Road Cycling - I have a crack frame?!

I just found this crack on my Aluminum frame it's on the down tube about 1-1.5 inch up from the bottom bracket. I don't think it's just a paint crack since it has it on both sides of the down tube and it's exactly where the other one is and it's almost the same length about 1 inch long vertically (just like a mirror). What do you think? Is it a cracked frame or just the paint? Is there a way to really determine this?
The only reason I can think of for having this crack is because I ride a lot on a trainer. Comments? Thanks

Take it to an LBS your trust, or a local framebuilder
(Brian Baylis is your general area). I would NOT ride that frame until
I had a definitive answer if it is a crack or not.
Aluminium will fail catastrophically and that is not something that
is not a good thing.

Marty

Take it to a LBS that carries that brand. If you are the original owner, the warranty should help you out, unless it has expired. If it really is cracked and there is noe warranty in force, you are SOL.

Unfortunately the warranty is gone. I'm just worried to bring it in a realize it is a crack. I don't think I can afford another bike :( This sucks!

Unfortunately the warranty is gone. I'm just worried to bring it in a realize it is a crack. I don't think I can afford another bike :( This sucks!

You have to find out if it is a crack. If the results are positive, get ready to sell the bike and buy a steel frame next time.

I've been through this a couple of times, and in my opinion you can tell the difference between a scratch, and paint movement that has been caused by a cracked frame. I've observed that a crack in the frame causes the paint to move in such a way that it looks like a fine squiggly line, or a miniature fault line.

When it happened to my bikes, I got some fine steel wool and sanded the area down --and there they were; tiny fractures in the bottom bracket.

I've been through this a couple of times, and in my opinion you can tell the difference between a scratch, and paint movement that has been caused by a cracked frame. I've observed that a crack in the frame causes the paint to move in such a way that it looks like a fine squiggly line, or a miniature fault line.

When it happened to my bikes, I got some fine steel wool and sanded the area down --and there they were; tiny fractures in the bottom bracket.

I double checked it and it is not a scratch. Like you described it the paint has some squiggly line. I just hope it is just on the paint and not the frame itself.

Do you guys think it cracked (if it is) from riding the trainer. I obviously stand onthe bike even when it's on a trainer.

Aluminum frame? Its cracked. Same thing happened to my riding bud's Bianchi. His had two cracks side-by-side on the downtube just past the shifter bosses. Luckily, they warrantied the frame.... good luck.

You have to find out if it is a crack. If the results are positive, get ready to sell the bike and buy a steel frame next time.

Is it ethical to sell a bike with a cracked frame? (Other than for parting out the components?) Could be recourse if the crack wasn't disclosed...

If the frame is fubar just strip it, by a new frame for a few hundred and build it back up with your old component group ... it's not going to be "cheap" ... but I don't see why a month or 2 of saving wouldn't get you enough $$$ to buy a new frameset?

Uhhh......why not just have it welded by a good TIG welder?? They weld them at the factory, what would it hurt to weld up a couple of cracks?? A good welder should be able to make it stronger than it was originally. I've had tons of aluminum stuff welded with absolutely no problems. Maybe I'm missing something but it seems like 20 bucks for a couple of small welds would be a little cheaper than a new frame.

what ever you do dont ride a damaged frame,

my forks failed once and I ended up breaking my collar bone - yuk

Hmmm a crack frame. Maybe you should take it Downtown and offer it someone who looks like this:http://www.comedycentral.com/images/tvshows/chappelle/outtake_tyrone_a1.jpg

Seriously see about getting it welded.

Hmmm a crack frame. Maybe you should take it Downtown and offer it someone who looks like this:http://www.comedycentral.com/images/tvshows/chappelle/outtake_tyrone_a1.jpg

Seriously see about getting it welded.


Are you saying men with red beanies smoke crack?

Is it ethical to sell a bike with a cracked frame? (Other than for parting out the components?) Could be recourse if the crack wasn't disclosed...

If you disclose the crack it would be fine. There are plenty of people who would buy a cracked frame. Seriously.. If the bike was clean and looked almost new, he would not have any problems selling it because people will buy it just for the parts. You would probably only get 15-20% of the original value.

If someone was selling a cracked Lightspeed Classic for $100.00 dollars, I would buy that bike in a heatbeat!

Yeah, that's because you can reweld Titanium. You can't exactly reweld Aluminium. Well, you can, but then you'd have to re-heat treat it, blah blah. Waste of time.

Basically, sounds like your frame is toast, and you need a new one. Might be a good idea to get it checked though, although from what you say it sounds like a crack to me.

Oh, another thing - get off that friggin trainer and onto the road. If you're getting out of the saddle or pushing big gears on a trainer, you're a dolt and you need your arse kicked. Trainers are for spinning. Roads are for riding. Get out there!