I had a light wreck on my 2018ish treck crocket. I think my knee hit my downutbe while trying to save myself.
I typically only use this bike for local single track that's a couple miles away, which is just circles in the woods.
I have never knowingly dented a frame and was shocked to find the dent after the ride.
After sanding down to inspect for cracks it looks like it's just a dent. Was thinking about trying to pop it out but that's probably a bad idea, so I'll probably leave it as is.
by Mustard_Pretzels
23 Comments
I would not dare to ride that on a single trail
You could probably cruise around, but I definitely wouldn’t send it.
Don’t try to pop it out, that only works with steel. Aluminum gets much weaker when bent, and about 10x weaker when bent back.
Aluminum is soft and once significantly dented the structural integrity of the tubing will never be the same. I personally wouldn’t ride it all except at low speeds on flat paved ground. Stick a fork in it. It’s done.
Down tube is in tension, well mostly under tension, so…Likely fine. But I doubt you will find anyone that will tell you that. Be sure there are not signs of cracking.
I still wouldn’t ride it hard or fast or at all…..but its likely ok.
I wouldnt. Think of an aluminum can when you put a dent in it. How much easier it is to crush!
Congrats on your new turbo trainer bike!
Aluminum gets its strength from its shape (the other commenter who mentioned crushing an aluminum can with dent vs without is spot on) and should not be “cold forged” aka bent. It cannot stand up to being bent back in place at all. RIP your frame
Sending it? You need balls to go grocery shopping with that dent
You think your knee did that? Is your knee good?
Even if it was fine, I would be excited to use it as an excuse to get a new one
Totally send it on your indoor Zwift setup, but you need a new frame to ride outdoors, it’s aluminium.
I must be in the minority here because I would have no problem continuing to ride this 😁.
A dent like that is going to weaken the structure and has probably already effected the length of the tube, these points will stress the weld at other points on the frame eventually leading to cracking and further deformation/failure.
If you think about where the dent is located, if it fails it will probably take your balls clean off first
RIP Unicorn Crockett
Cut it out and use lugs and carbon tubing.
Send it until it sends you to the hospital
Yeah, fuck no. That looks like it’s strategically located to cause max damage to your cranial housing group and collarbones. Ask me how I know.
Looks like aluminium…
If that was a steel frame I would be telling you to to feel free to fill & paint it if seeing the dent bothered you but aluminium is a different ball game altogether once it is compromised like that there is no saving it. Damage that can be ignored in steel frames will see aluminium scrapped. Sooner or later if you continue riding it the frame will fail, nobody can say when just that it will.
On the other hand good news you just found the excuse you needed to buy yourself that new bike you have been looking at.
I bent in the seatstay on an old Marin frame, thought it was done so jumped off steps and all sorts to see if i could finish it off. Never did!
Congrats on your new Trok!
Really bad place for a dent. Don’t jump it.
a. it’s aluminum
b. I have taken these mostly out using frame blocks (see Paul Brodie video doing this on a steel frame)
c. it’s aluminum