The question is not whether it can be fixed but if it should be fixed. There is no bike shop that can do that. You need a frame builder to fix it and I really mean a frame builder, not just someone who welds aluminum. Its not worth it. This frame is junk.
huelurking101 on
Absolutely fucked, aluminium is repairable but not easy to find a welder that is willing to do it.
Unless the frame is insanely valuable, I wouldn’t bother.
gdir on
No way to fix. Headed for recycling.
propyro85 on
This is the kind of thing you hang/chop up and use as art if it has sentimental value to you or if you have a neat idea that requires a sacrificial bike.
sarcasticonomist on
Not repairable in any official way.
But.
Context matters here. A frame busted there doesn’t make the bike as unsafe as, say, a cracked fork (where failure can easily cause injury or death). If fixing this is the difference between getting to school/work vs not getting there at all, a $20 roll of fiber fix will probably hold that together acceptably if this is exclusively a commuter/beater bike for street use.
The better option is to retire this frame forever, and get something that isn’t cracked. Hopefully that’s an option for you.
ausstieglinks on
Is this aluminum? If so, it’s almost 100% certainly not worth attempting a repair. Welding Alu is significantly harder than steel, and requires specific equipment and skill. I don’t think any alu frame is worth such a repair.
If it’s steel, it’s probably nothing too much and is likely something a very good bike shop could do.
Personally I’d value this as the non-frame parts, not as a bike. given they’re probably also pretty used up, I doubt this is financially viable.
Accomplished-Eye4606 on
Roasted, sorry
Silvery12Lumi on
Thank you to everyone who replied!
ConfectionGloomy5009 on
I recognize the bike from the last few letters in the pic. It’s a Lemond Etape, a great but entry-level mass produced aluminum frame. Seriously not worth getting or repairing in 2025.
NJJon on
It’s Tigged aluminum. There are a lot of cracks showing. You need someone who is very good at TIG (tungsten, inert, gas) welding to make this repair.
notasthenameimplies on
My concern would be if it’s fatigued there, what do all the other welds look like ? Cracks aren’t always visible.
11 Comments
The question is not whether it can be fixed but if it should be fixed. There is no bike shop that can do that. You need a frame builder to fix it and I really mean a frame builder, not just someone who welds aluminum. Its not worth it. This frame is junk.
Absolutely fucked, aluminium is repairable but not easy to find a welder that is willing to do it.
Unless the frame is insanely valuable, I wouldn’t bother.
No way to fix. Headed for recycling.
This is the kind of thing you hang/chop up and use as art if it has sentimental value to you or if you have a neat idea that requires a sacrificial bike.
Not repairable in any official way.
But.
Context matters here. A frame busted there doesn’t make the bike as unsafe as, say, a cracked fork (where failure can easily cause injury or death). If fixing this is the difference between getting to school/work vs not getting there at all, a $20 roll of fiber fix will probably hold that together acceptably if this is exclusively a commuter/beater bike for street use.
The better option is to retire this frame forever, and get something that isn’t cracked. Hopefully that’s an option for you.
Is this aluminum? If so, it’s almost 100% certainly not worth attempting a repair. Welding Alu is significantly harder than steel, and requires specific equipment and skill. I don’t think any alu frame is worth such a repair.
If it’s steel, it’s probably nothing too much and is likely something a very good bike shop could do.
Personally I’d value this as the non-frame parts, not as a bike. given they’re probably also pretty used up, I doubt this is financially viable.
Roasted, sorry
Thank you to everyone who replied!
I recognize the bike from the last few letters in the pic. It’s a Lemond Etape, a great but entry-level mass produced aluminum frame. Seriously not worth getting or repairing in 2025.
It’s Tigged aluminum. There are a lot of cracks showing. You need someone who is very good at TIG (tungsten, inert, gas) welding to make this repair.
My concern would be if it’s fatigued there, what do all the other welds look like ? Cracks aren’t always visible.