ridetime257

I have a 8 yr old Cannondale Silk Road, that is my second bike ( the other is my beloved LiteSpeed Classic) which I use as my office and commute to work bike. The Cannondale has a dent in the down tube that is about the size of golf ball and about 1/2 inch deep. I have not noticed any diffence in ride quality and know that the strength is probably less, but other than that and the cosmetics (forturnately it is down low by the pedels and is underneath the tube), but should I care?

Maj.Taylor

I'd have it examined by a knowledgeable frame builder. (No, not by the good'ol LBS--unless you place enough faith in them to trust them with your life.) A frame builder will best know the degree of damage and the stresses on the bike, given the dent's [presently unclear] location. That said, it sounds as if the dent is in a place I wouldn't want it. There's a lot of stress down toward the bottom bracket. It is not unusual to see "perfectly good" bikes break near or at the bottom bracket. (I've had one break there.) Again, I be careful until someone with real knowledge gave it a look-over. Best of luck.

ridetime257

thanks for your reply. I should have been more specific as to the location. It is about 3 inches up from the crank axis and on the underside of the down tube.

Maj.Taylor

Yes, that's awfully close to the BB. Your call, but I'd have a framebuilder, or someone of equal knowledge, give it a look-over before I applied full force in something like a sprint.

skyelo

how did you do dent it?

nutbag

I wouldn't worry, but keep an eye on it. Check for suspicious paint movement, as this is a tell-tale sign of a crack