Mos6502

Today a big, highly anticipated package arrived.



It contained a bicycle that is not really special, but which I have always wanted, and have spent years trying to find.



I have been looking since, what? 2009? I'd even won one before on ebay, but the seller then refused to ship the bike despite me giving them way more money than was necessary to get it done.



Yes, I've been searching for a plain old Columbia Roadster for years. And never had any luck or any help brining one home. But finally - I got one and it was here in my hands.



I was going to put it together and enjoy a victory ride. But...



Really?



I can't get the headset cup in because the head tube got smashed in on the bottom. Great. No luck for me, ever.
Just unbelievable. How hard can it be? How hard can it be?

I've already contacted the seller, hoping they will do something about it. I've also got to see if the package was insured. I'm just super disappointed right now. The time and effort I've put into finding one of these things, and this is what happens.

Drillium Dude 

I feel for you - no matter what it may be, when it's something you've looked forward to for so long, this kind of thing can be quite devastating. Hang in there - I'm sure the seller will do the right thing. Hopefully it doesn't take nearly as long to locate another one.

DD

juvela

sorry to read of your misfortune.

it is only about thirty seconds work with a mandrel to put the headtube round again. then you could touch up the finish.

btw- luv seeing your ninety-six

do you have any other pictures of her?

Mos6502

I'm going to see if there is a shop around that can do it. But I mean - it shouldn't be my responsibility to fix a problem I didn't make. That's what's so aggravating.

Of course!
Untitled by Berang Berang, on Flickr

prathmann

Agreed that the damage looks fixable. About 40 years ago the steerer tube on our tandem snapped during our morning commute with the result that the bottom of the head tube slammed into the pavement, knocking out the lower race of the headset and creating a dent similar to the one you have, only more severe. A bicycle frame builder took out the dent, installed a headset, and put a new steerer tube on the fork for about $30. The bike is still running fine today.

RobbieTunes

Contact the shipper ASAP

RidesaJapanese

They didn't pack it well, but also shipping services treat packages like roadside garbage. I sell cast iron cookware online, it can break or crack far easier than most people assume, it has to be very well protected during shipping.

FrenchFit 

Putting on my zen master sandals: it's only aggravating if you accept it as aggravating. Fix the problem, send a nice email to the seller asking that he/she pay for the cost of the fix. Don't worry about whether reimbursement happens.

Maybe your special talent is fixing problems -- celebrate that.

juvela

WHOA!

just look at those headrests, she must be late production. cortina engine?

there is a red ninety-six which appears on the cover of one of the bailey white novels.



iirc the marque now belongs to a dutch concern.

thanks again.

JohnDThompson 

+1 this.

3-cylinder, 2-cycle engine with oil injection, wasn't it?

juvela

headrests indicate late production which increases likelihood it is powered by the ford cortina four cylinder engine.

there was a version of the 3-cylinder which had an automatic supply of the two-stroke oil, this was called the monte carlo.

crank_addict

Ah.... Erik 'on the roof' Carlsson!

I'd love to have a 2 smoke version.

Mos6502

Yes it's the 4 stroke V4 version. The 2 stroke may have more charm, but it also has about 25 less horsepower - in modern traffic I'd rather have the V4.

I'm not really sure where to take the bike for a repair - this doesn't seem like the sort of thing a normal bike shop would take care of? Does anybody have any ideas who in or around Austin, TX might handle this?

Fahrenheit531 

This.

If I put that much time and effort into finding a particular bike and it showed up like that, yeah, I'd be somewhere close to devastated. Very briefly. And then I'd get to fixing my bike that I've finally got in my own two hands after years of pursuit can ya believe it look at that green how freaking cool is this!
Repair it, build it up, and enjoy that sucker!
Sorry about the ding.

I'd seek out a local framebuilder.

Citoyen du Monde

Why would anybody remove a headset to ship a bike? Had the headset been installed this damage would not have happened. My take is that if you were the one to suggest removing the fork and headset to allow the bike to be shipped at a reasonable rate, you should take on responsibility. To repair this dent to the same standard of quality as the rest of the bike is child's play. Life is too short to worry about these things, just fix it.

Mos6502

Alas, not my idea. And I was a bit surprised too. I can only assume that since it is an American headset and the cups are only press fit into the head tube they may have thought they could get knocked loose and lost during transit. That's the only explanation I can think of.

Either that or they thought removing the fork and headset would be easier than simply removing the front fender to fit the frame in the box? I don't know! Beats me.

wrk101

Insurance does not matter on this shipment. It was poorly packed to get this damage.

Packing a bike "right" is a lot more work than most people realize......

rickrob 

I think something like this could fix that damage.

1 1 4 1 1 2 x 9 inch with 4 inch Sleeves Expanding Mandrel 3 Piece Kit | eBay

CliffordK

I was thinking something more on the lines of a muffler expander.

Small Tail Pipe Expander

If it would fit into the hole.

Be careful not to stretch the tubing so that the headset becomes loose.

PayPal may require you to get a quote from a bike shop for the repair cost. That may be a way to go.

rickrob 

Yep-- That would probably work even better. Says it fits 1 1/8 to 1 3/4.

Mos6502

Well I already filed a claim so we'll see what the shipping company has to say. If not I'm going to have to see what the seller is going to do.

gioscinelli 

Yea, I takes me 3 hours for just the Frame and Fork, that includes cutting the box for size. 4 hours or more for a complete bike.

CV-6 

I you cannot find a mandrel, find a socket that just fits inside and drive it through from the opposite end. You might get funny looks at the store trying to find one that fits but who cares. I fixed a Raleigh Pro that way, but I was lucky and had a socket to fit.

Mos6502

I looked at local auto parts stores and the smallest one available was just slightly too big to fit. I don't really want to order something online. I'll probably just have to find somebody who repairs frames and hope I don't get charged too much.

Last ride 76 

And i guess you are too. Horrible sounding crash. Unless you were stopped at a light.