down tube rippled by front end collision,any need for repair?
 

Hi all , as the title states I have a downtube that is somewhat kinked as a result of a low speed but high weight (me the rider) collision with a curb, one darkening twilit eve when i was obviously too tired or whatever to be riding.the frame is slx and the only visible damage is to the down tube,a double ripple underside of lug, as fred sanford might have termed a stiff one...In any event other than the lingering after effects of a flight over the bars and a head first landing in the hissing summer lawn of a neighbor by a 240 lb male closer to 60 than 50, should I have any future worries about the frame.....of myself i am certain but its been a long history of chagrin turning to dismay...I was mightily impressed by the intestinal fortitude of the athena hub,deep u shaped mavic rim and fork which took the hit w/o any damage ,I wish I could say the same for my neck,but as they say c'est la vie..twas a peugeot

Any way to post a picture? Park Tool made a jack screw looking tool called the HTS-1 (Head Tube Straightener) which leveraged the bottom of a steel bar passed through the head tube against the bottom bracket shell to straighten down tube wrinkles behind the bottom head lug. Unfortunately, they are no longer made and are pretty rare.

Look at this thread by cudak888 to see how it works (not to be used on heat treated tubing like 753).

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...ubes-take-note

Steel frame? If so, you can continue riding it as long as the geometry/alignment hasn't been pushed too far out of whack.

Non-ferrous frame? I'd replace it.

John, he says it's SLX.

240 is probably too much weight for SLX in perfect condition. Riding a rippled frame is taking a chance.

Your teeth/skull/life, but the Park tool is something I wouldn't use on a high-end bike. Never was really satisfied with its performance on gaspipe either.