Is this frame toast?
 

Picked up a cheap Bianchi the other day. On closer inspection maybe it's a little too cheap. Would this rust spot make the frame a goner:

http://i613.photobucket.com/albums/t...s/DSC_0017.jpg

Toast unless you get the tube replaced.

Figured. Maybe someone will need the fork.

burnt toast.

ouch. You might be able to put a sleeve or something over it to reinforce it and save the frame. I don't know if it would be practical to replace that stay.

I think you'll find that the entire inside of the bike frame looks like that. Take your trusty awl, and poke at the thinnest spot. If you can drive the awl through (or it feels like you could) then Zorro's right, sorry. If you can't, then you'll have to look inside of the frame at the seat tube, bottom bracket, head tube to see if there is extensive rust (especially at the bottom bracket...). If you see thin spots, then, sorry, Zorro's right. Run a steel coat hanger or spoke up into the main tubes and see if rust cascades out...if you get a lot, then...yeah. Finally, if you shake the bike and it sounds like a maraca, then...

Zorro's usually right about these things, btw.

That is crazy looking, would be kinda' fun to see how long it lasts. lol

that is too bad. what kind of frame is it? is that right seatstay the only bad spot or just the worse one?

probably nothing wrong with the frame. Rust causes the paint to bubble up, making things look a lot worse than they are. The hole is a vent hole.

It's an early Nuovo Racing 12. That's the only real pit - there are other spots but none that make me wonder about the structural integrity of the frame. This spot seems to be where the old chain was resting against the frame. Of course the seatpost is frozen and I'm going to need heroic measures to remove one of the crank arms, thanks to a rounded-out dust cap hole.

Sand that area down to get a better idea, but it looks pretty deeply pitted.

I'd be surprised if the frame is toast. Sand down the rust spot and post a picture of the actual damage. The fact that it's a cheaper frame with thick tubing is in your benefit.

I am not sure about this, but I believe the Nuovo Racing is a tre tubi frame, with a double-butted Columbus main triangle and seamed CrMo forks and stays. To me the real question is whether we are seeing rust seeping out from the inner surface of the tube, or whether this is just a localized corrosion problem. I think you can ride it safely enough, but pay close attention to any emerging squeaks or play in the rear triangle.

what kid of dust cap on the crank? OH just where do you live the beach somewhere? I would use alot of that PB blaster stuff and then drill two small holes in it like for a shimano crankset, assuming you or your shop has the shimano tool. I thought that hole was either a vent hole (most likely) or maybe a chainholder but it seemed low for that.

just like to call attention to my post above where I point out that the hole in the center is a vent hole. It's really common to see the paint fail around vent holes. It makes it look a lot worse than it is. I really doubt a seat stay would fail due to this rust.