Cracked Frame Question
10-10-07 | 10:34 AM
#1
Thread Starter
I Ride, Therefore I Am
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 490
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From: Central, PA via Philthadelphia
Cracked Frame Question
Hi,
I am new to all this biking stuff so bear with me while I try to explain my situation. I just bought myself a road bike off e-bay. 1995 Schwinn Super Sport with an Alumninum frame. I was just going to take it for my first ride when I noticed a crack in the front tube where the fork goes through. It's about 1" to 1 1/2" long. Is the bike still OK to ride? I am trying to get my money back from the seller but I am not sure I will be successful. Could it be welded? I paid $200 for it as I am not ready to plop $700 - $800 down for a bike yet. I used to ride a steel hybrid and wanted to make the jump to a real road bike. Any feed back would be great. I know I took a risk with e-bay and am now kicking myself for it. It was dark when I picked it up but should have inspected it more closely. Any opinions would be appreciated.
Thanks,
BU
I am new to all this biking stuff so bear with me while I try to explain my situation. I just bought myself a road bike off e-bay. 1995 Schwinn Super Sport with an Alumninum frame. I was just going to take it for my first ride when I noticed a crack in the front tube where the fork goes through. It's about 1" to 1 1/2" long. Is the bike still OK to ride? I am trying to get my money back from the seller but I am not sure I will be successful. Could it be welded? I paid $200 for it as I am not ready to plop $700 - $800 down for a bike yet. I used to ride a steel hybrid and wanted to make the jump to a real road bike. Any feed back would be great. I know I took a risk with e-bay and am now kicking myself for it. It was dark when I picked it up but should have inspected it more closely. Any opinions would be appreciated.
Thanks,
BU
10-10-07 | 10:36 AM
#2
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 539
Likes: 0
From: Monterey, California
Bikes: 1982 Fuji Team, 1979 Raleigh Team Record, 1984 Raleigh Team USA, Japanese Raleigh Super Course, 2000 LeMond Buenos Aires, 90's Schwinn High Plains, 1978? Austro Daimler Inter 10
The bike is unsafe. Don't ride it, and do everything you can to get your money back. I wouldn't be surprised if your ebay pal knew about the crack.
10-10-07 | 11:24 AM
#3
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 5,045
Likes: 15
From: Lancaster County, PA
Bikes: '39 Hobbs, '58 Marastoni, '73 Italian custom, '75 Wizard, '76 Wilier, '78 Tom Kellogg, '79 Colnago Super, '79 Sachs, '81 Masi Prestige, '82 Cuevas, '83 Picchio Special, '84 Murray-Serotta, '85 Trek 170, '89 Bianchi, '90 Bill Holland, '94 Grandis
I think there might be a lesson here about older aluminum frames in general ...
10-10-07 | 01:56 PM
#4
Death fork? Naaaah!!
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 5,532
Likes: 950
From: The other Maine, north of RT 2
Bikes: Seriously downsizing.
Sorry to say but the frame is toast. And unsafe.
For less than $150 you can get a new Al frame and swap the comps over.
Top
For less than $150 you can get a new Al frame and swap the comps over.
Top
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You know it's going to be a good day when the stem and seatpost come right out.
(looking for a picture and not seeing it? Thank the Photobucket fiasco.PM me and I'll link it up.)
You know it's going to be a good day when the stem and seatpost come right out.
(looking for a picture and not seeing it? Thank the Photobucket fiasco.PM me and I'll link it up.)
10-10-07 | 04:27 PM
#6
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 765
Likes: 1
From: Jacksonville Florida
Bikes: Raleigh Glacier MTB/Commuter. Cannondale CAAD5, Windsor Timeline fixed gear
Take it back to the guy and offer him $50 for the components on it. Tell him the frame is trashed. Then Pick up a new frame for the components you got from the seller. Worth a try anyways.
10-10-07 | 04:51 PM
#7
Bike Junkie
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 9,625
Likes: 40
From: South of Raleigh, North of New Hill, East of Harris Lake, NC
Bikes: Specialized Tarmac, Specialized Roubaix, Giant OCR-C, Specialized Stumpjumper FSR, Stumpjumper Comp, 88 & 92Nishiki Ariel, 87 Centurion Ironman, 92 Paramount, 84 Nishiki Medalist
I hate to hear stories like this. A new cyclist wants to try road riding and their first experience is not a good one.
BigUgly, most cyclists are really good, honest people who won't stick someone else with their problems. But there are a few who are not. I hope this does not discourage you from continuing your pursuit of cycling.
BigUgly, most cyclists are really good, honest people who won't stick someone else with their problems. But there are a few who are not. I hope this does not discourage you from continuing your pursuit of cycling.
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10-10-07 | 06:57 PM
#8
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 1,509
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Heh. and here I just went ahead and purposely sought out a steel framed road bike because I wanted a "real road bike."
The frame broke because it is made of a material that does not rhyme with the word "real"
10-10-07 | 06:59 PM
#9
feros ferio
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 22,398
Likes: 1,865
From: www.ci.encinitas.ca.us
Bikes: 1959 Capo Modell Campagnolo; 1960 Capo Sieger (2); 1962 Carlton Franco Suisse; 1970 Peugeot UO-8; 1982 Bianchi Campione d'Italia; 1988 Schwinn Project KOM-10;
I have to concur. I have broken more than my share of aluminum (and steel) components, as well.
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"Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." --Theodore Roosevelt
Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
Peugeot: 1970 UO-8, S/N 0010468
Bianchi: 1982 Campione d'Italia, S/N 1.M9914
Schwinn: 1988 Project KOM-10, S/N F804069
"Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." --Theodore Roosevelt
Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
Peugeot: 1970 UO-8, S/N 0010468
Bianchi: 1982 Campione d'Italia, S/N 1.M9914
Schwinn: 1988 Project KOM-10, S/N F804069
10-11-07 | 09:29 AM
#10
Thread Starter
I Ride, Therefore I Am
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 490
Likes: 0
From: Central, PA via Philthadelphia
Thanks folks for all your input. The seller agreed to refund my money and I am giving him the bike back. Seems like its working out. I will start searching again for a road bike I can afford.
