don't know how it happened. Bike mechanic says it can't be fixed.

Me thinks what he really meant was, "Fixable at what justifiable cost?"

...only the customer can decide that...

=8-)

Maybe worth giving a shot if you have access to those Park frame tools, but risky enough that I'm sure a shop wouldn't want to mess with it.

Ouch! how did that happen?
I've straightened stays a couple of times. Mostly it's been OK, but sometimes the frame has both stretched and bent, and then you're SOL. Those can't be brought back to alignment w/o taken apart.

Steel frame?

I think it could be resurrected by a careful and competent person.

Worst case is that it fails and you have to replace the frame. Which is what you're looking at anyway if you don't attempt a fix.

If the frame isn't stretched and it is a steel frame, you should be able to bend it back using wood blocks or something equivalent.

https://davesbikeblog.blogspot.com/20...seatstays.html
That is what I looked at to fix a bend in one of my bikes.

That looks fixable to me.

Did he pull out the F.A.G tool (Frame Alignment Gauge) and check the alignment?

If your frame is out of alignment unfortunately the frame is done - there is absolutely no way it can be fixed despite what some people think or hope. If you just want to bend the tube back you can probably do that with a couple of wood blocks. Steel is very maliable so I wouldn't forsee a failure.

If you're willing to try this yourself, you can make a simple frame jig to straighten the stay back. The easiest thing to try is to get some 2 x 2 hardwood stock about 12 - 18 inches long. Get 4 coated metal screw-in hooks 1 inch diam which will fit around the stays. Drill a hole through the middle for a long 1/2 inch diam bolt with nut and washer on the end. Pre-drill and screw in 2 hooks on each end on the same side as the nut/washer. Now hook the stay and center bolt on the point you're trying to push in to straighten the stay. Pad it with strip of thinner falt wood or metal taped to the stay to protect the paint. Now slowly screw down the bolt while the hooks pull from either side. Moving that center back just a 1/2 inch or even less will probably do it.

With that bent stay, of course it's out of alignment. But why do you say "there is absolutely no way it can be fixed"? I've seen worse frames fixed that turned out OK.

badbikemechanic is a bad bike mechanic. You can prolly get that frame as straight as a new one.

That's fixable, fix the bent is not a problem even using wood and a small vice, the issue will be to get the frame re aligned, for that u have to go to a LBS, is fast if they know what they are doing. Or use the string method that is really easy.

As I often tell customers who are facing similar circumstances:

It might take $40-80 to really do it right if you are paying someone skilled in realignment. Otherwise, CL is littered with inexpensive 20 year old Asian bikes....

Caveat: if this frame is constructed from the newer high-strength steel alloys like OX Platinum, 853, or the like, realignment is considerably more difficult.