Ted and list:
I know that in the CO mountains, we had racers, esp some who had been in Europe, "test" their frames after a season or so by applying foot pressure to the top of six-o'clock-positioned left crank while holding bike firmly at handlebars and saddle. They claimed that usage could/would cause the frame to go "dead" and thus necessitate its replacement, sometimes with the same maker's geometry and frame material.
Flies totally in the face of what I learned in graduate level materials science courses, though....
Ken Wehrenberg, Hermann, MO