Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Is it safe to ride with a cracked Alu head tube?

I recently bought a second-hand Alu Fort Track 7005 which has a forward sloping top tube i.e. it's considerably higher at the junction with the seat tube than it is at the junction with the head tube resulting in a very short head tube… anyway, I was cleaning all the gunk off it as I'd bought a couple of new parts for it and noticed two cracks on the head tube, one about 3mm long starting at the top of the head tube and going down, and one about 10mm long starting at the bottom and going up (and actually hitting the weld). Both are on the back of the head tube and considering that my entire head tube is only 9cm long, a bit worrying.

The burning question is, is it safe to ride?

To be honest I'm really gutted as I've only just bought it and was really getting into riding fixed. I don't want to have to fork out for a new frame and at the same time I almost don't trust second hand anymore.

it's not safe to ride. not even a little bit.

any chance of getting a refund, partial or otherwise, from the seller?

second-hand is generally a pretty safe bet with steel.

Yeah, I'd definitely not be riding that... recipe for sudden catastrophic failure.

-s

if you value your teeth, or currently consider yourself somewhat good-looking, don't ride it.

you're gonna get ugly when that thing fails.

Thanks for the advice! Ah well, that's the biggest waste of money I've experienced for a long time. Looks like I'll have to get a new frame… might as well have bought a new bike in the first place.

One thing it has done is got me addicted to fixed! Which I suppose is priceless.

There must be some recourse you can take against the seller, I'd imagine.

I'm not so sure, bought it on ebay.

how long ago?

if it was a recent auction ebay will be able to help you out. especially if you haven't assembled it yet.
contact the seller first, though.

3 weeks ago!

this one?
http://cgi.ebay.com/FORT-pista-track-frame-sugino-steelman-ultegra_W0QQitemZ7179863603QQcategoryZ98084QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

if so, you have a case since it obviously isn't in "New Condition"

Very similar, although mine was fully built (with miche hubs on campag rims and miche drivechain which was one of the main selling points for me, and what I thought was a nice frame!!) I'm in England and got it on ebay here. I suppose at least I have nice components to build onto a new frame it just means I won't have a bike for a while.

it cannot hurt to message the seller and explain the situation. if (s)he is an honest/somewhat decent person, they will probably do something to at least partially rectify things.

good call. I think I'll give it a go, certainly can't hurt any more than it already does… heh heh.

Nice pic shants, that's one cool hat.

theres a chance that could be repaired, wouldnt hurt to take it to a framebuilder/welding shop

I'm gonna try that route in the morning. Now I think I'll head to bed! Thanks to everyone for the helpful advice.

Safe pedaling!

1) I just got an almost full refund (about 98% of $810) for a bike that I bought on Ebay that wasn't as advertised.
2) Don't ride the bike!
3) Don't trust anyone who offers to fix aluminum unless they are a real super-builder.

theres a chance that could be repaired, wouldnt hurt to take it to a framebuilder/welding shop

burn it or get your money back ... don't do this.