Carbon steerer splinter

Ben6899

Hello!

I was just greasing the headset bearings on my relatively new (18 months) Condor and noticed a splinter on the steerer tube.

https://flic.kr/p/Q5UoQ4 (sorry you have to navigate away - limited functionality on my phone)

I appreciate it's difficult to make a full assessment from a photograph, but is this something any of you have dealt with before? Is it a written-off fork or can it be repaired by experts (or by me with clear lacquer) to prevent propagation?

Cutting it out would be a solution, but the fit on this bike is spot on!

Ta!

ugo.santalucia

smooth it with a bit of fine grade sand paper... carbon fibre is very similar to wood in its composition (fibres + binder), so you can use the same methods.

Make sure it's not a crack, obviously

Ben6899

Thanks Ugo. I'll have a better look tomorrow in better light. It certainly doesn't look like a crack: just like when I used to cut wood at school!

svetty

It looks as if the surface layer of carbon has flaked off - probably due to the steerer being cut from 'inside to out' rather than the other way. It probably does mean that the steerer isn't as bombproof as it would be if it wasn't like this - not sure it's enough to be a concern though unless the damage does propogate down and deeper into the carbon. I think I'd just re-attach the stem and ride it. Alternatively trim the steerer below the level of the flake and then flip the stem.

Vino'sGhost

id ask George Hincapie what he would do, he's an expert. He's done a little video here on steerer damage.

https://youtu.be/UZg1vrvGbdE

Ben6899

Ha! Good point.

(I knew someone would share the Big George clip)

Matthewfalle

have you spoken to condor?

Nick Payne

Vino'sGhost wrote:

id ask George Hincapie what he would do, he's an expert. He's done a little video here on steerer damage.

https://youtu.be/UZg1vrvGbdE

Different material - that was an aluminium steerer.

Ben6899

Matthewfalle wrote:

have you spoken to condor?

I wouldn't blame them for telling me to walk away.

Anyway I'm halfway to a resolution already, that being a new fork.

Vino'sGhost

Ben6899 wrote:

Ha! Good point.

(I knew someone would share the Big George clip)

quite enjoyed watching that again

ugo.santalucia

Ben6899 wrote:

Matthewfalle wrote:

have you spoken to condor?

I wouldn't blame them for telling me to walk away.

Anyway I'm halfway to a resolution already, that being a new fork.

you are buying into project fear... if it's only a splinter, there is nothing to worry about. Standard 1 and 1/8 or tapered?

Ben6899

Tapered.

ugo.santalucia

Ben6899 wrote:

Tapered.

Damn... had it been straight, I might have been tempted to snatch it for a penny...