Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - i think stephanie is dying aka is this dangerous?

noticed this earlier today while doing some laundry. the downtube and the top tube at the head tube lugs have kinda rippled cracks in the paint. is it that the tubes are so stressed here they are flexing enough to crack the paint? ride or die OR retire frame?

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k75/13deluxe/P1060454.jpg
http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k75/13deluxe/P1060455.jpg
http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k75/13deluxe/P1060456.jpg
http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k75/13deluxe/P1060457.jpg
http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k75/13deluxe/P1060431.jpg


i love this little wh ore and am sad thinking i may not ride her again.

That's a bum out. Was it ever crashed?

Hard to tell, but it just looks like paint to me. I'd scrap off the paint there, and examine the bare metal closely for cracks. If you don't see any cracks, I wouldn't be concerned.

that doesn't look too scary to me. you should try posting that in the Frame builders or Bike Mechanics sub-forums. or maybe some nice moderator could move it for ya. :innocent:

The second picture looks as if it's bent. But the others don't. hmmm

Hopefully it is just the paint, but maybe take something straight to the downtube to make sure.

Yeah. I noticed that too about the second photo and the bent looking downtube. If that is the case, I'd put Stephanie in a bike Hospice so she can die with dignity. Looks like she has a good amount of steel cancer too (rust).

Did you just call your bike "Stephanie" ???

Id recomend taking it to a shop to have it looked at,but then they will probably say its done and try to sell you a new bike.

is that an original italia turbo seat?

The second picture looks as if it's bent. But the others don't. hmmm

Hopefully it is just the paint, but maybe take something straight to the downtube to make sure.

I see it in all of them. Deformed on the under side (toward fork). I'd probably just ride it into the ground, try not to run into anything or drop any stairs.

thanks guys. i'll probably just hang it up.




is that an original italia turbo seat?

yes, suede. i have a few original turbos, that one is dated aug 86. it has some rash on the back, you cant see in the picture but is still very comfortable. off topic but im looking for a bright red leather one.

it looks bent forward and to the right, ride it until it dies and look into the whole attachment issue with the stephanie thing before it dies and they become detachment issues...

It has suffered a head-on crash; both the top and down tubes are bent and the lugs are separating from the top tube. It might ride fine for years; might fail while on a long downhill or the next curb hop. I'd strip it for parts then give the frame to a welder wanna be or destroy it so nobody else rides it.

Let is go, the lugs are starting to separate from the the top tube. It is hard to judge from a pic online.
But it does look like it time for an upgrade.

that sucks man, thats a nice looking bike

took it to work today and on lunch i pulled everything off. RIP.

thanks guys.

Darn that sucks, That bike is beatiful. Maybe post this in the frame builder?

Don't worry, man.

She's in a better place now.

wall art!!!!!!!!

yea that paint chipping on the downtube looks like bent tube cracks... i say find a friendly frame builder or someone learning (like myself) and have them replace the top and bottom tubes... I mean its not super cheap but if you really love the bike then it may be worth it... and with lugs its totally fixable...

Don't worry, man.

She's in a better place now.
:lol::lol::lol::lol::lol: