Originally Posted by
Lightingguy
I've heard this argument for years, and while true, is it cost effective ?. Strip frame of parts, ship back to manufacturer (there sure ain't no frame builders in my neck of the woods), have tube replaced AND re-painted, ship back, re-build. Total cost for re-build and paint maybe $500 +.
I would bet it's even more expensive than $500...but more to the point: While in theory a tube can be replaced on a lugged frame, has anyone ever successfully had this sort of repair done?
I ask because a friend of mine broke a toptube on one of his vintage lugged steel bikes (can't remember the brand...a Merckx I think?) and he contacted
seventeen different framebuilders about doing exactly that sort of repair.
None of them would take on the work.
Mostly due to scheduling...but still, if you can't find someone to do the repair, it's kinda moot that in theory the repair is possible, no?