For a few weeks now my city bike has felt a bit soft and seems to give a bit more when I'm pedaling. I initially suspected that the headset was loose but everything was tight. I didn't find any cracks at first either. Today I took a closer look at the head tube and noticed that it seems to be buckling. I didn't have an accident. Has anyone ever saw a damage like that? I guess I’ll have to look for a new bike.
by fresh_ozelot
11 Comments
Have a frame builder repair it, or don’t ride it. Simple as that
It’s new bike day 🙂
There could be other hidden damage like the fork steerer rusting out. Don’t ride it, you don’t know when it might fold up or come loose causing a bad accident.
It’s very rare I say this about a steel bike because they are very resiliant and can usually be saved with a bit of TLC but for me thats done.
A dent like that in such a high stress in the area will have weakened it too much, While it is possible to get a new headtube braised in it would probably cost multiple times what the frame is worth so doesn’t make sense.
My guess… internal rust has eaten through the tube…the headtube was the first to go.
Most likely, an endoscope would reveal the rest of the frame triangle is attempting to become one with the earth again.
It would be hard to justify any repair based on cost vs value… so as mentioned… new bike day for you.
Have seen a lot, but this is new. Anyway, the frame is toast.
Stick a fork in it….
I have not experienced this. Your bike is done.
That’s a wall hanger now.
Wow. Never seen that before.
Never seen that before. By any chance, was the bike stored hanging from the rear wheel for an extended time? My best guess is prolonged/ repeated times with water sitting in the headtube.
Most rust failures of steel frames happen predictably in tubes near the bottom bracket.
Remove the fork and have a look inside the head tube. You would at least understand that way what the problem is. Would be interesting to confirm if it’s rust, or something else. I mean for the people here 🙂