Gutted!! Can this be repaired?

[TwistingMyMelon]

Left the office last night, was putting a good pace down the A4, but the bike felt a touch odd at the back. Stopped, whipped the wheel off and re-fitted, all seemed fine, hang on one of the chain stays is loose, the other is fine...st its snapped!!!

Couldn't believe it!! Gaffer taped it up with insulating tape and it got me 10 miles home, I even managed to nudge 40 out of it going down to Wroughton, but it was flexing a lot!!

Can it be repaired do you think? Its a 97 Kona Fire Mountain

I have better bikes, but this has real sentimental value, was the first decent bike I bought when I got my first job @ 15 and I have ridden it every year since! Ironically it has never been seriously off-road'd and for the last 5 years has only been used on the road as a commuter hitting up to 100 miles a week. It had such a feel good factor about it, even if it was 2 sizes too big and pretty knackered!

Have already got another bike on order, but was looking forward to using this every day on the back-roads through the darkest of winter

If anyone thinks it can be repaired, or knows a decent repairer in Wilts or the South-West let me know!

[bobbo89]

Its steel, get it welded up and rust protected and crack on. Probably be stronger than standard once you've done that too!

[P-Jay]

It's steel so probably easier to weld than Alu - you'll need to find someone good though, I think Argos do repairs in addition to painting frame?

[TwistingMyMelon]

Cheers, think I over reacted last night, want to be riding this when I'm 80!

Seen Argos on the web, they look a goer

Will pop in my LBS on Sat to see if they know anyone local

[shouldbworking]

Easy job for argos.

http://www.argoscycles.com/renovations/

[The Surveyor]

It can be repaired, but is it economic?

Looking at those repair prices, the repair will cost £50 - £100, then it'll need painting (another £120 ish) and then there will be the other costs associated with a strip-down and rebuild.

Worth it if you really want to keep the bike for sentimental reasons, but i'd be looking for a replacement second-hand frame off ebay.

Paul

[TwistingMyMelon]

It will be repaired at some point, I just want something structurally secure and rust proof, not bothered about looks

Yeah,spent £250 at beginning of year replacing most components and the wheels, brakes and chain are knackered already

Did think about another frame, but that would defeat the point as I am "attached" (no pun - honest) to this one

[Fluffsri]

I know your is sentimental but I have the exact same frame (need pics to confirm) sat in my garage that I want £50 for. Argos will do a top job though, they put track dropouts in a mates bike and it looked great but they arent cheap.

[Martyn-123]

http://www.konafan.com/


Seems i'm not the only one who wants to use their Kona forever....


http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...


Good luck,


Martyn...

[XG332]

Cheap and easy repair.
Get it welded and have an extra "collar" welded over the top.
Take it to a small independent garage and see if they will do it for some cash.

Then paint it yourself.
Won't look pretty but it won't fail again.