Originally Posted by
squirtdad
if shifting is issue, first thing to check for alignment and bending if needed would be the derailler hanger
Check the hanger. If that fixes it, maybe leave the frame alone.
If you can't tell the frame is bent by riding it, is it really bent? Downhill, corner left, corner right, can you tell? I've had steel bikes that were off a bit, but riding with no hands I couldn't tell anything was off. My repair method was to wait a while and forget about it. Bent and cracked is a whole 'nuther kettle of fish.