Bicycle Mechanics - Is this a fixable problem? Bottle cage ripped off downtube

Is this going to damage the frame in any way? Seller is looking to sell the entire thing and I just want components but he can't part it out. He also says that when he fell, the bottle cage was ripped off the downtube. Can this be fixed? Also, is that fork bent?

It's a 2007 Trek Madone 5.0:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/61022511@N04/5558895139/in/photostream/

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5267/5558896601_177e3feafa_b.jpg
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5263/5558895503_b47ef8d003_b.jpg

you need the threaded insert or "rivet nut" is a fitting that is placed in a drilled tube . your LBS might be able to replace it .

That carbon fiber looks like it might be cracked.

I'll let others answer if it can be fixed, but just how would a bottle cage get ripped off a downtube from a fall? Take your bike. Put it (gently!) on the ground. Try to get the bottle cages to make contact with anything. They're well inside the space defined by the pedals, saddle, skewers, handlebars/front wheel. I'm not saying the seller's story can't be true, but if the seller's story is true there should be some more damage somewhere. And if it's not true, what else is he failing to tell you?

Seller said that his knee ripped it off. Hard to tell from the pictures, but the right handlebar is broken off too. Maybe he braced himself by sticking his leg out and his knee caught the cages?

Looks like the right brake lever was also bent down, maybe just the handlebar.

IIRC, Trek has a nice replacement policy for the original owner only, but that policy doesn't extend to a second owner.

If the price is low enough it might be worthwhile for the parts. I don't know enough about carbon fiber to know if that frame is salvageable.

Is this going to damage the frame in any way? Seller is looking to sell the entire thing and I just want components but he can't part it out. He also says that when he fell, the bottle cage was ripped off the downtube. Can this be fixed?

A local company is doing carbon fiber frame repair: http://www.ruckuscomponents.com/ You could ask them. To my eye it's relatively minor damage at a low-stress area and could be fixable, but it's not my teeth at risk.

Looks like the right brake lever was also bent down, maybe just the handlebar.

IIRC, Trek has a nice replacement policy for the original owner only, but that policy doesn't extend to a second owner.

If the price is low enough it might be worthwhile for the parts. I don't know enough about carbon fiber to know if that frame is salvageable.

He's asking $500 OBO, full 10 speed Ultegra. I know it's a pretty good price, but I'm still new to bikes and just have a hard time handing over that much for used equipment. I was hoping to sell the frameset on ebay or something for a little money to offset the cost. I'm building up a bike and would use everything except that for the new bike.


A local company is doing carbon fiber frame repair: http://www.ruckuscomponents.com/ You could ask them. To my eye it's relatively minor damage at a low-stress area and could be fixable, but it's not my teeth at risk.

Thanks for the site, but I'm not local to Oregon. I'm in DC and could ask them, but again I'm not looking for the frame so probably wouldn't bother with fixing it for $200-400 to sell for about that much. I could also be way off on both estimates though.

So that's $500 for a previous generaton 6600 Ultegra, can't see what shape the R/hand shifter is in, but imagine it has some damage as the h/bar is broken, if well ridden, will need new cassette & chain.

The frame in it's current state is worthless, it will need repairing, which will probably cost more than what it worth, and how many ppl want to buy a broken or fixed carbon frame.

If you don't know much about bikes, it's a lot to spend on potential scrap and part possibly in need of replacement, walk away, you would be better to get a new / last years model bike, with say 105 components but has warranty.

Bike building isn't for beginners, you would be far better fo get a complete bike, learn how to fix that before trying to build one from parts

jimc101, thanks for the reply.

I'm not completely new to bikes. I actually have two road bikes now, one steel and one aluminum. I'm unfamiliar with carbon frames however, hence the questions. To me, it looks like there are just scratches to the downtube and basically just cosmetic issues, but I can't tell based on these pictures if there is a structural problem. Is there anything there that tells you it needs to be professionally repaired?

Regarding building for beginners. I've done some things with both my bikes, mostly basic stuff. I'm at college where there's a co-op that has the tools and personnel to help me out with a build, so I'm not too hesitant with that.

The problem with CF bikes is although they are incredibly strong; if they have been compromised, they do have a habit of failing spectacularly.

Hard to tell in your case, but as the handlebar is broken (is that CF as well?) it has had a pretty major impact in its life.

That groupset is a generation old, and you will no doubt have some parts which won't fit whatever you were going to be putting it onto, also the right shifter, which from the photo's we can't tell if it is damaged, is the most expensive part of the groupset.

Would always be suspect of a seller trying to get rid of a damaged item; why couldn't they repair it, why don't they want to ride it any more, if they were the original owner, Trek will have a crash replacement program, but as a 2nd owner you can't use this.

Thanks again. That's a good point about the motive behind selling it. Here are more pics, which I now realize I should have included in my original post: http://www.flickr.com/photos/61022511@N04/5558895139/in/photostream/

Seller says that everything else works fine. Just damage to frame and broken handlebar. He's willing to even throw in a replacement handlebar.

Side note: seller says that it's a 60cm frame, but looks more like 54cm to me. Am I missing something? Is it measured from center to top?

Looks more like 54cm
I own a 60cm and a 54cm

Would go for that being a 60cm, does look too big to be a 54cm, the seat stays are shorter than yours on a 54cm, google '54cm trek madone' for images, and you will see what I mean

There is a fair amount of wear to the logo on the crank, indicating that it has been well used, so would anticipate that the cassette, chain, and possibly the chain rings all need replacing.

The shifter damage looks to be cosmetic, but that would need to be verified that it works.

That handlebar, still can't tell what it's made out of, but still think it must have had a big impact to break it what ever it is made from.

Would go for that being a 60cm, does look too big to be a 54cm, the seat stays are shorter than yours on a 54cm, google '54cm trek madone' for images, and you will see what I mean

There is a fair amount of wear to the logo on the crank, indicating that it has been well used, so would anticipate that the cassette, chain, and possibly the chain rings all need replacing.

The shifter damage looks to be cosmetic, but that would need to be verified that it works.

That handlebar, still can't tell what it's made out of, but still think it must have had a big impact to break it what ever it is made from.

After googling 54 and 60cm, I believe you're right about 60cm. The handlebar is probably stock and bikepedia has it as Bontrager Race.
Also, about the damage to the frame, isn't that area relatively stress-free? Even though it's a diamond frame and stress is distributed to all sides, you're not leaning on that part like you are the head tube or seat tube. And it's in the middle, which requires less than the ends. Isn't that the theory behind butted, double and triple butted tubes?

With that much force to break an aluminum bar there could be a bent stem, steerer tube or other fork damage not shown. That bike appears to be hammered.

If not cracks around the area I dont see why a new riv-nut cant be put in place again. After all to put them in the 1st time a hole needed to be drilled anyways.

http://www.cycle-frames.com/bicycle-frame-tubing/NOVA-SS-REV-NUT-FOR-H2O-BOSS-FOR-ALUMINUM.html

Second option, epoxy a new steel boss in place. Epoxy now a days will fit that forever and ever.

http://www.cycle-frames.com/bicycle-frame-tubing/-M-DRILL-BUSHING-FOR-H20-BOSS.html

Good luck

ps: read this thread

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php/632836-possible-to-install-new-cage-mount-nut-on-carbon-frame

The inside of the rivet is larger than the outside and it looks like the carbon was torn in that area, but I would want to see it in person. I work in a shop and I repair and replace ones that are loose in the frame or stripped out. I find this damage rather strange. I have never seen one get pulled out of the frame with the bottom rivet in tact before, but I wasn't on the bike.