Is it possible to crack a Carbon frame in a cycle carrier?

Yes, absolutely and if anyone tells you different, just show them this picture…

Yep, that little line, under the ‘O’ is a crack caused by over tightening in a cycle carrier.

Now, we’ve jumped ahead a little bit.

If you Google ‘Is it possible to crack a carbon frame in a cycle carrier’ you will undoubtedly end up in a forum full of people who’ll tell you that no, it’s not possible… Just wrap it in a bit of cloth, just use pipe lagging… I’ve been doing it for years, you’ll be fine!

But then you look at the manufacturers website and they say things along the lines of: Carbon frames are NOT designed to be clamped in a stand or a cycle carrier.

If you look at the BMC website and their carbon care page, you’ll see this: “On superlight frames, the tubes can be slightly deformed with pressure from your fingers. While this is normal, please avoid excessive or repeated pressure because this could lead to damages.”

https://www.bmc-switzerland.com/int-en/support/carbon-care/

So, on the one hand we have perceived wisdom telling us it’s fine to clamp away and on the other we have a manufacturer telling us that finger pressure alone is enough to deform a frame…

But it’s this that is the most telling: “avoid excessive or repeated pressure because this could lead to damages.”

In essence you might be fine clamping a carbon frame once twice, or even a thousand times… BUT do you know what damage you’re doing to your frame internally? Is the weave slowly being pushed further and further apart? Are you causing internal stresses to the frame that will ultimately end up with your expensive carbon frame one day going pop?

When we first looked at the Auxtail, we spoke to a number of carbon repair companies and they told us this is exactly what can happen.

While there’s every possibility you could clamp your frame a thousand times without a problem… There’s also a possibility you could crack your frame tomorrow.

Isn’t it worth keeping that gorgeous carbon safe?

Many thanks to www.carbonbikerepair.co.uk for the image 🙂