I picked up this bike today, even though it has a dent on underside of chainstay. The price was low, frame is somewhat desirable and in my size, and I could sell parts to more than recoup what I paid. Looking for opinions on what can be done about dent and whether I can ride as is. Thanks in advance.

Yes, ride as is.

What is the make?

That's more than a dent! Steel tends to bend, so I'd check to make sure everything is still aligned. If it was straight, I'd probably ride it.

AD Vent Noir. Otherwise in decent shape. Will check to see if it is straight and how she rides after I clean it up, etc. Really want to be able to ride it.

Whatever amount of weakening due to the deformation of the steel in the chainstay has already happened. To try to remove it would probably further reduce the structural integrity. Just like a bike that has had it's chainstays scrunched by a overtightened kickstand clamp, the best course of action is to leave it as is and ride it.

You could spend another $25-30 and braze fill it. That would restore strength, I believe.

There's frame repair shop in south Atlanta who can make quick work of that. You could probably contain the heat damage to the chain stay itself then spray flat black. And ride.

J

Pics of whole bike?

or

$4.99 for JB Weld, .99 sheet of sand paper and that old can of black spray paint in the garage....riding your junkyard queen...priceless!

That is in a spot on the chainstay that is gonna wanna bend (if it wants to bend) under torque...I don't think brass is gonna help much. If you're really concerned, I would braze a diamond shaped reinforcement that covers the damage in all 4 directions, extending fore and aft.

If the bike is going to be a keeper, this sounds like the best idea.

Agreed.

J

Good advice here - cheers to all.

Julian - are you referring to Wildframe?

I have a slightly smaller dent on the chainstay of a bike I've been riding for a while. No issues thus far.