Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg) - Bummer! A Clyde and His Broken Steel!

Bud showed me his broken pride and joy today. His $3,000 Ultegra equipped DeRosa that he purchased about 3 years ago snapped. He's anywhere from 200- 240 lbs depending on his riding habits. Guess it just goes to show, 'CARP' happens to every material!:(

Ouch!

my sympathies..
This happened during a regular ride?
such a weird place to have a separation.

If it were carbon, anyone within the blast radius would have been killed.

Eyouch! Pass along my condolences.

http://philip9876.files.wordpress.com/2007/10/nuclear-explosion.jpg
(http://philip9876.files.wordpress.com/2007/10/nuclear-explosion.jpg)

Ouch!


This happened during a regular ride?
such a weird place to have a separation.

Yup! Strange as he hasn't ridden it much in the last year. It did break right at the top of the lug, a pointed section of the lug. Not sure if tha had anything to do with it.

Is he gonna weld it up and get back on?

Yes,"crap" happens but the location of the break makes no sense...the second photo looks like someone went to work on it with a hacksaw...bizarre. :/

Is he gonna weld it up and get back on?

He's trying to find a cheap tube of that Fix-It weld stuff for mufflers. If that doens't work, he's going to scrap it for cash!:D

What sucks is DeRosa only has a 2 year warranty. :9

That is a real drag.

Let this be a lesson. Shimano components and Italian frames are dis-similar materials and react badly when mixed. Spontaneous combustion is common.

Chorus may well have prevented this.

DeRosa only has a 2 yr warranty on frames? That's not a very long warranty on a seriously high end frame set. It would be worth finding a frame builder and seeing if it could be saved, but there would always be a sadness surrounding her, and brooding Italian beauties are a drag.

I would definitely be talking to the manufacturer about that one.

DeRosa only has a 2 yr warranty on frames? That's not a very long warranty on a seriously high end frame set. It would be worth finding a frame builder and seeing if it could be saved, but there would always be a sadness surrounding her, and brooding Italian beauties are a drag.

DeRosa also has a reputation for ignoring warranty claims. The australian distributor stopped selling them because of it.

My guess is that it broke where the thick butting ends? It's probably fixable; I don't know what it would cost, though.

DeRosa also has a reputation for ignoring warranty claims. The australian distributor stopped selling them because of it.

My guess is that it broke where the thick butting ends? It's probably fixable; I don't know what it would cost, though.

I think he's calling it a loss. He was riding another frame today, an older steel Lemond Zurich. A dealer swapped the components for a test ride weekend. I didn't really ask though what his plans were with the snapper!:D

I am hardly an expert here, but if that's lugged construction can't the frame be de-lugged and the broken tube replaced?

It can be done to some extent with any Ti or steel frame. If it's lugged, it's that much easier. It would make me wonder what they were thinking in the way they were shaping the lugs, or possibly just whether they had a bit of bad luck with one tube.

I had exactly the same thing happen with a much lower quality frame. Some old univega I had set up as a single speed commuter. I was cranking up a short climb and heard a metallic *snap* A lot of the torsion from a big guy putting weight on the cranks goes right into the seat tube.

I hate when that happens..... Sorry to see

I had the same thing happen to a Paramount OS some years ago. I called Waterford, which used to be Paramount, to see about repairs. After talking with them I purchased a new Waterford 2200 frame. The seat tube could have been replaced, but it would cost almost half the cost of the new frame. The cause of the frame break like the one in the picture is frame flex. The bottom bracket flexes from power and eventually breaks the seat tube. When I ordered my new frame from Waterford they wanted to know my height and weight. In knowing this they recommended the frame be built out of medium weight tubing instead of the normal light weight tubing, the difference in frame weight is just grams. What a difference in ride performance having a frame built out of the right material. More power to the rear wheel and better handling since there was less frame flex. Most frames are built for smaller riders and we clydes put more strain on the frames.

ok, after looking it over this can be repaired. you will need to find a good welding/fabrication shop and they can weld (tig or mig) the cracked section back together and reinforce the tube at the crack both internal and external with sleeves.. this will probably cost 200 max, but he will have to get it repainted afterwards.

I think he's calling it a loss. He was riding another frame today, an older steel Lemond Zurich. A dealer swapped the components for a test ride weekend. I didn't really ask though what his plans were with the snapper!:D


I'd be interested in that frame, if it is 56-57cm.

It's only a 53. The frame is actually in bad shape from the inside out, rust and stuff. He's gonna scrap it!:(............Paint ont TT is also purty bad with all his sweat and junk. He didn't take very good care of it IMO.

I snapped two Bottecchia frames in the same spot (around the 3 year mark both times). I switched to Ti and have been on the same frame for 8+ years.

I snapped two Bottecchia frames in the same spot (around the 3 year mark both times). I switched to Ti and have been on the same frame for 8+ years.


What brand ti? I rode with a guy form the Socal forum, 155 lbs that borke two ti frames, GT ti . I know every maker has it's own design and quality, so just curious.

ok, after looking it over this can be repaired. you will need to find a good welding/fabrication shop and they can weld (tig or mig) the cracked section back together and reinforce the tube at the crack both internal and external with sleeves.. this will probably cost 200 max, but he will have to get it repainted afterwards.

Maybe it could - but would you trust the frame again?