So the other day I discovered a small crack on the non-drive side chainstay of my Lynskey Cooper. The crack itself is probably a centimeter long, but on either end of it there is around an inch long "ripple" looking line. I am sure that this ripple is the crack in its incipient form. The defect is near the middle of the tube, which is to say that it doesn't seem to originate or have anything to do with a weld.

I am the original owner and I purchased the frame through a great local dealer. So, the frame will be going back for warranty service. I have heard nothing but good things coming from Lynskey in such matters. I want to make it clear that I am not bashing Lynskey here. These things, from what I understand, happen, and they are being great about it. Apparently they will replace both chainstays and the frame will be looking like new.

Here's my deal: I went out of my way to buy a titanium frame to ensure durability. I wanted to be confident that the frame would last 20 years, etc. So, finding a crack after one season and about 5,000 miles was a bit traumatic. What I need is some reassurance that this was a fluke thing--some rare defect in the tubing--and that, once repaired everything will be great and the frame will be buried next to me still structurally sound. Anyone have this happen? Everything going strong after the repair?

I'd say that that was a fluke thing just some rare defect in the tubing. Likely once repaired everything will be swell and the frame will be buried next to you still structurally sound. Probably no one else has ever had this happen.

I prefer carbon but whatever.

There aren't any guarantees in life. It's possible that something could happen to you before the bicycle repairs are made... and you'd have to be buried without it.

Everything breaks. In very real terms... everything is ether new or repaired. Your bicycle is no longer new... but will be repaired and as good as new. What more could anyone want.

Someone will be along shortly to talk about the quality of chinese titanium.

titanium cracks.

/thread

it could be that the chainstay was rolled and welded from flat stock ti. it can often explain longitudinal cracks. i know this is true because i read it on the internet...

all materials used for bicycles may fail, even the mighty titanium. Should have bought cf.

I saw the thread title and assumed Cracket was a new brand name...

Cracket is a company that specializes in the manufacturing of Ti chain stays, it is the only product they make.

It's not that much of a fluke. Ti will crack sooner or later, but usually it's later. Al will too and so will steel. CF is said to have unlimited fatigue life, but CF frames also crack , for various reasons not necessarily related to fatigue.

everything can break

Ha, ha, ha... you need to read your history. everybody, except you, knows that Davey Cracket was a mountian man, respondsible for opening the land west of the Atlantic coast. there was even a TV show and books written about him. ha, ha, ha.

That sucks