Toefuuzz, I dont think you are SOL. I ride a 2004 trek 1000 and the is a indent put there by trek. It is to give clearence for the tripple frt derailur. I noticed this on my bike a while back and thought somehow I managed to get a dent there. No chipping of the paint or scratching I figured why worry if its going to fail ill ride it till it does. And tehn I put it out of mind. After reading your post i looked at it again. No different. Had to go by the LBS on my ride today was out of gu. While there I pulled 2 different trek 1000's out of the rack and looked at them.ump in in the same place. Asked shop owner about it and he said a couple of different companys do that to use larger diameter tubing and still have clearence for frt derailur. Hope the helps.