Split, Torn, Cracked Aluminum

[ColoRyan]

I responded to a Craigslist ad for a pile of bikes for 50 bucks. I asked about the brands and he said there was a Cannondale and a Bridgestone, so I thought I'd check it out. I was excited to see the Cannondale with the vintage house logo, but I didn't look close enough.

This is now the second vintage aluminum bike that I've found that has been split open (other was a Specialized), this one actually has a split on BOTH chainstays. What causes this? Was it a crack that they kept riding on and it then split open?

So sad!

Is it repairable? Maybe even just for cruising around town?

[Torchy McFlux]

It's toast.
That sort of damage happens when water pools inside a tube and freezes. I've seen it happen with chainstays on bikes that were left out over the winter without a seatpost installed..

Question: How do you know those bikes aren't stolen? Because it sounds damn suspicious to me.

[ColoRyan]

Thanks, never thought of water getting in the tubes, and I believe both aluminum frames that I have found with that damage were left out in the weather.

I suppose any bike could be stolen if sold on Craigslist or ebay or wherever. I seriously doubt these were as they were all old beaters that had been left out in the weather, and they were cheapies too mostly, Next, Pacific, etc. dating from 80's to today, only 6 total, not too many for a whole family.