Awwww. That's unfortunate :-/ Boo. But I like the idea of trying to pop it out and if that fails, some kind of sticker. *sniff* *sniff*

All the steel frames that I have broken failed at either the seat tube/bottom bracket junction (two, one a tandem) or the seat tube/seat stay junction (three). I have a '76 Trek with a very similar dent to the OP that has seen some hard usage, but I wouldn't consider such a dent to have structural implications since I have never seen a top tube fail. Does this really happen?

I would think that the heat stress of replacing the top tube on the seat stays would leave the bike more likely to fail, but I'm biased by the failures I have caused.

Or the OP mistook "bollocks" for "bollards."

all of my sudden failures were seat tube bottom brackets (specifically at the weld). i was being facetious about repairing the frame -- it would be cheaper to get a crash replacement. stress risers are a real deal and i would not ride that frame.

Why don't you spell out "bullocks" and why were they on the road?

No. Not that. They are bits of expelled matter that stick to short hairs and clump together. Those are "b*llocks" with an 'o' as in the aforementioned Sex Pistols album.

So sorry for your LHT. I would use a little JB Weld after lightly grinding the paint off the dent with a Dremil. Follow with more ginding of the hardened JB Weld and then fine sanding with very fine emory cloth. Repeat as nec to get the tube shaped back round and follow with primer and an appropriate sticker. I did this to my 1982 Trek after a similar accident when it was new and it still looks new.
Good luck and if you do repair, show us your work.

The only name I know for those are 'dingleberries'...

I have to admit, when this thread first started I was thinking the OP had written the wrong word for bollard. But it appears to be a normal flower pot and not an armored flower pot in front of a bank.

It's all a load of bollocks, as they say.

But Chas Roberts' the DOGS-BOLX is one of my dream bikes.

I too have an LHT toptube dent from my bike falling down near a lamp pole. I actually think the handlebars slamming into the TT dented it through two layers of cork tape. Will take a photo if I think about it and post it. Not as gnarly as your dent but surprising the metal is that soft laterally. Butted tubing is thinner in the middle I guess is the reason.

I always thought they were called Klingons.

The Bullocks are the people who are currently living in the gubernatorial mansion in Montana. Why they would go around denting top tubes is beyond me.

- Andy

Top tube beware, b*llards ahead!

Bollocks are the male bits and in England the term is used as a mild expletive.

I'm actually a little concerned about the dent as it's really a crease and I may take it into the LBS. Don't think it will fail. I showed a pic to a bike mechanic and he was like "It probably won't fail, but you never know" as well and he suggested checking out my insurance.

Maybe get a halved section of steel pipe, a long one, clamp it on & that may transfer the loads off the damaged area. use padding to keep scuffing to a minimum & keep force transfer evened out?

- Andy

I wouldn't worry about that tube cracking, it's thick chrome-moly tubing. If you're worried about that dent, take a look at the chainstays. Dents, re-shaping and swedging, they should last a week by some folk's guesses. Ride and enjoy, it's made to take abuse.