Jicafold

Facebook marketplace has this Bianchi Pista for sale. It has a huge dent in the top tube so much so that the top tube isn't even straight anymore. I seriously doubt this is safe to ride. Opinions? No, I'm not going to buy it.

Erzulis Boat 

In many impoverished areas of the planet, that would be the fanciest and safest bicycle in the entire village. Perfectly safe to ride. Get a passport, and explore the world! It would do you good.

saarf

lol

Wildwood 

Parts is parts!

Iride01 

I wouldn't buy it either. But if it was my bike and I didn't have the means to easily afford another bike, I'd ride it. Probably not at 50 - 60 mph going down a mountain side. But for most any normal riding I wouldn't be worried. I'd just watch it and see if and when it's about to be a real issue.

mstateglfr 

My opinion is that if you arent going to buy it and it isnt yours, it doesnt much matter if it is safe or not. I wouldnt buy that, for what its worth, because I dont want a frame with a giant dent in it.

Jicafold

Relax. It doesn't matter of people on this forum have a dog or cat or not, but that gets discussed ad nauseam.

jon c. 

I probably wouldn't buy it but I'd have no concern riding it.

Pantah

Put it this way, any bike shop worth their salt would say the frame is junk and likely refuse to work on it unless it was to transfer the parts over to another frame.
Were I 19 years old again with no car, little money to my name and saw this come up for, say, 50 bucks, I'd buy it and ride it until I could afford something less bent. At least nobody would be inclined to steal it.

wolfchild

Nothing is impossible. Any good welder and fabricator who has the tools would be able to fix it. Not going to be cheap, it's going to cost money, but metal fabricating isn't cheap. Unless you have the tools and experience and do it yourself.

Oldsledz

I wouldn't be afraid to ride it, but wouldn't pay much for it. How much do they want for it?

13ollocks

If it's steel it's probably OK, although it may not track straight. Don't know if I'd bomb any descents on it, but for just chugging around, I think it's fine.

indyfabz

I'd take it off some sweet jumps.

saarf

Loads of ‘no paint’ dent repair kits about . Hot glue a bit to dent then pull , I will try it on some alu frames . Doubt they could do much for this frame though .

wolfchild

Depends who you ask...A desk jockey who works in an office and never used tools and worked on metal in their whole life will tell you it's garbage and can't be fixed...An experienced metal fabricator or a person whose hobby is fixing and restoring stuff will tell you that it's fixable.

Alan K

People can “fix” damages of all manners, especially in steel bikes. If you are handy or have inclination to fiddle with things, or have a friend who might like to do such things, it may be worth straightening the frame. This is assuming that it costs you nothing or next to nothing.

Alan K

Many people who are into maintaining their bicycles and cars, fit somewhere in between your two categories. If I had a bicycle like that, I would definitely give it shot to straighten it out. The worst I might do is to not succeed.

Frkl

agreed. OP, thanks for the psa

big john

I wouldn't ride that, why risk it? Third world maybe but the thing isn't worth spending money on to try and fix. I've had enough stuff break and deposit me on the ground.

indyfabz

I've put bikes in better condition in the alley for others to 'freecylcle." Didn't wanna to do it. Felt I owed it to them.

Chuck M 

Since opinions were asked for, I’m glad that the first reply in this thread was a thought provoking one. It is often too easy to take for granted many of us don’t have to rely on something like this example to be our transportation. For most of us, bikes are our hobby and we can go online and opine about them all day. For others, they have to ride what they can get. I’d imagine if those peole had half of what we spend on a hobby they would be most grateful.

saarf

I



i got these dents on Christmas eve by hit and run driver , frame is ok though

saarf

Ha


Had a plate put in my shoulder on the 4th , still sore now

Jughed

Not for nothing - but many of the crack heads in a local town ride nicer stuff. Saw one on a Cannondale Lefty the other day. Murica!!

PeteHski

Personally I wouldn’t want to ride it with a bent top tube. It is fixable, but would it be cost effective vs buying a similar bike without the dent? I kind of doubt it unless you happen to be a skilled fabricator prepared to write off your own time.