A warning about working with damaged carbon fiber frames: I heard a discussion on NPR a year or two back, apparently carbon fibers are very similar to asbestos fibers and likely pose some of the same health risks. There are several articles online, here is one I found on Google: http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn13946-nanotubes-toxic-effects-similar-to-asbestos.html

Needless to say, I wouldn't recommend ever trying to fix a damaged carbon frame. The fibers are safe when sealed in plastic but once the frame is cracked, broken or maybe even just chipped it probably shouldn't even be handled except with a pair of gloves (and maybe a dust mask or respirator) and only then to dispose of it or possibly to take it to a proper recycling facility. (you can't just drop it in your curbside recycling bin, and I couldn't tell from the article but Trek may not even be able to recycle frames from other manufacturers, and at this point it doesn't even look like they are even recycling anything besides waste from their own production/testing facilities.)

Will anyone ever really improve on the classic steel frame? Seems doubtful sometimes..., but there is bamboo.


On Sun, Aug 28, 2011 at 9:23 PM, Dustin @ NBW - Philadelphia PA <dustin@neighborhoodbikeworks.org> wrote:
Carbon fiber is definitely recyclable! Take a look:

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/trek-embarks-on-ambitious-carbon-fiber-recycling-program

Regards,
D.

On Sun, Aug 28, 2011 at 11:07 PM, Mark Rehder <mark@re-cycles.ca> wrote:
> At least that's what I call bikes of carbon-fiber construction...
>
> We just got our first one donated due to irreparable frame damage. Sure, we
> pull the parts from it, but the frame will have to go to landfill. I am wary
> of the future of bike repair / recycling as c-f becomes more common.
> Hopefully they'll find ways to recycle this stuff, because I don't know if
> there'll ever be a safe way of checking these frames for hidden damage.
>
> Mark Rehder - Coordinator
> re-Cycles Community Bike Shop
> http://re-cycles.ca
>
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