Methinks we have a few people getting a little too whacked out about this whole thing. For the most part, we're talking steel here, folks. That's welding (or brazing). That's the beauty of steel - - it's something the shade tree fabricator can touch without a degree in metallurgy. In that advent of compact MIG rigs, you don't even have to be a the Wizard of Oz with the TIG torch (but it doesn't hurt
) Haven't any of you more timid types ever fabricated your own parts? We aren't talking nuclear physics here - - this is bicycles. Blacksmiths built 'em before Orvile and Wilbur made one fly. I know so many people who are afraid to fix anything on a bike - - they'll replace it and junk the old piece - - because they've been brainwashed into thinking these little machines are more complicated than they are. Now aluminum is a little different animal, but if it's steel and it fell off, shucks, weld it back on and ride! [rant over].