Frame broken or something else?
Discussion
Developed a bad creak on my Viner Mitus disk frame (Planet-X), its done 850kms, bought in may 2018
Video of the noise
https://youtu.be/EHKtr6K5eCg
Image of what appears to be fine cracks in the frame
https://flic.kr/p/LxuHug
I have just swapped the pedals and installed a new BB, same issue. Also re torqued the chainring bolts and had the chainset checked by my local bike mechanic, no obvious faults. When riding if you pull up on the none drive side pedal you get the same noise as pressing down on the drive side pedal. There also seems to be a bit more flex in the bottom of the frame too (but could be just me)
Any suggestions other than a fubar frame?
Video of the noise
https://youtu.be/EHKtr6K5eCg
Image of what appears to be fine cracks in the frame
https://flic.kr/p/LxuHug
I have just swapped the pedals and installed a new BB, same issue. Also re torqued the chainring bolts and had the chainset checked by my local bike mechanic, no obvious faults. When riding if you pull up on the none drive side pedal you get the same noise as pressing down on the drive side pedal. There also seems to be a bit more flex in the bottom of the frame too (but could be just me)
Any suggestions other than a fubar frame?
The cracks in the photo look to be 'crazing' in the paint/lacquer which I presume is where the frame is flexing around the bottom bracket more than the paint/lacquer can cope with.
The cracks will not go down into the carbon/resin itself, carbon tends to crack due to impact or extreme stress (and you would see that) as oppose to craze - more worrying is why the frame is flexing so much around the bottom bracket, enough to make this happen.
Again I can't imagine the creaking you hear is the frame being cracked as such, more likely the flex causing other components to move and creak - bottom bracket, seat post and even the rear skewer.
If you have checked all the likely components, and some of the unlikely ones too, then my money would be on a bad frame. If the frame bought new from Planet X, I'd get in touch with them about sending it back - presuming no obvious signs of a crash, as the crazing is nothing that could have been done through impact alone.
The cracks will not go down into the carbon/resin itself, carbon tends to crack due to impact or extreme stress (and you would see that) as oppose to craze - more worrying is why the frame is flexing so much around the bottom bracket, enough to make this happen.
Again I can't imagine the creaking you hear is the frame being cracked as such, more likely the flex causing other components to move and creak - bottom bracket, seat post and even the rear skewer.
If you have checked all the likely components, and some of the unlikely ones too, then my money would be on a bad frame. If the frame bought new from Planet X, I'd get in touch with them about sending it back - presuming no obvious signs of a crash, as the crazing is nothing that could have been done through impact alone.
I'm not even seeing cracks in the laquer, just maybe scratches. Obviously the frame is fubar given the colour tho, change it! 
For a more helpful suggestion, have you tried different pedals? Could be the bearings are gone. Generally if you can invoke the creak by pulling up, or as easily as that from the side, I'd say its nothing too serious, or the whole thing would snap in half when you put some real load on it out of the saddle for instance..
For a more helpful suggestion, have you tried different pedals? Could be the bearings are gone. Generally if you can invoke the creak by pulling up, or as easily as that from the side, I'd say its nothing too serious, or the whole thing would snap in half when you put some real load on it out of the saddle for instance..
the lines run across the stress point where the BB connects into the stays so to me indicate induced by flexing there
Scratches from cleaning, storage or stones/grit hitting the frame would not run across this part of the frame
do agree that the colour indicates you're best off scrapping it
Scratches from cleaning, storage or stones/grit hitting the frame would not run across this part of the frame
do agree that the colour indicates you're best off scrapping it
Gassing Station | Pedal Powered | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff