b e n t

I tore a top tube open and crinkled the down tube on a Diamondback Lakeside (CroMo) once and the fork and MAVIC wheel (700c) suffered no damage. The crinkle was about an inch down the down tube.

Isn't it possible the fade paint job on the fork is tricking our eyes, or the camera's? Look at the photo below - looks like a lot more space between tire and down tube.

http://images.craigslist.org/3n93kd3...00e09e14da.jpg

I realize there isn't much rake to it - and at an odd place to boot, but the blue example does have a reverse curve in the blades, just below the fork crown. Notice that your wheel sits considerably farther from the downtube than the OP's photo.

-Kurt

I've had one of my 'people' look at the bike today. First, it's a 56cm ctc seat tube, so extra points to Kurt and wrk101 for that. However, the bike doesn't appear to have any crash damage. I think this is a good test case to serve as a warning against judgment before in-person inspection. I, too, believed it looked bent, but based on past experience, I'm reluctant to make immediate judgment. Here's the report:

"I've seen the Dawes close up. In my opinion, there are no problems with the top, head and down tubes or with the forks. All look as they should be to me. I put a straight edge along the top tube and down tube and I see no bow in either. I think its the paint or the way the cable runs or something that makes it appear bowed in the pics.

There is a fair amount of rust at different spots on the top tube, most a few inches from the head lug. I can't see that any of it effects the structural integrity of the frame but it is more than superficial. I can't see that it is indicative of crash damage that might have affected the top or down tube. There is nothing around the head lugs or on the head tube (ie. cracked or peeled paint) to suggest that it has suffered a crash. The front wheel is close to the downtube but the bike's OEM geometry probably dictates that."

So I take it the seller being a "crafty scam artist" was a little out of line.

He replied both via email and by phone, answering direct questions about possible crash damage openly and with no hostility. He even brought the frame to my friend's home for inspection.

I don't buy it, unless I could examine it in person. If it would check out, I'd like to examine the seller's camera.

-Kurt

I didn't think you would, Kurt. :) But at least two people have examined it in person and see no evidence of a crash, for what it's worth.

Yeah, but those two people are JERZOIDS, and what do WE know? ;)