Posted by Bike 1.22.1 for macOS
Bike is a better place to think and write. Bike’s fast. It can handle big projects that break other outliners. Bike’s also fast at the basics–opening files, scrolling views, and resizing windows. Bike won’t slow your Mac down.
What jumped out at me in the comments, though, was one from reader Eric Brandt who said that he had learned how to fix carbon frames and that it was “fairly easy.” That got me Googling carbon repair and up came a link to Predator Cycling’s carbon repair kit, everything needed for just $99.95.
Before I bought it, I gave them a call to discuss my frame’s issue, the crack running more than halfway around my top tube. They assured me it was just the kind of problem I could fix myself with their kit. So, I purchased it.
Everything Needed
The box arrived in just a couple of days and as promised, the carbon patch fabric, epoxy, brushes, alcohol cleaning pads, sandpaper, compression tape (heat shrink tape) and even rubber gloves were provided. Predator has 3 videos showing the full procedure, too.
The process for repairing my top tube turned out to be just like Eric said, fairly simple.
Here are the steps:
- Mask and cover the frame to protect it.
- Wet sand the frame in the area of the crack to get all the paint and primer off and get down to the carbon. Make sure the crack/damage is smooth, no jagged edges.
- Cut 2 patches. I small one to go over the crack. I larger one to cover the small one and the full area around the patch.
- Mix the epoxy and hardener together.
- Clean the patch area with the alcohol wipes.
- Apply epoxy to the patch area on the frame.
- Apply epoxy to the patches being sure to saturate them.
- Apply the small patch over the crack and the larger patch on top of that.
- Wrap the repaired area with the compression tape.
- Using a hair dryer or heat gun, heat the compression tape to get it to shrink and compress the entire repair area.
- Wait 24 hours for the epoxy to cure.
- Remove the compression tape and all masking.
- Final sand and repaint the frame if desired.
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