Carbon Forks Post-Crash

Odelay!

Hi all,
I have heard stories of carbon forks breaking. From what I've heard, carbon forks have a greater tendency to be weakend in crashes but, unlike other forks, this weakening is hard/impossible to actually see.

I recently crashed (into a tractor :oops: ) on my carbon-forked road bike (2 yr old Giant OCR3). My front wheel buckled but there's no obvious damage to the forks and I've done 100 miles with no noticeable problems since getting a new wheel.

Anyone have any advice?

Thanks in advance,
Pete

Glenn S

As you stated yourself damage can be impossible to see,and they can fail in style.
At the very least i would have them checked by a reputable LBS.

Lets face it 100 miles is nothing, one fast descent pothole bump whatever and it could be curtains. What price looks skin clothes bike etc. Unless of course you look like Quasimodo and ride in rags!

And finally i bet new forks are not that dear.

Monty Dog

Examine the fork very carefully, look for cracking in the gel coat, or distressing of the material - it goes grey when delaminating. I doubt your LBS can do any more - replacement forks only cost £80-100 - consider that against the cost of replacement clothing etc. That said, I crashed my Colnago a number of years ago - have ridden tens of thousands of miles since, including Paris-Roubaix and Tour of Flanders twice - so goes to show they are pretty strong.

nick hanson

It's your face,against the cost of new forks....You decide.
You gotta ask yourself,are you feeling lucky (punk) :?: