to sort it out. Never cool when others mess up your gear.
19972081 on
I mean when working with carbon it’s very hard to have perfect cut that doesn’t do this is it perfect now is it going to be safe for years yeah. I’m anal about my bikes but this is nothing
Beneficial-Oven1258 on
That’s not great. But shit happens, and it’s nothing to worry about structurally. I would go on my way, and probably use a different shop next time.
zodzodbert on
I’ve cut steerers myself seven times so far and never left one like that. If you use a guide and a carbon-cutting hacksaw blade, the cut should be clean.
mutumbocodes on
I would get a refund on the labor but it should be fine.
TeachingJaded1546 on
That’s really unacceptable. I’d be nice about it and if they are apologetic, take responsibility, and offer to refund the labor cost or a similar type concession I’d say thanks and move on. It’s safe enough to ride. However if they are A-Holes, I’d say they can buy you a new fork. Small claims court is free baby!
69cop3rnico42O on
should you worry about the safety of riding this? absolutely not. do you have grounds to be rightfully pissed at the shop and possibly demand them to refund you? i would think so.
velothree on
Probably ok
millenialismistical on
I wouldn’t say you’re f*ed per se, but it is annoying. I would refrain from having them work on carbon parts in the future.
FastSloth6 on
Put a little nail polish or cyanoacrylate superglue on it to hold the fibers together. It’s kind of a bad cut but isn’t life threatening, IMO.
Sub rules would say if you have to ask, don’t ride it.
Rusnak_322 on
Considering you won’t see any of this when the stem is on, and you know know it is not unsafe. Don’t be a Karen and demand that you get a new fork. It has to be hard enough to keep a LBS open without this type of complaint
hoolihoolihoolihouli on
No big deal. Go ride!
Ok_Volume9271 on
They just handed this back to you and never mentioned anything? Were they not using a carbon dedicated saw blade? If they knew about their mistake and didn’t tell you, that’s kinda fucked, especially since it’s a carbon steerer… I’ve honestly never had this happen getting my carbon seatposts or steerers cut. If they had a good clamp on it and a decent saw, it shouldn’t cause this. It doesn’t look horrible, I mean it’s just the first superficial layer that has sorta flaked off? I don’t think it’s delaminated, you don’t see carbon strands sticking out. The resin underneath is still holding it all together. I just wouldn’t know what to really do to keep it from delaminating more, especially with the stem going over it. At least the compression plug is there to protect it even more. If you’re super worried, you may have to cut that bit off for peace of mind, but I’d personal ride it as is and just monitor it from time to time to make sure it’s not flaking or delaminating more.
pleasantBeThynature on
Low quality shop, don’t go back to them for work. Even if they know how to do things right, they aren’t.
massproduce201 on
It’s fine don’t worry
Experience-Early on
Looks safe. Just a poor cutting job.
I always tape over the part I’m cutting to try and reduce this. New sharp hacksaw blade suitable for carbon.
Maybe you can get the fork job discounted or refunded because of the aesthetic impact but I probably wouldn’t bother unless wanting to sell the bike soon and instead would use someone else in future, or do it myself like I learnt to do if need be again.
TexMoto666 on
That would not even be on the top 10 things I worded about today. I saw a ton of these chips in the body shop when fitting and adjusting CF hoods and fenders. We would hit an air pocket or another occlusion and chips would blast out no matter how careful you were. We would fill them and move on.
fantano1010 on
It’s ok. But would avoid that shop in the future
boopiejones on
it doesn’t look to me like it will cause a structural issue.
Maybe the best approach would be to ask the shop. Send them an email with the picture and tell them you noticed the fraying carbon around where they cut and were curious if they thought this could pose any problems. I’m assuming they will say it’s not a problem, in which case you have their response in writing in case it ever does crack.
According_Part_2139 on
Wow……most likely happened because the shop used a high tooth count multi material hacksaw blade of some sorts and not a proper carbon cutting blade. But personally I wouldn’t worry too much about it. Shoddy work perhaps, and the shop should have told you, unsafe and unrideable, probably not. The stem’s clamping area will most likely cover the entire splintered out section. Once the stem is torqued to spec, it’s not going to spread due to the support of the clamping forces of the stem is providing. A gash like that on a top tube or down tube or fork blade would also be a different story. If it bothers you that much fill it with epoxy (the same binding agent holding the rest of the carbon strands together) and lightly sand it flat. But to replace a fork for a couple splinters at the dead end of the steer tube is silly…….but that’s how I roll.
aninternetuserperson on
I’ve cut dozens of carbon forks when I was a shop mechanic and tbh more than a few came out like this. I’m not proud of it and would try really hard to be careful and do it perfectly with the best tools I could get, but some carbon is really hard to keep from separating at the very end of the cut. I understand how you feel because I feel that way too as the guy that has done this to several customers’ forks. But I would try to relax and not worry about it since it’s a nonstructural issue and you can’t see it. The cut looks perfectly straight so I don’t necessarily think this is just sloppiness. If it was jagged and crooked AND this damage was there, then I would be on your side.
Jealous-Lawyer7512 on
Wow this is a tough one. I would bet it is structurally safe and like always the proper torque on the stem bolts is the only issue you are ever going to have with this steerer. On the other hand if I handed offy brand new beautiful fork over to “professionals” at a shop and received this back I would be super fucking pissed. The shop should have acknowledged the cosmetic damage, offered to warranty any future cracks or delam from this area with a full replacement, and tried to make you happy with some free time ups or something similar. The big problem is that you took possession of the fork without inspection so realistically any damage responsibility falls on you once you walked out the door. I feel for you, this just sucks all around. Also this is why I am the only one that touches my bikes except for truing wheels. Any fuck ups to my bikes are mine and mine alone.
ltdan12a on
It’s fine. Run it.
typingweb on
Lesson learned. Work on your bike yourself. The only skill involved in working on a bike is common sense. You could’ve done a better job yourself with 5 minutes and a hacksaw.
English300 on
I wouldn’t accept that!
Do you have a retail ombudsman? I would mention them in a conversation with the shop.
30 Comments
Can see fibers where the chip in the carbon is. It’s about 10mm or the length of 1 spacer.
It is well within where the stem clamps so maybe not a problem?
Likewise I could lose 10mm from the stack height re-cutting the fork and only be 5mm below my usual stack.
You paid for this?
Just curious but isnt that thing going to weaken as it gets wet?
It’s poor cutting, like when you cut wood and the last few fibres at the end split off. Similar here, they probably just went too fast/we’re not supporting it properly. I wouldn’t say it’s unsafe, the stem will hold it all together, but I wouldn’t particularly be happy about it.
Edit: I wouldn’t cut it shorter myself, I’d ride it if it was my bike.
I’d be tempted to put a layer of superglue (cyanoacrylate?) over it, just to ensure that the fibres don’t start fraying.
Looks like they used a pipe cutter and it pulled a section of carbon up. I’d take it to them to sort it out. Never cool when others mess up your gear.
I mean when working with carbon it’s very hard to have perfect cut that doesn’t do this is it perfect now is it going to be safe for years yeah. I’m anal about my bikes but this is nothing
That’s not great. But shit happens, and it’s nothing to worry about structurally. I would go on my way, and probably use a different shop next time.
I’ve cut steerers myself seven times so far and never left one like that. If you use a guide and a carbon-cutting hacksaw blade, the cut should be clean.
I would get a refund on the labor but it should be fine.
That’s really unacceptable. I’d be nice about it and if they are apologetic, take responsibility, and offer to refund the labor cost or a similar type concession I’d say thanks and move on. It’s safe enough to ride. However if they are A-Holes, I’d say they can buy you a new fork. Small claims court is free baby!
should you worry about the safety of riding this? absolutely not. do you have grounds to be rightfully pissed at the shop and possibly demand them to refund you? i would think so.
Probably ok
I wouldn’t say you’re f*ed per se, but it is annoying. I would refrain from having them work on carbon parts in the future.
Put a little nail polish or cyanoacrylate superglue on it to hold the fibers together. It’s kind of a bad cut but isn’t life threatening, IMO.
Sub rules would say if you have to ask, don’t ride it.
Considering you won’t see any of this when the stem is on, and you know know it is not unsafe. Don’t be a Karen and demand that you get a new fork. It has to be hard enough to keep a LBS open without this type of complaint
No big deal. Go ride!
They just handed this back to you and never mentioned anything? Were they not using a carbon dedicated saw blade? If they knew about their mistake and didn’t tell you, that’s kinda fucked, especially since it’s a carbon steerer… I’ve honestly never had this happen getting my carbon seatposts or steerers cut. If they had a good clamp on it and a decent saw, it shouldn’t cause this. It doesn’t look horrible, I mean it’s just the first superficial layer that has sorta flaked off? I don’t think it’s delaminated, you don’t see carbon strands sticking out. The resin underneath is still holding it all together. I just wouldn’t know what to really do to keep it from delaminating more, especially with the stem going over it. At least the compression plug is there to protect it even more. If you’re super worried, you may have to cut that bit off for peace of mind, but I’d personal ride it as is and just monitor it from time to time to make sure it’s not flaking or delaminating more.
Low quality shop, don’t go back to them for work. Even if they know how to do things right, they aren’t.
It’s fine don’t worry
Looks safe. Just a poor cutting job.
I always tape over the part I’m cutting to try and reduce this. New sharp hacksaw blade suitable for carbon.
Maybe you can get the fork job discounted or refunded because of the aesthetic impact but I probably wouldn’t bother unless wanting to sell the bike soon and instead would use someone else in future, or do it myself like I learnt to do if need be again.
That would not even be on the top 10 things I worded about today. I saw a ton of these chips in the body shop when fitting and adjusting CF hoods and fenders. We would hit an air pocket or another occlusion and chips would blast out no matter how careful you were. We would fill them and move on.
It’s ok. But would avoid that shop in the future
it doesn’t look to me like it will cause a structural issue.
Maybe the best approach would be to ask the shop. Send them an email with the picture and tell them you noticed the fraying carbon around where they cut and were curious if they thought this could pose any problems. I’m assuming they will say it’s not a problem, in which case you have their response in writing in case it ever does crack.
Wow……most likely happened because the shop used a high tooth count multi material hacksaw blade of some sorts and not a proper carbon cutting blade. But personally I wouldn’t worry too much about it. Shoddy work perhaps, and the shop should have told you, unsafe and unrideable, probably not. The stem’s clamping area will most likely cover the entire splintered out section. Once the stem is torqued to spec, it’s not going to spread due to the support of the clamping forces of the stem is providing. A gash like that on a top tube or down tube or fork blade would also be a different story. If it bothers you that much fill it with epoxy (the same binding agent holding the rest of the carbon strands together) and lightly sand it flat. But to replace a fork for a couple splinters at the dead end of the steer tube is silly…….but that’s how I roll.
I’ve cut dozens of carbon forks when I was a shop mechanic and tbh more than a few came out like this. I’m not proud of it and would try really hard to be careful and do it perfectly with the best tools I could get, but some carbon is really hard to keep from separating at the very end of the cut. I understand how you feel because I feel that way too as the guy that has done this to several customers’ forks. But I would try to relax and not worry about it since it’s a nonstructural issue and you can’t see it. The cut looks perfectly straight so I don’t necessarily think this is just sloppiness. If it was jagged and crooked AND this damage was there, then I would be on your side.
Wow this is a tough one. I would bet it is structurally safe and like always the proper torque on the stem bolts is the only issue you are ever going to have with this steerer. On the other hand if I handed offy brand new beautiful fork over to “professionals” at a shop and received this back I would be super fucking pissed. The shop should have acknowledged the cosmetic damage, offered to warranty any future cracks or delam from this area with a full replacement, and tried to make you happy with some free time ups or something similar. The big problem is that you took possession of the fork without inspection so realistically any damage responsibility falls on you once you walked out the door. I feel for you, this just sucks all around. Also this is why I am the only one that touches my bikes except for truing wheels. Any fuck ups to my bikes are mine and mine alone.
It’s fine. Run it.
Lesson learned. Work on your bike yourself. The only skill involved in working on a bike is common sense. You could’ve done a better job yourself with 5 minutes and a hacksaw.
I wouldn’t accept that!
Do you have a retail ombudsman? I would mention them in a conversation with the shop.