Giant TCR advance frame

Barnywales39
Barnywales39 Posts: 7
edited June 2016 in Road general
Hi I'm new here, and wanted to throw a question out to any TCR owners, or anyone who can help? I purchased a TCR advanced 2 at the beginning of May, I rode it 3 times 60 miles in total and on the side of frame where the seat post goes in to down tube I noticed a small line around 5mm it was like a split in paint, I took it to shop and was told it looked like the start of a crack, and by the time the bike was rode home it had grew to over a inch, it was hairline, I was given a frame by giant warranty which was a upgrade to TCR pro zero, this has done 70 miles and at the back of bike again where seat post enters frame is a small line and yes it's uneven, and to me looks like it's going to happen again, the bike has a wedge that holds seat post up, and no I have not touched the seat post wedge, has anyone come across this before ? Thanks james

Comments

  • bristolpete
    bristolpete Posts: 2,255
    The latest 'incarnation' of seat posts clamps from the big guns, Giant, Spesh, Cannondale, Trek ergo are shocking and causing early fatigue issues on multiple frames and issues you mention. The desire to minimalise design has removed the old fashioned clamp and is causing cack handed home menchanics to over tighten / over torque and damage frames, as well as natural fatigue occurring, In my opinion.
  • Barnywales39
    Barnywales39 Posts: 7
    Yeah if I knew about these issues I wouldn't have bought it, but for first to crack quite bad after 3 rides, it's was on show mind so I think the seat post being raised and lowered probably damaged the frame for starters, now last night I noticed a small line on my new frame around 5 mm long, I was told by the shop to ride it and keep an eye on it, surely it should last more than 60 miles
  • bristolpete
    bristolpete Posts: 2,255
    Barnywales39 wrote:
    Yeah if I knew about these issues I wouldn't have bought it, but for first to crack quite bad after 3 rides, it's was on show mind so I think the seat post being raised and lowered probably damaged the frame for starters, now last night I noticed a small line on my new frame around 5 mm long, I was told by the shop to ride it and keep an eye on it, surely it should last more than 60 miles

    The beauty of these brands is life time warranty, but I would imagine that having to strip and rebuild a frame every few months is not great for you, nor your bike shop, but all you can do is monitor it perhaps and keep using the warranty until such time that your bike shop offer you an alternative, assuming that you have to warranty it ? Not great, but having said that, you have peace of mind.
  • Barnywales39
    Barnywales39 Posts: 7
    Yeah that's the good thing of life time warranty, I love the bike and it flys, but looking around that area the carbon is very thin, plus the seat post is quite flexible so I'm wondering if it's a small paint crack, I've marked it with a small dot so will keep an eye on it, I also emailed the ceo of giant uk today to ask if there is a problem with this type of clamping system, I will let you know the out come.
  • rc856
    rc856 Posts: 1,144
    Have you tried tapping the frame with a 5p piece?
    If it's a crack, you should, apparently, notice a change in the tone from the affected area to a good area.
    I got a crack on my old TCR and the frame was sent off and x rayed and it was only the lacquer.
    After doing Flanders, I noticed a defect on the top tube of my SL...the shop did the tap test, were satisfied it was just the lacquer so sanded it down and re applied the lacquer.
    You might be lucky l.
  • Barnywales39
    Barnywales39 Posts: 7
    The split is only around 5mm long I rode the bike and it's not grown yet, I have marked the split with a dot so I will monitor it, I think it's two small to do a coin test, i can live with it if it's not going to grow, I was beginning to think if it's the seat two far back or tilting to much towards the back, I was set up on it by the shop though, do many carbon bikes get paint cracks then? This is my first carbon bike by the way.
  • chatlow
    chatlow Posts: 850
    exact same happened with my TCR Advanced. My own fault as didn't correctly torque the seat tube clamp and overtightened it. Initially thought it was just paint but then removed the tube and saw the split from inside the frame.

    That said, I contacted the bike shop I had it from and Giant offer a very good warranty for their frames.

    They offered me a replacement frame just in a different colour at the time.
  • Barnywales39
    Barnywales39 Posts: 7
    I been to another local giant specialist today and they think my frame is two small which makes seat post high hence flexing to much an cracking the frame, I'm 6ft 3 on a large frame, i emailed giant uk Today, I'm not too happy as I would like a bike to last longer than 60 miles

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