I’ve owned this frame since it was new in the mid 80s. A broken dropout was replaced some time the in early 90s. It’s been painted twice, once to match club colors, once as a rattle can job after the drop out repair.
A few years ago, sick of the rattle can job and having some money at hand, I was going to get it powder coated. The coater removed the old paint and then called me, telling me that they couldn’t paint a frame with pinholes. And there they were. Holes in the drive side seat stay.
So I took it home and put it away, only using it for checking hub widths, or other tasks where it’s useful to have a bare frame. But now, it mostly just hangs on the wall taking up space.
I don’t really need another frame now, so here’s the question: do I build it up, use it as grocery store rider until it breaks, then pitch it? Do I have the stay replaced, knowing that then I’ll have to have it painted, which could be the price of another frame? It’s not going to turn into yard art, and it’s not going to go back on the wall, to mock me as it’s done for years. Suggestions?
Photo of stay follows. Two holes below seat stay cap, under the line of discoloration.