Touring - Help with dent in Cannondale T800

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davidmikesell
11-02-12, 01:54 PM
Hi. I'm not exactly sure if this should go here, but I'll try. I've been wanting to get into touring, and I recently found the perfect bike. It's a 2000 Cannondale T800. It's almost NOS. I got it from a reputable shop used. They said an elderly person traded it in for a cruiser. I digress. Anyway, as I was testing it, I noticed i small dent in the downtube. The guys at the shop didn't think anything of it. They said it was fine. The more I've been researching, the more weary I get. Here are some pictures.

http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q248/starvingwizard35/100_1657.jpg
http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q248/starvingwizard35/100_1659.jpg
http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q248/starvingwizard35/100_1660.jpg
http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q248/starvingwizard35/100_1661.jpg
http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q248/starvingwizard35/100_1662.jpg
If anyone thinks it would be dangerous to ride, please let me know. I have a tour planned, and it would be terrible to have a broken frame in the middle of nowhere. At this point, I can return it to the shop. Thanks so much.

fietsbob
11-02-12, 02:47 PM
Live with it..
If you strip the paint .. if it cracks, you can see it sooner.
thats about it.
axolotl
11-02-12, 04:39 PM
17 years ago, an airline put a big gash in my mountain bike downtube at the beginning of a trip in South America. The bike continues to ride just fine today.

DW99
11-02-12, 04:59 PM
I wouldn't give that dent any more thought. It's a nice looking bike, I say, let it ride like it is.

I could be wrong, but I can't imagine that that dent would cause the metal to fail, the paint or decal doesn't even looked scratched .
bradtx
11-02-12, 06:37 PM
davidmikesell, The bike shop and the previous posters are correct. If I had a dent like yours in any of my Cannondales, I wouldn't worry about it. It lacks any sharp crease and is at the middle section of the downtube where there is very little stress.

Brad
Doug64
11-02-12, 07:40 PM
I have a similar dent (about 2 inches lower on the cross tube) in my Cannondale road bike due to a fall of the workstand. I agree with the others. It is not a big deal as long as the dent is "smooth" with no creases.

The Tubing on my wife's T 800 seems thicker and larger diameter than my road bike. If this is the case I definitely would not worry about it.
clarkbre
11-02-12, 08:23 PM
Yep, the dent makes the bike look a bit tougher than the rest. Ride it for sure! Overall, it's a really good looking bike.
davidmikesell
11-03-12, 06:53 AM
Thanks everybody. I never thought it was too dangerous, but I just wanted to be sure. See you on the road!