What do you do with old frames?
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What do you do with old frames?
I don't sell my old bike. They sort of get rebuilt/born as single speeds, 1x, etc. Then the parts get pulled for something else. So every few years, I find myself looking at a 10+ year old frameset wondering what to do with it. Currently, it's a carbon 2009 Scott Addict SL. That was a badass frameset back then. It's what Cavendish road. But it's 14-yrs-old, has a couple scuffs, I'll never ride it again, and to top it off... it's a 61cm. I don't need a trainer bike (I have a Wahoo Bike). I also have plenty of other bikes for every/any occasion.
Best idea so far: wall art. But, meh... clutter. I suppose I could donate it. But really, is that frameset ever going to built back up in that channel?
WWYD?
Best idea so far: wall art. But, meh... clutter. I suppose I could donate it. But really, is that frameset ever going to built back up in that channel?
WWYD?
Last edited by Zaskar; 03-28-23 at 02:48 PM.
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Carbon frames? I don't know. That's the only bad thing about CF is that there isn't TMK, a good recycling option (pun not intended).
My steel Raleigh Competition GS got taken to the salvage yard with some other scrap steel.
My steel Raleigh Competition GS got taken to the salvage yard with some other scrap steel.
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IMO, since you don't seem to be worried about recouping any of the cost, sell it for a price that is attractive to buyers, or - better yet - donate it to a young rider that maybe has limited economic means. It's still a very capable frame.
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Just last week I put an older Scattante aluminum frame in the recyclables. There was nothing wrong with it, just too small for me. I tried to give it away, but no takers.
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The last three frames that failed were just cut in half so they would fit into the garbage bin. I miss the old days where you could put out more garbage rather than trying to shoehorn it into a one sized fits all receptacle.
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For a frame that's crashed, rusted out, or otherwise reached the end of its service life, I prefer to be a "master of de-seat". 


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Agree. Just find it a new home with full disclosure. I often sell stuff (not only bikes) at virutally giveaway prices because (1) it's not worth the effort and hassle to get any more and (2) I'd rather have it put to use and out of the way.
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Talked to a guy in town who had a Carbon Frame left over from an up-grade. He was reluctant to sell or give it to someone in that it had multiple dings and nicks from his use.
I immediately inquired what he had done with it. He said he threw it up on top of a big Oak Tree at the back of the State Park. I am sure many years from now it will be a site...
I immediately inquired what he had done with it. He said he threw it up on top of a big Oak Tree at the back of the State Park. I am sure many years from now it will be a site...
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We are blessed to have this nonprofit, https://www.phoenixbikes.org/donate-a-bike/, that uniquely combines youth education programs with a full-service professional bike shop. Great feeling to donate as they serve underserved/underprivileged communities kids who put high quality bikes back into the wild, so will not take bikes that come from big box stores because the components are lower quality and will require more maintenance in the future.
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Research bike coops or somewhere you can donate it for a kid that needs a bike.
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If I can get my schedule synced with RYB staff today, I'll be dropping off two more fixed-up bikes for Recycle Your Bicycle today. They're also running a bike rodeo for foster kids this coming Sunday in Scottsdale (I won't be able to attend as I'll be in Tucson at the GABA bike swap for Rusty Spoke).
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Why would you trash that frame? There are many people here that would have loved to save it and would gladly have paid for shipping. I'm having a hard time believing you actually threw away a frame like that, unless somehow it was damaged, bent, or otherwise not usable. Do you just not know what you had?
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Are these actually useable as seats? Or is the sum of the seat tube angle + angle of chain stays from horizontal so steep that they would topple if a user leans back just a bit?
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Why would you trash that frame? There are many people here that would have loved to save it and would gladly have paid for shipping. I'm having a hard time believing you actually threw away a frame like that, unless somehow it was damaged, bent, or otherwise not usable. Do you just not know what you had?
Bare frame and fork together weighed over 6 pounds, so it was never going to be a light enough bike for me again no matter what I put on it. But for the 10 years I had it, 7 of which it was ridden often, it was fun.
My other vintage bikes I did give away or sold for a token sum.
Last edited by Iride01; 03-29-23 at 12:28 PM.
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This also means that aluminum, carbon fiber, and the occasional 753 frame aren't good candidates for this type of "up-cycling".
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Last edited by RCMoeur; 03-29-23 at 01:07 PM.
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Oh I do know what I had. Just consider it a personal protest to those that claim such vintage bikes are worth thousands of dollars and then never want to pay that much for the bike they say is worth that much. Mine wasn't mint condition. Though the chromed parts were very good with no rust blooming though.
Bare frame and fork together weighed over 6 pounds, so it was never going to be a light enough bike for me again no matter what I put on it. But for the 10 years I had it, 7 of which it was ridden often, it was fun.
My other vintage bikes I did give away or sold for a token sum.
Bare frame and fork together weighed over 6 pounds, so it was never going to be a light enough bike for me again no matter what I put on it. But for the 10 years I had it, 7 of which it was ridden often, it was fun.
My other vintage bikes I did give away or sold for a token sum.
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I don't sell my old bike. They sort of get rebuilt/born as single speeds, 1x, etc. Then the parts get pulled for something else. So every few years, I find myself looking at a 10+ year old frameset wondering what to do with it. Currently, it's a carbon 2009 Scott Addict SL. That was a badass frameset back then. It's what Cavendish road. But it's 14-yrs-old, has a couple scuffs, I'll never ride it again, and to top it off... it's a 61cm. I don't need a trainer bike (I have a Wahoo Bike). I also have plenty of other bikes for every/any occasion.
Best idea so far: wall art. But, meh... clutter. I suppose I could donate it. But really, is that frameset ever going to built back up in that channel?
WWYD?
Best idea so far: wall art. But, meh... clutter. I suppose I could donate it. But really, is that frameset ever going to built back up in that channel?
WWYD?
You could also post it on Craigslist for free, or right here on BF. Again, someone may be happy to have it and build it into a working bike. At least try to find it a home and help someone that could use it.
If it's a Huffy or other Walmart BSO, something disposable, feel free to throw it away.
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Donate it.
Somewhere out there someone has a tall teenager who wants to try out racing and needs a crit bike, but doesn't want to spend big bucks.
Somewhere out there someone has a tall teenager who wants to try out racing and needs a crit bike, but doesn't want to spend big bucks.
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if it is too old, I would give it to a charity so that someone could use it as a commuter.