The passing of a friend
 

After weeks of eliminating various potential causes of a maddening creak, this morning I took a close look at what I thought was just a little dirt on my c'dale CAAD7 dropout. Turns out its cracked (see pic). 12 years and many thousands of miles later, I have to say farewell to the CAAD7.

By coincidence, I had been considering getting a new frame to uograde the CAAD7 to mark my 50th birthday anyway (bike god karma perhaps). Also, just the otner day, I was t-boned by a minivan on my commuter. That frame is ok but I am due to receive $1100 from the guy who hit me to replace the destroyed wheelset, shifters and other bits (save a few bruises, I was unhurt). Since I have enough spare parts to get my commuter back on the road without spending a nickel, the 1100 can go to replacing my C'dale (which is my go to bike for fast group rides).

I dont need a whole new bike since the components on the cdale are mostly pretty new Ultegra 11 speed, but a new wheelset and frameset seem in my future. Let the shopping begin.

Put a little super glue and a layer of duct tape it'll be just fine:p

So why are you not pursuing the lifetime warranty? At least let them look at it. It's only for manufacturer's defects, but Cannondale might cut you a deal to keep you in their frames. At least have some one look at it.
Wear and tear is not covered, nor are crashes.

+1 on lifetime frame warranty. You may be able to score a CAAD12 frame :-)

If you're the original owner, should be warrantable.

I was looking at CAAD12 anyway so I will take it in and have them look at it. But I doubt its going to be a warranty issue. And if is, best I can hope for is a CAAD 8 or 9 they may have lying around. I am hoping for a discount, though.

No need, that'll buff right out.

Be thankful it wasn't a plastic carbon frame. Could have been painful.

Found a 3 to 4 mm hairline crack on the seat tube of my custom c/f roadbike.
After 30,000+ miles and in need of some major components replacements coming up, decided to keep my eyes open for another bike at the last big bike swap meet in Tucson.
Fellow walked by with a near-new (150 miles) Scott Plasma tri bike. Decided after 2 triathelons that was not his cup o' tea. Got it for 700 bucks; with a couple hundred dollars to set it up as a road bike am the owner of another great bike!
Pedal on!
Rudy/zonatandem

Do you happen to know what amount of discount C'dale's frame exchange program provides? What was cost of the CAAD10 when you inquired?

Don't do this. That's not a warranty. It's fraud.

Call it what you want, they still make you pay a discounted price for the frameset you choose which I'm sure covers their costs.

I will try to find the list they e-mailed me and get back to you.

i dont have to, my frame is already cracked. It would only be fraud if you tried to get a warranty replacement by faking a failure due to manufacturers defect. Faking damage to qualify for frame replacement discount is probably a waste of time because C'dale will, I think, give the discount even if you just want to upgrade a perfectly functional frame.

Exactly correct and well said.

You both missed the fact that it would be claimed as a "crash replacement" rather than a mfg defect.

So all it takes to loose you as a friend is to get a cracked frame? What kind of friend are you?

The problem is, as of now, it's not a manufacturing defect. The frame is 12 years old. I think it was manufactured just fine. This is a wear and tear issue and won't be covered as a warranty.

The whole thing about running over the bike with a car to then claim a crash replacement was what I was referring to as fraud (because it is).

Hopefully the OP can work something out with C'dale and get back on the road.

When did DOS or somebody ever run it over with a car? That I've missed, is there a backstory? If not what are you talking about, Mr. Dopolina?

I'm betting that with a nice conversation between DOS and Cannondale, a discount will probably be given on a new frame, being as how DOS has been such an outstanding and loyal customer for TWELVE YEARS?

It's a good bet as well. If not, search our sales.

n+.5?

He didn't. It was suggested by another poster. The post has since been removed.

Even if it isn't covered under warranty, there are some really nice prices on CAAD10 frames on eBay right now. Some of them from C'dale dealers.

Amazingly, I found tne original recipt and warranty card for the bike. This is absolutely the only time I have kepts such records on anything I have purchased. So whether warranty or crash replacement, I can show I am original owner.

I sent pics of both drop out and warranty card to Cdale customer service. I imagine they'll just tell me to go to a dealer, but I figured it couldnt hurt to shoot them a note since I wont be able to get the bike to a dealer until after the holidays.

edited to add: dont know why the pic is upside down

My wife just walked by me, sitting here looking at BF. She looked at the screen and said 'the passing of a friend, that's too bad'. LOL, I told her it was a guy's bike. She walked away. Sorry about your friend.

50th Birthday? I believe that's the titanium birthday!