Guides
Practical, evergreen material on inspecting, buying, and selling used carbon bikes. Written by the people who look at them for a living.
April 2026 · 6 min read
Photographing your bike for an inspection
The shot list we need, why each shot matters, and how to set up so the inspector can actually see what matters.
February 2026 · 7 min read
Selling your used carbon bike: documentation that unlocks a better price
Clean, photograph, disclose, inspect, price. The sequence that moves buyers off the fence on a used carbon bike listing.
November 2025 · 7 min read
Buying a used carbon bike: the questions that matter
Due diligence for used carbon — listing red flags, ride-testing, documentation, and when to insist on a pre-purchase inspection.
August 2025 · 6 min read
What a carbon bicycle inspection actually covers (and what it doesn't)
Section by section: what a photo-based inspection documents, what it can't tell you, and when to escalate to NDT.
May 2025 · 9 min read
Common damage modes in carbon fiber bicycle frames
Clearcoat vs paint vs laminate. Impact dimples, crazing, delamination, chainstay rub — how to tell what you're looking at.
January 2025 · 8 min read
Carbon fiber 101 for cyclists
What the material actually is, how a frame is laid up, and why it fails in a different shape than steel or aluminum.