The fork on my 2006 Trek Pilot 5.9 delaminated at the crown yesterday as I commuted home from work when I applied the front brake to stop for a signal. Aluminum steerer and carbon crown, so it could have resulted from galvanic corrosion…or maybe just the repeated stress of the front brake. Dunno, but it put me on the deck, gave me hand, knee, and face laceration (including a hairline fracture in my cheekbone, but no concussion thanks to a Giro Eclipse Spherical helmet.)
It's a reminder: Keep an eye on structural carbon, especially forks, and especially especially as the years and miles accumulate!
by velo_dude
13 Comments
Steel is real
Damn. Look pristine otherwise. Hope you’re ok
This reminds me I need pull my fork for spring cleaning. I should pull the crank out too.
Downvote me all you want but Steel is Real. 😉
Jesus. Hope you recover well. Carbon fiber is a scary material, I’m always a little worried about the carbon parts of my bikes, I can’t get myself to fully trust it, specially seatposts, forks and frames. Carbon handlebars and stems I’ve never had, and don’t want them either.
Probably find to ride still tbh. Can hardly notice any damage. ..
Hurr durr steel is real
I’ll have to post my kid’s full CF bike in another year or so for as long term review.
Built it for him from a frame of mine I was retiring. He treats it like any other bike. You can see where he jams it into bike racks, where he leans it on brick. Where the saddle and derailleur are scratched from being laid down (on purpose and not).
I just give it a once over with nail polish for all the gouges when I do maintenance. On some areas there is more polish than raw CF. The steel is real people would probably have me arrested for allowing him out on it. No doubt it’s the safest bike in his crew.
Might be worth it to see if Trek will warranty it. I had a totally different issue, but they replaced my aluminum frame. That being said….do you want a 10yo never built 54cm blue trek 1200?
Galvanic corrosion erodes the metal, not the carbon.
Damn man, I’m glad you weren’t more seriously injured. I have a NOS 2009 Madone I’m finally taking out this year. I’ll be keeping an eye on things for sure.
Note: For all the “Steel Is Real” chuds, I started riding road in 1986 in my local club, back when steel was the only realistic option. Been playing at this cycling game for over 40 years.
This 2006 Trek (1st Gen Endurance Road geometry) was my first carbon bike. It’s not my only bike, carbon or steel (or both…steel frame, carbon fork).
I do have two that are 100% steel, including the 1983 Trek frame that the components are being swapped to, now.
But here’s the thing: I well recall the builders in the early ’90s when I worked with my region’s preeminent pro shop (as a mechanic) that put rider weight restrictions on their bikes because the tubes were so thin and were TIG’d, not lugged. I saw those steel bikes fail, too, almost always at HT TIG joint.
My point is that it’s more than material type. It’s structural engineering, and in cycling where there is compromise based on a rank ordered set of values and performance characteristics, 20 years for a carbon frame that’s been ridden between 90,000 to 100,000-ish miles isn’t bad.
Definitely, I wish I hadn’t decked, but by the same token I recognize that it’s on me for not paying closer attention.
Anyway, regardless of your frame’s material, enjoy the ride!
I Betta that hurt!