Frame integrity

spoiltdouglas
spoiltdouglas Posts: 20
edited January 2011 in Road beginners
The builder has just knocked my cannondale over, resulting in a cm squared dint in the top tube (it fell against a solid door frame). Although i dont think its too deep its very noticeable and i just wanted to make sure that this is not going to effect the integrity of the frame. Its the Caad 8 so its aluminium. Im pretty new to this cycling lark and i would just like someone to put my mind at ease.

Bloody Builders!!... :evil:

Cheers

Comments

  • Monty Dog
    Monty Dog Posts: 20,614
    Doesn't sound catastrophic - the problem would be if there are sharp creases or cracks which act as stress-raisers and could lead to premature failure of the frame. The difficulty is that because the frame is made from heat-treated alloy, it's almost impossible to repair economically. Post a photo for a better opinion.
    Make mine an Italian, with Campagnolo on the side..
  • Berk Bonebonce
    Berk Bonebonce Posts: 1,245
    I've known aluminium frames where you have been able to put a 'dent' into the top tube with your fingers, and have been able to 'dink' it out again. A permanent dent in the top tube isn't going to mean your frame is going to fail. Top tubes are the tubes with the thinnest wall thicknesses of any other tube in a bike frame because they are not stressed as much as other tubes.

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