Have been out in the lovely conditions near Glasgow today. Notice a knock from the bike. Check headset feels fine, fork is old so blame it and ride on. Do usual route which includes a drop with 6-7ft vertical to where you land depending how fast you take it.

All is going fine, only this odd knock now and again from the bike when you really pull at the bars. Got half way up the Whangie (local hill). Went to lift the bike over a fence and notice a new mod to the frame…

I gave it a wash when I got home but it just won’t polish out. Was slightly nervour riding down the hill… 😕

Need some ideas for a replacement frame to chuck the old parts at?

Surely some electrical tape will sort that right out. Don’t be such a drama queen.

is it a sticker..?

So cold it cracked your frame!?

Not under warranty?

If you’re the original owner they’ll probably give you a new one, my mate got a seven year old enduro replaced no probs,
Spesh are good with warranty if your the original owner.

Ooooff!

You’ve done well there. Is that the 100mm travel one or a slightly later 120?
Even so, it’s gotta be 6+ years old and it’s an XC bike, not really designed for 7ft drops!

Do usual route which includes a drop with 6-7ft vertical to where you land depending how fast you take it

Did you noticed knocking noise before or after said drop?

#edit: what PP said.

it is a 2004 pro 100mm job. The fail is from a dent in the downtube that I did maybe 5 or 6 years ago when I fell on rocks. Don’t think it was the cold – just time and alloy doing their thing.

The drop is a very smooth affair, sounds much grander than it is. Not the cause but could have been an interesting landing.

Unfortunately I am not the original owner on this bike. I bought it 2nd hand many moons ago. It has been ace fun.

cold weather fatigue and degredation, common this weather, thats why you dont see many people riding bikes in the cold

Short length of steel tube split down the middle. Wrap it round the broken part & Jubilee clip it.
Simples!

If it were, mine, i’d break out the TOG, weld up the crack, then sleave it with a couple of bits of 3mm plate, and retire it to be my “pub” bike! It all adds character to a frame imo !!

Or just splint it with some twigs and gaffer tape. It’ll be reet. ;0)

Nah, the parts on it want to do more fun stuff in their life. 🙂

cold weather fatigue and degredation, common this weather, thats why you dont see many people riding bikes in the cold

No, the reason you don’t see many people riding bikes in the cold is being cold.

If you look at the last pic you can see that the crack is coiling round the tube. Probably has another year in it 😉

cold weather fatigue and degredation

I spent 5 years researching failure mechanisms in Al alloys and have never heard of this; can you fill me in as my previous employers/sponsors might be interested. If youre referring to the phenomena of ductile-to-brittle transition, which is a temperature-related effect, Aluminium is interesting in not undergoing any such transition, and remaining ductile at cryo temperatures.

To the OP; bit of T-cut will get that out.

Does the warranty cover lifting over fences?

Overdid the turkey at xmas, ey?

Bet your glad it didn’t go on the landing. I’d try a really nice letter/email to specialised about how you loved the bike and want to replace it with something from them and see what they say. Might get a reasonable discount. Has worked for me in the past.

Or you could try the (sometimes) stw way of just writing an offensive email and posting it all over the net?

I spent 5 years researching failure mechanisms in Al alloys and have never heard of this; can you fill me in as my previous employers/sponsors might be interested. If youre referring to the phenomena of ductile-to-brittle transition, which is a temperature-related effect, Aluminium is interesting in not undergoing any such transition, and remaining ductile at cryo temperatures.

Any chance you could vouch for titanium on the same way before I head out tomorrow…?

OP – Blimey!

OT, but:

phenomena of ductile-to-brittle transition, which is a temperature-related effect, Aluminium is interesting in not undergoing any such transition

[sic]

… is [subjectively] genuinely interesting. (That’s not being ironic either, I am genuinely interested – my instinct (from working with steel in an ‘experimental archeology setting, and disregarding aluminum as a material 😉 ) would have been the complete opposite).

🙂

Ouch !

Where is the 6ft drop on way round Whangie ?

Pic of this 6-7ft drop?..

Is their decent riding up the Whangie? Is it easy to find or is it simply the walkers path? Haven’t been up there yet.

Surely some electrical tape will sort that right out.

Do it properly man, decorators caulk first, then the tape. A touch of T-Cut and you would know it was there. 😆

We’ve walked up and over to the Whangie, it’s pretty good. I reckoned you could go quite easily from there to Humphries Hill (the OK’s) and work out some sort of route back round.

if your user name is anything to go by (Mr plow)maybe that is why its cracked plowing through everything lol.
i here the are good for warranty specialized, good luck

Interested in the temp related fatigue as well. I have a carbon frame and now am reluctant to take out in the cold if this willhappen

No more nails on the crack, new stickers and bung it in the classifieds 😆

If you’re the original owner they’ll probably give you a new one, my mate got a seven year old enduro replaced no probs,
Spesh are good wit…

Woah, probably not if they read this thread describing 6ft and 7ft in the riding description.

Never know it was his frame? Well the macro shots are the icing on the cake for Specialized to easily walk away from this.

Mr Plow earlier today…..

In defence of the OP he didn’t say 6 or 7 foot drop off

he said drop where you have descended 6 or 7 feet by the time you land. That could be really quite small vertical drop in a steep slope

Woah there tiger! STW doesn’t let facts get in the way of a good story/witch hunt!

fair point

The drop is exactly as described by amphil and is hidden in the plantation north of mug dock. I know I drop 7ft as I have stood on the fresh landing mark of my rear wheel and the take off lip is way above my head. It would have smarted if the frame had failed there today. My friend used to do it on his hard tail so it is not a hero Dh move.

I don’t feel specialized owe me anything on this. I bought it 2nd hand and created the issue years ago when I stupidly crashed it. The bike has given me great service and I have loved it.

If you think the frame will handle it I’d love to see a pic of you hitting that drop.

mr plow – Member

I don’t feel specialized owe me anything on this. I bought it 2nd hand and created the issue years ago when I stupidly crashed it. The bike has given me great service and I have loved it.

OT – do you think you’ll get another spec?

Would depend on which solution is the best financially to get a good working bike. My other bikes in recent years have been specialized and I really enjoy the low bb and how they ride. I also have an enduro which I get on really well with which was a crash replacement frame. Spec are very good to deal with ime.

Northwind – I had wake last night at the curry house with my girlfriend, a few beers were sunk in respect.

Could it be worth Specialized an email saying you know you’re not the original owner, but asking if they can sell you a replacement frame of that size, model and year?
You never know, they may offer you a discounted replacement frame.
If they don’t come back with any sort of offer, there’s nothing lost.
SM