My bike fell off a hitch rack today, going about 10 mph. It ended up jammed between the rack and the spare tire. Wheels are still true, still shifts, dropper works and brakes are OK. Only issue is this big dent in the frame.
I'm concerned this is now unsafe to ride as a mountain bike, but I'm hoping someone can prove me wrong.
by 5wtWalton
23 Comments
I would take it to a LBS.
Might be fine, it’s in the down tube, largely a tension member, so less likely to buckle. I would keep sending it. Hard to tell how bad it is from the pics though. How many cm across/deep is it.
Nothing a well placed sticker can’t fix
Every ride I would inspect this. I think it will last a long time. Nomad right?
that doesnt looking that bad, the worse case scenario is that you have an frame for the the normal non adrenaline rides. get it checked might be ok.
Hard to say.
It’s a significant dent. It has creasing… But in the opposite direction of the forces normally put on it.
I would probably still ride it but not on anything with gaps or the like. And in no way would I declare it safe.
Low concern. Downtube is (mostly) in tension, which helps. You’re away from the welds. Keep an eye on it.
As always, have an expert take a look at it. If a dent is smooth all the way around and hasn’t cracked the paint, there’s a chance that it’ll be ok, but that one has a sharp crease so I would say it’s probably done. Santa Cruz does offer a discounted no-fault replacement that you might want to look into. [https://www.santacruzbicycles.com/pages/warranty](https://www.santacruzbicycles.com/pages/warranty)
Personal opinion: next time dent it on the track instead, send it.
Send it.
I’d ride it on anything short of Hardline
I would never ride frame like this. You have only one body. One stupid accident and break from riding can be way longer than waiting time for new frame.
Well it’s not good but it still ride it till it blows up
Dang, I almost forgot that this is how a new dhr ii tyre looks like. Maybe I should look at replacing mine 👀
For the frame, see if Santa Cruz crash replacement will help cover it. Yes bottom of triangle is stretching most of the time, but I’d be worried about the other potential times when it’s being compressed a bit.
Send it. Only thing you lost was resale value.
Y’all are bolder than I am, dented aluminum is meaningfully weaker than it’s original. As another poster pointed out, the downtube is mostly in tension (look at the Klien slingshot) so it shouldn’t be thaaaat big of an issue. I would start shopping.
diy carbon makes clones of lots of bikes, you may gbe able to find a compatible frame and build some parts over. [https://www.diycarbonbikes.com/collections/fullsuspensionframes/products/dcb-f140-transition-smuggler-style-carbon-full-suspension-frame-29er-udh](https://www.diycarbonbikes.com/collections/fullsuspensionframes/products/dcb-f140-transition-smuggler-style-carbon-full-suspension-frame-29er-udh)
Put it in rice
Nah
Just go buy a Bell Star ..
Nah that will be fine.
It’ll be fine just keep an eye on it
Got a big rock ding on my downtube years ago and stuck a frame protector over it and forgot about it. I wouldn’t do life and death routes on it but its fine for the downcountry riding I do.
If the frame is aluminum, yes, you need a new frame. If it is CF, you need a new frame. If it is chromolly steel, you’ll be fine.
Yes lol maybe try hitting the opposite side with the same force and see if it counteracts the damage