Our friends at Bikmo know a thing or two about carbon fibre repairs with all the accidental damage claims that come their way. Here's their guest blog covering what happens when it gets damaged, who can repair carbon, and what their insurance will cover.
Carbon fibre has become one of the most desirable materials for performance cyclists. It’s ultra-lightweight, extremely strong and can be repaired by a specialist.
As a versatile material, it can be hydroformed into various tube shapes and thicknesses. Its superior strength comes from tightly formed carbon atoms to create the structure, which are then bonded together in microscopic crystals.
It’s clearly the material of choice for riders focussed on performance, but it can be perceived as complex to repair if damaged in an accident, from wear and tear, or from vandalism. So what can you do if your carbon frame becomes damaged?
Carbon fibre and bike insurance
First and foremost - make sure you are covered because good carbon repair specialists can be expensive.
If you rely on home insurance, check it covers accidental damage and repair, as a large number of home insurers won’t cover you away from home.
As a British Cycling member you benefit from an exclusive 10% discount* on bike insurance with Bikmo. We cover theft, accidental damage, and 365 day worldwide cover as standard, plus much more. We also work with highly skilled carbon repair specialists trusted by professional teams.
Get a quote in seconds - all you need is your postcode, bike values and British Cycling membership number.
Carbon fibre bike damage
Carbon fibre is incredibly durable as a material for performance bikes, but it is also very brittle and can still be damaged by heavy impacts such as a crash, the bike falling over, or even being crushed on a roof rack. It happens… We aren't short of stories at Bikmo.
It’s a horrible feeling when your ride is damaged, but fortunately with carbon fibre being such a mouldable material, it can often be repaired, depending on the extent of damage. With the correct materials, tools and expertise, your carbon bike or equipment can be repaired back to full strength with no visible sign of damage.
How do professionals repair carbon fibre?
To repair carbon fibre damage, the frame or area will be sanded down, removing the damaged carbon, then the area will be cleaned up and new additional layers of carbon fibre added seamlessly around the area, in a wrapping structure.
Unfortunately, it does tend to come at a high cost as the experts able to perform the repair are highly trained, with specialist equipment.
With countless success stories and content customers, we are huge fans of ‘Carbon Bike Repair’ and ‘Target Composites’, two of our most trusted expert repairers. Not only do they repair the carbon bike frame damage, but they inspect the damaged area using non-destructive testing for detection, and they can offer paint refreshing while your bike is there with colour matching.
Accidental damage claims
When a claim comes through for accidental damage, if it’s unclear that the damage to the frame is structural, we’ll often send it to our repair partners for an assessment. We need to be certain it’s safe for you to continue riding. This might take a little bit of extra time, but gives you the peace of mind when getting back in the saddle.
Once we have the report, we will discuss it with you and provide you with your options. If the frame is damaged and needs repairing, we’ll offer you to have it repaired or the option to replace it with a new frame.
We will never force anyone to choose the repair option, but we also understand that bikes can hold a high sentimental value. If it’s possible to preserve your frame, we don’t want to take that value away from you. It’ll be your decision.
Not insured? Check out our expert cycle insurance policies and consider protecting your bikes with your exclusive 10% discount* as a British Cycling member. At Bikmo, our team is passionate about cycling and the planet. Every time you pick up the phone or send us an email, you’ll get someone who loves bikes as much as you.
Need competitive road and crit racing insurance?
Our PROTECT-R policy includes £500 race fee cover, worldwide travel, plus theft and accidental damage of your bike(s), kit and accessories and much more.
Thinking about taking a bike away?
Learn how to pack a bike box to avoid causing damage to your carbon bike frame in transit.
*Minimum premium £3.73/mo and policy wording applies.
Bikmo Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority ref: 745230. We are based at 1 Minerva Court, Minerva Avenue, Chester, CH1 4QT and our Companies House no. is 09149847.
