RoadBikeWork

Sorry no pics It is a Bianchi Pista
I do not know where to post this question
I would like to know the year of this bike although I presume it is 2009 because its a dark blue
There are two dents on the bike
it has the christopha straps look great but dry I have them in leather preserve atm
everything is original (everything) except the drop bars were swapped for some "fixie handlebars"
I paid 51$ whats it worth? can i repair those dents

I cannot post the urls to my photos there is one small dent on the top tube and a slightly bigger dent on the down tube that one is the worst its the size of my index fingernail the dent is aprx half inch by half inch and in the deepest area is aprx half a cm deep


THanks to everyone who took the time to help. love you guys

CliffordK

Post photos by going to the Advanced Editor and clicking on the Paper Clip Attachments.

CliffordK

What material is the frame made of? Aluminum or steel? Are the tubes generally round?

As far as pulling dents. There is a technique called "rolling" which uses tube shaped blocks and a vise. However, it is also destructive to the paint.

You may be able to use a long seat post or similar tube to work out your seat tube dent, assuming it is above any water bottle cage bosses.

However, it may be best just to leave the dents alone... battle damage Especially if the tubes are steel, and the paint is in generally good condition.

RoadBikeWork

I need to change the description the dent in on the down tube and little little one on top tube
The metal is double chromoly. I read about the rolling out dents procedure but my down tube is not completely round
I really like this bike im pretty sure its a 2009

Andrew R Stewart 

A dent in a bike frame that's 5mm deep is a massive one. Place a straight edge along the tube and use a ruler to measure the root depth of the dent.

Consider using a third party photo sharing service that you can link to using spelled out addresses (as in "flickrcom/photos/73195587@N00/" ) Asking us to help assess a dent/damage without our seeing it is in realistic. Opinions will be offered but no one who knows what they talk of will give any specific advice to the actual dent.

Having said that- If you can access the tube's insides (like a seat tube without bottle bosses in the way) then a mandrel slid into the tube can be a possibility. Just like trumpets can be reformed. If the insides of the tube are effectively closed then you either use a tight fitting tube block to try to force in the slight bulges that a dent usually has at it's boarders in the attempt to also pop out much of the dent's depth. Know that this method will kill the paint. Or you fill the dent with a Bondo" body filler. Again paint takes a big hit.

As to the year of manufacture- some brands offer a serial number look up (or some privet person has started one). Many don't. Some components will have a manufacture date code and these can be also looked for on line but this is one step removed from the frame date.

As far as what's the bike worth? I think you determined that by spending $51 for it. Until you try to sell it that's all you really know for sure. Andy

RoadBikeWork

i cannot post any links or photos for some reason. it says cannot load image error, cannot post links until after i post 10 posts, and when i try to type to url it deletes everything after two letters are typed sorry

RoadBikeWork

raykhj&s=9
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those are the end location for tinypic images url

AnkleWork

Magic 8 ball says: "Reply hazy try again."

Oneder

It doesn't look all that bad, but reaching them is the issue I guess.

JohnDThompson 

Dents on steel frames tubes are generally cosmetic. Post some pictures so we can see what you're dealing with. This is all I see at tinypic:

CliffordK

I think I got the images open. Does this work?





Or is hotlinking being blocked?

CliffordK

It looks like a steel frame.

I'd leave them alone. Or, if you wish, buy a couple of these decals, and stick them over the top, and you're good to go.

3D Realistic Gun Shots Decal - Noahs Cave

You can try to expand the seattube dent a bit, but it will be more work than benefit.

fietsbob

it looks like You hit something, didn't you.?. if you don't put a brake on it you will..

JohnDThompson 

Looking at the pictures now, I don't see anything particularly concerning. If it rides fine, don't stress about the dents. You can deal with them if/when you decide to repaint the frame.

02Giant 

Ride it like you stole it.

Hoopdriver

Those are tiny. Fill them with brazing metal when you get around to repainting.

Iride01 

Bondo, high build primer, epoxy filler, or what ever it takes. Put a nice paint job along with DECALS. I don't like seeing bikes without their decals. I'm not a period perfect type person that wants it to be all original, but I like the retro part and having the correct decals on the frame no matter how inappropriate the color is for that period bike or new eleven speed groupsets you put on........... It just looks like a nice attention to detail when you put facsimilies of the original decals back on. There are several that make them for your Bianchi.

Getting back to the dents..... I don't think they are structural. Perhaps you should keep the pictures and show them to whomever you might sell to in the future. I myself wouldn't be upset though if I bought it and found out later they were there. Unless you sold it to me at as a museum piece at a very high price.

Our brand new cars used to come from the factory with bondo already on them. But that was years before many of you were born. Don't think they still have to do that with the way the make the bodies now.