Why Bike Shops Don’t Repair Carbon (But Carbon Specialists Do)
And Why More Retailers Are Partnering With us as Dedicated Carbon repair Experts
Carbon fiber has become the standard for high-performance road, gravel, and mountain bikes — but when it cracks, not every shop is equipped to fix it. Riders are often surprised when their local shop says they can’t repair a carbon frame and instead recommends replacement or a warranty claim. After all, shouldn’t your bike shop be able to work on the entirety of the bike? Well, not exactly. The truth is: Carbon repair is a specialized craft and it requires tools, experience, and processes that most general bike shops simply aren’t set up for.
Here’s why bike shops rarely repair carbon in-house — and why more retailers nationwide are now partnering with us as dedicated carbon fiber repair specialists to serve their customers better.
1. Carbon Repair Requires Specialized Skills (Beyond Standard Mechanic Training)
Carbon repair is part engineering, part composites work, part paint and finishing.
Most bike mechanics are highly trained in:
Drivetrain work
Wheel building
Suspension service
Mechanical troubleshooting
Parts compatibility
But carbon repair demands additional expertise:
Fiber layup strategy
Composite sanding techniques
Mold shaping
Resin chemistry
Vacuum bagging
Structural reinforcement
Heat-management during curing
Color matching and paint restoration
This simply isn’t something covered in typical bicycle mechanic certification programs. It’s a completely different discipline.
2. The Tools and Materials Are Expensive — and Not Practical for a Retail Shop
To properly and safely repair carbon, shops would need to invest in:
Composite-specific tools
Resin systems
Carbon, fiberglass and other composite materials
Sanding and shaping equipment
Heat guns, curing setups, or controlled environments
Paint booth or spray setup
Safety gear for sanding carbon dust
More space than they already have
This is a big investment for a process they might only perform a handful of times per year not to mention needing an employee with such a niche skillset. For most shops, it doesn’t make financial sense. Instead, they refer riders to experts who do this every day.
3. Liability Concerns Make Shops Cautious
Carbon fiber repairs affect a frame’s structural integrity. Shops know that if a repair isn’t done correctly, it could lead to a failure down the road. Because carbon repair requires skill and confidence in the process, most retailers avoid taking on something that brings:
Structural risk
Potential safety issues
Customer liability
As carbon repair specialists, on the other hand, we built our entire business around mitigating these risks through:
Proven layup methods
Quality control
Testing and inspection
Warranty-backed repairs
This specialization allows shops to confidently refer customers to us.
4. Warranty and Insurance Complications
Bike brands typically handle cracks two ways:
Warranty for manufacturing defects
Crash replacement programs for impact damage
When a shop sees a damaged carbon frame, they often default to these channels because:
They don’t want to void warranties
They aren’t trained to diagnose carbon damage
They can’t determine whether the crack is cosmetic or structural
They’re not equipped to work on carbon without manufacturer approval
A carbon repair specialist can diagnose damage accurately and provide a clear recommendation — including when a frame should go through warranty instead of repair.
5. Repair Is Often a Better Option Than Replacement — and More Shops Are Recognizing This
Many riders are shocked to learn that carbon repairs can be:
Stronger than the original layup
Much less expensive than replacement (see our previous blog post)
Completed faster than waiting on backordered frames
Environmentally friendly, keeping bikes out of the landfill
This is why more shops are shifting from “replace only” to “repair when possible.”
Why We Work With Bike Shops and Retailers Across the Country
Because shops don’t have in-house carbon repair capabilities, we partner with retailers nationwide as their go-to composite repair resource. If you are a retail employee and want to get your shop set up as a retail partner shoot us an email. We have a special program where service centers receive margin on structural and paint repairs.
How Our Retail Partnerships Work
We help shops by:
Providing quick-response damage assessments
Taking on both cosmetic and structural repairs
Offering fast turnaround times
Matching factory paint and logos
Giving shops a trusted resource they can refer customers to
Helping shops avoid liability while still offering a solution
Margin on repairs that come from their service center
Some shops act as drop-off locations, others simply send customers directly — either way, we make carbon repair easy for them. We are happy as long as the rider gets taken care of and can back on their bike sooner than later.
Why Retailers Love Working With Us
They keep a customer instead of losing them to a brand’s warranty process
They look like heroes for offering a fast solution
They can stay focused on service and sales
They avoid investing in composites tools or training
They have a partner they can trust with high-end bikes
Margin $$$
As carbon becomes more common, shops are realizing the value of partnering with specialists who do this work every day.
Final Thoughts
Bike shops are incredible at what they do — but carbon repair is a different world. Instead of replacing entire frames, riders now have a safe, proven, cost-effective option: professional carbon fiber repair. And by working with retailers across the country, we make it simple for shops to take care of their customers without adding risk, cost, or complexity.
If you’re a rider curious about carbon repair, or a shop looking for a reliable repair partner, reach out anytime — we’re here to help!