On Sep 6, 2007, at 4:44 PM, John Betmanis wrote:
> At 10:40 AM 06/09/2007 -0500, LTravers wrote:
>
>> If go to this link,
>>
>> http://www.wooljersey.com/
>> 3Rensho_Aero_SRE/
>>
>>
>> you can see the pictures Mark Agree posted when he was selling the
>> frame
>> that clearly show the problem.
>
> This picture shows it best:
>
> http://www.wooljersey.com/
> 135035-2/3Rensho82_AeroSRE53Fuscia14.jpg
>
> You can see where the tubes buckled and the paint flaked off from a
> frontal
> impact. Perhaps the head tube was pulled back out somewhat, but the
> high
> alloy steel tubing had work hardened and wouldn't straighten out
> completely, leaving a little bulge. If the bike rides fine then
> there's
> nothing wrong with it as a rider provided the bare metal is touched
> up. I
> suppose if you had a lot of time and money burning a hole in your
> pocket
> and this really bothered you, you could have the two tubes replaced
> and the
> frame refinished, but would it ride any better? Then there's the
> question
> of originality of the finish (as well as the tubing) and it will
> have to be
> declared as a repaired frame, if you're scrupulous. Methinks
> leaving it
> alone is okay.
>
> John Betmanis
> Woodstock, Ontario
> Canada
What I find amusing is that the frame has all along been described as "tweeked". When I saw the actual photos of the "tweeked" frame it was very obvious (at least to me) that it had sustained a pretty significant frontal impact (both top and down tubes buckled). Something that I would describe as a "crashed" frame.
Safe to ride? Sure... from what I've seen in the past (lots of brakeless track bikes used on the street and run into various things) eventually a crack will develop, but the frame won't fail suddenly... you'll get plenty of warning (one of the nice things about steel frames).
Rides fine? It wouldn't have its original geometry anymore, that's for sure.
Chuck Schmidt
South Pasadena, California
USA