Dented downtube opinions? Help?
04-05-15, 03:44 PM
#1
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 5
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Dented downtube opinions? Help?
Hello I recently crashed my Leader 725 and the bars went into the frame, denting it. I'm going to ride it, and watch it very closely for cracks.
How dangerous do you think it is to ride this for the time being?
Based on experience how much life is left in this bike?
How dangerous do you think it is to ride this for the time being?
Based on experience how much life is left in this bike?
04-05-15, 03:50 PM
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Seattle
Posts: 3,250
Bikes: Kuota Ksano. Litespeed T5 gravel - brilliant!
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times
in
3 Posts
Ride on brother. You've got no worries. If you were to fix it, you'd use bondo and paint.
04-05-15, 04:14 PM
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Eugene, Oregon, USA
Posts: 27,273
Mentioned: 216 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 17022 Post(s)
Liked 3,865 Times
in
2,864 Posts
Originally Posted by Desaparecidos
Based on experience how much life is left in this bike?
Most of my riding has been on steel (with a few small dents), but if that dent doesn't seem to have compromised frame integrity (no bend in the tubes, no tears through the aluminum), then I don't see it as being a problem.
I'd just leave it alone, and watch it periodically. You could strip and add body filler, but the thinner the coating the better for observation.
04-05-15, 04:27 PM
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: New Rochelle, NY
Posts: 36,746
Bikes: too many bikes from 1967 10s (5x2)Frejus to a Sumitomo Ti/Chorus aluminum 10s (10x2), plus one non-susp mtn bike I use as my commuter
Mentioned: 131 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4771 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 761 Times
in
475 Posts
If you keep riding this frame it won't last out the century. OTOH- neither will you, so feel free to ignore it, or fill and paint it out.
__________________
FB
Chain-L site
An ounce of diagnosis is worth a pound of cure.
“Never argue with an idiot. He will only bring you down to his level and beat you with experience.”, George Carlin
“One accurate measurement is worth a thousand expert opinions” - Adm Grace Murray Hopper - USN
WARNING, I'm from New York. Thin skinned people should maintain safe distance.
FB
Chain-L site
An ounce of diagnosis is worth a pound of cure.
“Never argue with an idiot. He will only bring you down to his level and beat you with experience.”, George Carlin
“One accurate measurement is worth a thousand expert opinions” - Adm Grace Murray Hopper - USN
WARNING, I'm from New York. Thin skinned people should maintain safe distance.
04-05-15, 10:38 PM
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 4,700
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 5 Times
in
4 Posts
I'd ride it, just like the others.
I'd probably let it stay the way it is, though, just so I could see if it decides to start growing.
If it does start growing, put a fork in it - the kind you eat with. It's done at that point.
I'd probably let it stay the way it is, though, just so I could see if it decides to start growing.
If it does start growing, put a fork in it - the kind you eat with. It's done at that point.
04-06-15, 03:39 AM
#6
Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 43
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I don't think you have anything to worry about. I would fill it and paint it.If you have problems in the future you will know .Paint and bondo will not hide it if the frame decides to crack afterwards.
04-06-15, 06:43 AM
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Rochester, NY
Posts: 17,004
Bikes: Stewart S&S coupled sport tourer, Stewart Sunday light, Stewart Commuting, Stewart Touring, Co Motion Tandem, Stewart 3-Spd, Stewart Track, Fuji Finest, Mongoose Tomac ATB, GT Bravado ATB, JCP Folder, Stewart 650B ATB
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3744 Post(s)
Liked 2,815 Times
in
1,743 Posts
The dent's location is a pretty low stress one. I suspect the frame tubing is pretty thick by the looks. As others have said ride but verify. Just keep your eye on it. Andy.
04-06-15, 07:00 AM
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Louisville, KY
Posts: 13,161
Mentioned: 32 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3672 Post(s)
Liked 2,473 Times
in
1,471 Posts
Originally Posted by achoo
I'd ride it, just like the others.
I'd probably let it stay the way it is, though, just so I could see if it decides to start growing.
If it does start growing, put a fork in it - the kind you eat with. It's done at that point.
I'd probably let it stay the way it is, though, just so I could see if it decides to start growing.
If it does start growing, put a fork in it - the kind you eat with. It's done at that point.
04-06-15, 08:23 AM
#9
Junior Member
Join Date: Mar 2015
Posts: 6
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I have similar dent in the same location on my frame for the last 3 years... It shouldn't be a problem. That's why I love metal frames ;-)
04-06-15, 09:25 AM
#10
Senior Member
Being aluminum it will eventually crack, but not at that spot. My friends Felts cracked at the junction of the seat tube and bottom bracket. But he is a 210 pounder.
04-06-15, 09:47 AM
#11
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 11,277
Bikes: (2) ti TiCycles, 2007 w/ triple and 2011 fixed, 1979 Peter Mooney, ~1983 Trek 420 now fixed and ~1973 Raleigh Carlton Competition gravel grinder
Mentioned: 115 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3851 Post(s)
Liked 2,718 Times
in
1,775 Posts
Look at the good side. You learned something. You now know why the track bikes at the Velodrome so often have those tape or rubber "collars" on their top tubes!
Chalk this up to experience; both for you and your bike.
Ben
Chalk this up to experience; both for you and your bike.
Ben
04-06-15, 09:53 AM
#12
Senior Member
With no brakes, you can expect many more dents. 
04-06-15, 10:04 AM
#13
Calamari Marionette Ph.D
The problem here is quite severe. The dent is on an Aerotube, not a round tube. With a gouge that HUGE, any speed over 15mph will result in an unstable air flow causing unmanageable wobbles and a bad crash.
04-06-15, 10:05 AM
#14
Calamari Marionette Ph.D
Originally Posted by JerrySTL
With no brakes, you can expect many more dents.
