PhotoJoe 

....or is there a good reason for the tape job? I'd be nervous that there is frame damage, however, I'm new enough that there may be a logical reason for taping the frame like this.





https://losangeles.craigslist.org/wst...518413846.html

Elvo

Grip

urbanknight

While I'm waiting, I will say that I always suspect a frame that is stickered up. If local, I'd require that it be removed before buying.
If online, I'd pass.

tagaproject6

+1

PhotoJoe 

I'm passing anyway. I had my hamstring removed a couple of weeks ago and I'm having a hard enough time walking...there is NO WAY I could test ride anything. I just look through the ads to keep me focused. I guess if I can across a deal on a bike I've ridden and liked, I may jump on it, but no suck luck as of yet. And when I say deal, I mean the deal of a lifetime. Hospital is getting all my money right now!

The tape just struck me as "odd".

urbanknight

Now that I see the pic, there could be a reason. He could have had narrow hips causing his thighs to rub, he could have had a frame pump there that was rubbing, the bottle could have been rubbing, etc. But it doesn't matter. If you're looking to buy this, assume the worst until he proves otherwise. It's not worth your safety.

fwiw track bikes commonly have tape on the top tube where the handlebar would hit it (which could happen when the bike is hung on the rack or being carried out to the parking lot), but we would remove it before selling (A) for aesthetic reasons, and (B) so the buyer knows it's not hiding a dent.

PhotoJoe 

Interesting. See, that's why ask.

tardman91

I'm more interested in why you had your hamstring removed? That's nuts!

Nachoman

That sounds really intense. Will you be able to ride again?

Specialized2k10

Would you be able to even bend down with no hamstring?

urbanknight

Better yet, can they replace it with a synthetic material that will make you an uber cycling freak?

FactVord

Next thing you know, UCI will ban cyborgs from participation. Bikes will not be the only thing that be scanned.

pbd

You're not that far off....

https://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/more_sport/athletics/article3184427.ece

"Oscar Pistorius has been ruled ineligible to compete at this summer's Olympic Games because his prosthetic limbs give him an unfair advantage."

hooligancyclist

Those are not the original components. I doubt Ritchey puts a crankset on a Specialized, or Specialized puts 9 speed Shimano shifters/deraileurs and Sram brakes on a 2009 frame. I call it a frankenbike. It even has the bandages! The 3300 msrp is not true with those parts, and those are cheap wheels. The teeth on the crankset are worn.

DropDeadFred

I remember this story..i think it was on the daily show as well..."unfair advantage? He's missing two legs!"

runner pat

The length of a pair of prosthetic limbs can give a leverage advantage and the spring more than compensates for the lack of muscles. The protheses also weigh less than the missing limbs and there is no muscular fatigue or oxygen demand.

As someone who is missing part of a hamstring, I'm also curious.

DropDeadFred

we can build him faster, stronger....

tadawdy

The only common reason I know of for missing hamstrings is that the tendon (but not the muscle) is removed to construct a new ACL. Used to be popular among women (smaller scar) and some athletes (shorter recovery than patellar autograft, as well as eliminating risk of chronic patellar tendon pain). Particularly with women, though, there is the issue of knee stabilization (hamstrings serve a purpose, wouldn't you know). And you still essentially need two separate procedures.

I asked a PhD who has worked with a surgeon in doing research on ACL reconstruction for three decades how much knee flexion strength is lost. 10-15%. I'd think athletes would want that. And what, exactly happens to the muscle once it's cut free. "Shrug. It's still attached to fascia, so whatever." Kind of gave me an odd feeling.

I, too, find it intriguing how you guys came to be missing hamstrings.