Bicycle Mechanics - titanium frame repair/recommedations?

hello,

I am fairly new to cycling, and am looking to build a cyclocross with versatile components (ie, a triple + a 11/32T cassette). i have been considering a new bianchi axis, however a recent gift has changed things.

i was recently *given* a poccianti titanium italian frame, hand made in some small shop in florence. it it beautiful, however it needs some work. both the top tube and the down tube have significant impact dents... such that they may need cutting out & replacing. also, 1 of the chain stays is bent. must of been in a car crash, not sure of the history. everything else on the frame looks solid... all of the welds, joints, etc....

I am not at all familiar with this brand of frame, with titanium frame repair, nor do I have any idea what repair costs may be, or if this is even a good frame to build a cyclocross bike ... totally blind here. so a few questions:

= how expensive is ti frame repair?

= to build a cyclocross, what good quality but affordable components would you recommend with this frame (wanting a triple + a 11/32T cassette?)... I've been looking at the campy centaur, but I don’t think I can do a 11/32T cassette... what else is possible?

= and has ANYONE ever heard of a "sesto fiorentino poccianti" titanium frame?

oh, lastly... if I go for it and build this bike, who sells (online) the best priced new and used component groups?

clearly I am a novice, and I will be grateful for any recommends or input.

+s

Being that TI frames are expensive in general, it would not really be worth it to repair it. The only good thing that frame is for is scrap. Repairing Ti is expensive, and with that much damage it may cost more to repair it than to get a steel or aluminum frame that is brand new.

hello,

both the top tube and the down tube have significant impact dents... such that they may need cutting out & replacing. also, 1 of the chain stays is bent.

= how expensive is ti frame repair?

= to build a cyclocross, what good quality but affordable components would you recommend with this frame (wanting a triple + a 11/32T cassette?)... I've been looking at the campy centaur, but I don’t think I can do a 11/32T cassette... what else is possible?

= and has ANYONE ever heard of a "sesto fiorentino poccianti" titanium frame?
+s

It's best to call around for welders and bike builders in your area. Ti is not difficult to repair or weld, it simply requires a person that knows how to work with the material.

Prices vary of course. Try calling Litespeed/Merlin (or other ti builders) to ask for leads on where to go.
Finding replacement tubes might be difficult. Litespeed carries basically all the Ti tubing in Amercia so everyone buys from them. It might be hard to find Ti tubes for bicycles- it's worth some research because you might find something great to fix your bike. If you have an aerospace industry nearby, that might be helpful.

For cyclocross, you first have to see if the fatter tires will clear the chainstays/ seatstays and if your fork has enough clearance.
You could get cantilever braze-ons while fixing your frame, otherwise see if your brakes will clear a fatter tire.

Never heard of the frame but there are so many custom builders in europe. Many regions have their own custom builders so people in that area just buy from that one guy- kind of like a tailor. Totally different metality from here in the USA.

thanks for the response. i'm going to take the frame into a local Ti shop i discovered... i'd like to salvage it if it makes $ sense with my long term goals.