I was on a week long bike tour on September. On the last day of my tour near my end point, a deer hit my frame while descending a hill. My only injury was road rash.
I know that it is possible to replace the down and top tubes on this bike. I got an estimate from a steel builder. My question is not if this is economical. My question is will the replacement tubes will be as strong and safe as a new frame?
by BigglyPigglyWiggly
8 Comments
I hate it for your bike and you friend, this would break my heart!
Should be plenty strong, you could even make them stronger than before if you choose some tubing with thicker butts, or even straight gauge.
You need a new frame, I’m sorry
I think it would depend upon the characteristics of the replacement tubes. If you are getting it done by a frame builder or other specialist that is familiar with this sort of work they would be the ones to ask, but I see no reason why it shouldn’t be as strong or stronger depending on the tubes used.
I suppose the frame has sentimental value? I still ride a frame I bought a week before we found out my wife was pregnant with my oldest child. I’d probably pay double the price of a new frame to repair it if something similar happened to it. It could be Theseus’ Frame for all I care. It holds a lot of memories of commuting to undergrad, law school, and my first professional job and towing my kid on the weekends.
Best of luck in getting this back out on the road!
A good replacement will be as strong since it’s pretty much rebuilding more than half the frame.
No. Just get a new frame and transfer all the components over. Or just get a new bike. A crash like that may have compromised other parts of the frame (and possibly some of the components).
It’s not that the new tubes aren’t going to be strong – You are talking about 4 new welds, right, and then are you planning to reuse the head tube, too? And the fork? No, just no. I am sorry, but that frame has served you well and is now ready for the big bike path in the sky.
It’s hosed Carl, hang it it!!
A good builder will be able to evaluate the rest of the frame and verify that it’s not compromised. In that case, the rebuilt frame will be every bit as good as it was before, and perhaps better.