Otherwise very nice looking bike and trying to judge from on-line view only. It's in the after end of the top tube, Columbus EL. I'm generally not worried by a dent but I wonder if this is a little too broadly based for comfort.

Its not bad but despite how ratty several of my bikes are, I avoid dents of any kind except those I create (1). Structurally, not an issue.

Thanks. Green Mondonico in my size - I may have to overlook some imperfections!

(I've always wanted a green bike)

[MENTION=396646]Spaghetti Legs[/MENTION] - Me too! This will be my green bike , some day.

[IMG]118_PaTrek, on Flickr[/IMG]

Do you know of any decent powder coat shops in your area?

Dents are almost always cosmetic. Use them as a negotiating point. You can wrap it in handlbar tape, hemp twine and shellac it. The Elfdom would approve. Or if you want to paint it, fill with JB weld and sand it down.

Almost all of my nicer bikes are dented somewhere; that's how I'm able to afford them.

No I've never looked into that. I can ask around though. That bike will wear green very well!

I think steel can take a bit of abuse

dropped a front wheel doing a wheelie as a kid, shop straightened my front fork after I landed on it. same bike got hit by a car, luckily I jumped of it right before, shop straightened the frame. got Dad's money's worth out of that bike

My Mariposa received a similar dent (although without the gouging in the paint that yours has) in its SL tubing when its cork-taped handlebars got pressed into it during rail transport years ago. I just ride it and try not to look at it. Not having the bike to examine it in person, I would like to see a photo of the left side of the tube, just to be assured that the side opposite to the visible dent is not crushed in even worse....
But if the worst damage is what shows in the photos, I'd overlook those imperfections on a bike I really wanted.

P.S., if you get the bike and can't find new green handlebar tape anywhere, send me a note. (I'm told it's hard to come by.) I bought some, hoping it would look good on the Mariposa but my green clashes -- it's more of a cyan -- and the tape remains in its package. Your green looks a better match.

That dent wouldt stop me from riding the bike, it's minor, imo. Just a cosmetic thing..

I have two bikes with dents a little bit worse. They've been fine for years.

looks like 2 dents, but I would not worry about it.

Yeah I think so too. I appreciate the input, everyone.

Looks like a too-tight workstand clamp to me. That EL tubing is might thin (0.4mm) in the center of the top tube, per this link.

Some day I'll find the right EL-OS bike in my size . . .

I got dents in my skull worse than that! If you want it, go get it.

Someone needs to invent a robot that does dent removal from inside a pipe. ... hmmm. it would not even have to very smart. stick the guy in, it expands to fit the inner tube size.. adjusts itself for the butting but when it hits an abnormal shape, it stops and rolls the spot until its round (or oval.. or whatever the majority of the tube is).

ok engineers, get right on that.

How about from outside the pipe...

was gonna suggest calling these guys

yeah, but that messes up your paint

the hardest part is really designing something that can get in there then expand. the typical hole into the top tube is only like 8mm or something.

Maybe something like this:

Those ship-in-a-bottle builders should know how to do it..

EL dents easily. I wouldn't worry about it, just use it in negotiation, as mentioned.

I created a couple of designs for toptube dent removal, but just need to figure out how to make that "8mm hole" in the seat tube more like a 14mm hole for the devices to get in there.
I doubt that the structure would be compromised by increasing that hole size.
If I still had a die grinder, I could probably do it with a stone ball, though some frames position the toptube lower than others relative to the seatpost opening.
I know that there are specialized tools that feature a small right-angle drive and carbide tip, for cutting (modifying) the port windows in a two-stroke engine cylinder, but they would be expensive.

i may take a crack at this tomorrow. need like an expansion bolt with rollers on the end of a flexible cable... but its such a small hole as dddd says- I cant imagine anything that could fit through and then be robust enough to do the job.

there are two sides: perhaps something from one side that blocks and the other side that expands when it hits the block? not sure but I see potential being able to go at it from both sides to increase the total mass one can get inside the tube to do the job.

I think you're on to something, (few more glasses you may have it).
Think about it, all the things invented that are mind boggling just a 100 or 200 years ago, tv, cell phones, bleach, airplanes etc. The real problem is there has to be motivation, usually generated by money or need. Since not much money to be made by such a contraption, I propose we make the need. Let's all take a ball pin hammer to our favorite steed(s) and create a DEMAND. Ok, who's with me?