Damaged paintwork on Madone 5.9 SL

Turnbull2000

Hey there, just joined up and look forward to using these cracking forums!

I'm after some opinions on my 3 month old Trek Madone. Unfortunately, the rear spoke reflector came loose the first time out and tore 1/2 inch gaps into the paintwork on the inside of both the chain and seat stay. I was planning on removing them, but excitement got the better of me and I went straight out for quick ride.

The carbon was left exposed but seemingly undamaged, so I covered it up carefully with gaffer tape.

Do you think it's worth returning the frame to Trek for repair? I'm not bothered about the visual damage, but I'm becoming concious that the frame may be weakened or eventually weakened.. I've heard that Trek are quite good with repairs, but that's generally in the US and I'm not sure how effective they are in the UK.

Any opinions?

pliptrot

I'd bet that a plastic (?) spoke reflector wouldn't do any structural damage, and thus you're safe. The paint Trek use is water based, and -based on my experience with my own bike- pretty flaky (literally!). So any damage is likely to look worse than it is. Carbon is pretty hard stuff and in a fight between it and a reflector (the whole premise of my post is that the reflector is plastic), the reflector would always lose.

Turnbull2000

Yes, the reflector was plastic. I was moving pretty quick when it came loose, but managed to break very quickly upon hearing these almighty cracks.

I've noticed myself that the paint it pretty flaky, so used high quality gaffer tape that's suffered through rain, wind and sunshine and not budged.

The paint scheme is the blue Team Discovery which looks gorgeous, and I feared Trek will no longer offer this and instead re-paint the frame as something else. But with the gaffer tape seemingly doing a great job and the frame (hopefully) structurally sound, then I'll just continue to enjoy the bike. Cheers.

fast as fupp

spoke reflectors?

are they for kiddies bikes?

pliptrot

Turnbull 2000,

I know what you mean. My 2000 Trek OCLV (pre Madone) is in the USPS blue and white, which I really like (other than the US Postal name being all over it - some of my less charitable friends call it a post bike!). It's had a tough life and looks a little worse for wear (that flaky paint again) but if it were returned to Trek for a respray (and that's what I'd do, despite the gouges and scratches) I'd bet I couldn't get the same colour scheme.

I'm thinking of a new Madone, but have some reservations over integrated headsets and bottom brackets. Any comments?

Monty Dog

One the subject of damage - as long as it hasn't resulted in significant gouges in the material, you should be OK. Any sharp edges or indentatons can cause stress raisers that can accelerate structural failure by concentrating stresses in a particular area, so if there are any sharp-edges it is worth smoothing them over with wet and dry. For a repaint, you don't need to send it to Trek - someone like Atlantic Boulevard can refinish a carbon frame like new, to a better quality than the original.

top_bhoy

Turnbull2000 wrote:

Hey there, just joined up and look forward to using these cracking forums!

I'm after some opinions on my 3 month old Trek Madone. Unfortunately, the rear spoke reflector came loose the first time out and tore 1/2 inch gaps into the paintwork on the inside of both the chain and seat stay. I was planning on removing them, but excitement got the better of me and I went straight out for quick ride.

Any opinions?

Why didn't you go straight back to the shop with the damaged frame? I'll assume that as this was your first time out on this bike and that you had intended to remove the reflector, it was part of the initial bike setup. Its probably not Treks fault but for the price you paid for it you deserve better. You do need to let people know so they can do something about it.. I'm sure if you approach it in the right manner it will get sorted to your satisfaction.

OKHoosierDaddy

I also purchased a Trek Madone 5.2 Discovery model last september. I have less than 500 miles on it and no one has worked on the bike except the mechanics at the TREK store (yes they sell only TREK). First time out this year 2 weeks ago, aired up the tires, wiped down and relubed the chain, and went 5 miles before the rear derailer pulled completely out of the threaded socket in the frame, bending the socket and stripping the threads. I was pedaling normally, not uphill. I took it back to my trusted TREK dealer and they advised that it could be fixed under warranty and I paid $50 for them to send it back to TREK. TREK calls me and advises me that it will cost me almost $500 and they keep refering to the "crash" I am 54 years old, 165lbs, and could not push this bike hard if I wanted to. I seem to have no recourse at all. The dealership recommended that I send it in to get the rear derailer repaired. They now have my bike and I will have to pay to get it back. I cannot prove that they assembled anything incorrectly. The warranty is a joke! As soon as they get a frame, they claim "crash" and you're finished. I'll never own another one.

cougie

Not keen on Trek after their squabbles with Lemond.