newyorkcity

Hey, so I brought my bike to my LBS to have my pedals switched out. The mechanic did some other maintenance and in the process he nicked my chrome frame!!! Upon returning home, I realized that he did in fact hit the frame, and there is a visible nick in the frame into the metal. This bike is only about two months old.

I have heard that once you compromise the integrity of a chrome finish, it is only a matter of time before the finish starts chipping away. I am not sure if I am taking this to seriously but I was hoping that you guys could offer some advice as to how I should deal with this situation.

Thanks for your help.

mrrabbit 

1. You can go ask Al Capone how to deal with it...

OR

2. Just be a man and and go back yourself and discuss it.

Kinda odd though...it's pretty hard to damage new chrome - chrome is very hard stuff.

=8-0

newyorkcity

No need for any pissant comments. I wrote that message in haste though. My specific question is: is this worth pursuing, in terms of the integrity of my bike? It's a small dent/pit into the metal of the frame, not just a surface scratch. It was hit by a tool as he was tightening something and slipped. I really don't care how my bike looks but as I mentioned, I have read/heard that once the chrome finish is compromised, it will begin to chip away gradually, followed by oxidation of the underlying metal. This can obviously weaken the frame, and lead to a serious accident. Can anyone confirm this information / share a similar experience?

I don't want to give these guys a hard time for a trivial/aesthetic problem, if it is one. You can't paint over that damage, they are going to have to replace or re-plate the frame, which are both costly, so I want to make sure this is worth the trouble.

mrrabbit 

Are you absolutely 100% certain the LBS did it?

Because if you are - option #2 should be a piece of cake.

So what's holding you back?

=8-)

Mr. Beanz

Many bike shave small dents. Sooner or later, your bike would end up with a dent in one place or another, small rock at speed will do it.

Of which metal is this bike made? I have steel bikes and an aluminum mountain bike that have small dents.

Mr Danw

Chrome is not like paint. A chip will not compromise it. That is why auto bumpers had chrome finishes for so long. The chrome often outlasted the steel below.

fietsbob

where did you hear that from?, do cite your source , so others can check the source out.

newyorkcity

I am absolutely sure that the LBS caused the damage. I was standing right in front of him and you can see the damage to the hex bolt that he was tightening when the tool slipped; its pretty f'ed. In fact, it is the only damage on the bike (as I mentioned, it is barely two months old).

I guess the thing 'holding me back' is that I feel like a complete ******* for complaining about this problem since it's not a huge deal now, but will likely ruin my bike in the long run. I'm a student and will be for a while so I need this bike to last me a long time.


Steel road frame, more prone to oxidation than aluminum. I understand your point, but it's different when someone else causes damage, you know? I take exceptionally good care of this bike because I don't have the $$$ to replace it and this is an issue that could hypothetically destroy it in the long term. And as mrrabbit mentioned, chrome is very hard, and is very difficult to damage.


Here is the most legitimate source I could find on the web:

https://www.automedia.com/Chrome_Job/res20020301ct/1

It is an article written by an auto repair shop about chrome restoration. They imply that dents/pitting can lead to oxidation of the metal, and that the metal piece affected will need to be filled / replated in order to repair the damage and aesthetic appearance.

I live in the NE so I am worried that the expansion/contraction of the metal with temp fluctuations, along with road salt and other misc factors, will lead to the early demise of my bike. In light of these concerns, I have contacted the LBS and it seems that they are going to take care of the problem. Feel free to provide any other comments / suggestions though.

ultraman6970

Now you know why probably 95% of members of this or any other cycling forums does their own mechanics, swap a pair of pedals is not rocket science man. So if something happen is your own to blame, not others. Sincerely u have no way to prove they nick the chrome, in a matter of fact if you do complain to the shop, afterwards is better for you just go to borders and get a bike mechanics book right away because are on sale now and because probably they wont be willing to touch your stuff ever again.

Good luck with this one.

randomgear

Clean the nick, put a drop of clear paint/nail polish over it and it will be just fine.