arthurmiller

Hi guys.
honestly how dangerous is it to ride this?

https://imageshack.us/i/pcK0LLXlj
https://imageshack.us/i/idFSMfG7j

I mean, what can happen? Can it break suddenly and I can get seriously hurt or it will slowly break apart?
I confess I've ridden the bike for a month now. I've no idea how long for the tears have been there, probably a lot of time.
Can I still ride it if I don't go fast and check every time I ride if the tear worsens? I am 150 lbs and don't ride the bike offstreet.
For you, it might be a senseless question (and a stupid risk) but I am just a poor student and I really don't have the money to buy a new one if i can ride this for a few months.

Thanks!

FBinNY 

Is there a way to post the photo here? I can't see it in Imageshack, and don't feel like joining.

geehue

I do not think that is safe to ride any more. Even if your frame continues to deteriorate slowly instead of snapping catastrophically, your seatpost is being supported and held in place by only the seatpost bolt (which itself looks like it might be rusting out a bit). Riding will flex that seatpost, and eventually either it or the bolt will fail ... that will hurt a lot.

DiabloScott

Why not purposefully TRY to destroy it? Maybe hold it upside down and drop it on the saddle a couple times... or hold it sideways and try to bend the seat tube with your foot. If it breaks then you know it was unsafe to ride and you'll be glad you weren't riding it when it would have happened. If it doesn't break or get any worse, then you'll have a little more confidence that it'll last a while longer under normal use.

I can't imagine how poor I'd have to be to ride that bike in that condition though... my sympathies.

practical

What about putting a couple of c-clamps around it? Go the hardware store and see what's available.

Little Darwin

If you simply must ride that, I would suggest going to the local hardware or auto parts store and getting 4 or 5 hose clamps of the appropriate size to add some lateral support.



But, personally, even with that precaution, it is not structurally sound, so I would start looking for a used frame or used bike to replace it. WHere are you located, and what size frame are you using? If close to WB, I may have something available.

FBinNY 

It seems that someone burst the seat tube by ramming an overly fat post down into it. For all practical purposes the bike is toast, since there's no economical fix.

But, if you have no dough and need to buy yourself a bit of time you might jerry-rig something towards that end. I'd buy 3-4 hose clamps, and secure them tightly around the affected area, to buttress the tube and prevent the split from opening more.

It's not an ideal repair by any means, but will be OK for a while until you can scout something up. Odds are that it will continue to degrade, but probably not fail in a way to injure you, though you'll be stranded. So, no hard riding, and don't go far from home.

Consider this a short term patch, and start looking for a way to replace this bike ASAP.

EDIT- seems that two of us had the same idea, but Little Darwin types faster.

CliffordK

What is the brand and model of the frame?
Is that a carbon fiber seat tube, and steel lugs? Most odd.

What caused the initial damage? Front and rear? An attempt to hack out a seat post?

I agree with others, I'd probably permanently retire the frame.

How long is your seatpost? If I was to use the frame, I'd find a seatpost that extended considerably below the damaged section of the frame.

If that is carbon fiber, you could either try to replace the whole tube, or try a spot repair, cleaning up the ragged area, apply a patch, then wrap. It can't be much worse than one sees with hemp wrapped bamboo.

spdracr39

That frame doesn't look like it is worth the risk to ride get something else and move on.

FBinNY 

Take a closer look, it's a POS steel frame, and the only carbon around is in the steel.

I suspect that someone intentionally split it to fit the wrong post, or more likely, rammed a fat post in splitting it in the process. I've seen this kind of force split in the rear but this is the first time I've seen it in front.

lostarchitect 

cale

It would be super easy to braze in a replacement tube. Or you could just ride it like it is. I'm a big fan of hose clamps, though if you wanted something "cleaner" (hard to imagine but anyway) there's also the FD-hanger-as-a-clamp option.

CliffordK

That is one ragged cut... I think some of the 3-D scratching may be into the seat post too.

It looks to me like someone took a chainsaw to it.

I doubt there is much natural crack propagation, although the ragged cut does allow for that to start.

Anyway, a super-long seat post, and a bunch of pipe clamps might stabilize it....
But one is still left with the question of WHY use it, and WHY was the frame damaged like this?:

FBinNY 

Who know why it was broken this way, but the OP answered why he wants to ride it --- no dough to replace right now.

That's a valid reason, and people often have to make do with less than ideal (far less) because it's still better than nothing at all. To that end, here's a possibly stronger, cheaper fix if the OP has or has a friend with, a power drill.

Buy 2 1/4" bolt long enough to reach all the way across the tube. Drill a pair of holes, one above the bottom of the split, and the other closer to the seat lug. Fit the bolts with washers under the heads and tighten well. Finish by sawing and/or filing smooth enough that nothing catches. That should buy enough time to find a replacement at a thrift store or garage sale.

fastk9dad

I think you are right. To my eyes the fat post is the one that's currently in it.

CliffordK

I almost lost access to the images... Perhaps one can only view them once or twice

Anyway, here they are.

ltxi

Appreciate the financial dilemma, but.... I wouldn't sit that on a bet.

arthurmiller

Thank you everyone for your contribution and for not judging my poor choice and poorer finances! You guys are the most down to earth bike experts i've talked to so far!
What caused this damage in the first place is not known to me, I thought that the presence of a tear at the front side meant someone sawed the tube to steal a seat post. But the current seat post is actually slightly fatter than the tube (you can see that the edge of the tube was forcefully stretched) -sorry not an english native speaker- as Fastk9Dad and FBinNY noticed.

Anyway, you made yourself clear about what I should do.
Thanks!

1 Miyata Biker

Arthur, I believe what you should do is find a repair shop of some kind that can do some welding/brazing for you real cheap. Remove the seat post and have them weld/braze two halves of a piece of pipe of sufficient length to span the damaged area. Then replace the seat post and start keeping an eye peeled for a frame or entire bike of the proper size to replace this one. I'd hate to see you get hurt on this bike. Look anywhere you feel like someone could have dumped a bike and salvage it to replace yours. Good luck with the project!

CliffordK

Either that, or find a steel seat post. Set the height perfect... and weld/braze in place.

1saxman

I was thinking of a brace and finally found it - costs about $6 and is a 'Mueller Pipe Repair Clamp'. You can find these at Home Depot, etc. It's a steel 'clamshell' about 6" long with two bolts to squeeze it on the 'pipe'. You'll probably need the 1" or 1 1/4".

silkey

am I seeing this rip in the front and back of the tube?

AlmostTrick

Since the seat post is over size, replacing it with a longer one is not an option. In the same diameter it will make the tear worse, and the correct diameter will now be way too loose.

The 'Mueller Pipe Repair Clamp' sounds interesting, (and cheap enough) I'd at least give it a look, hold it up in place on the tube, and then decide.

Welding a steel seat post in place is interesting except for two problems. Finding the proper size post, and finding a person to weld it for cheap or free.

Actually, I think pulling the existing post out, even if possible, would be a mistake!

rmfnla

I'd love to know who did that in the first place (and how!)...