I thought I would get my wife’s 06 Santa Cruz Superlight frame refinished as a nice surprise for her as the paint was beginning to bubble off and she loves the colour green. Unfortunately she is going to have a rather nasty surprise...
The local company have sandblasted the frame as the original powder coating was incredibly tough. Sadly they look to have used too much force and blasted two holes through the rear triangle reinforcing webs. I just stared at it incredulously when I saw what had happened. They have been pretty good about it but the rear triangle is a write off.
Santa Cruz uk importers have been very helpful and looked through their old stock but cannot find a spare rear triangle - anyone any ideas regarding replacing the rear triangle before I have to start looking for a replacement frame?
A rear triangle for a 12 year old frame?
Might get some joy from wanted add here or pinkbike, otherwise I think the best you'll get is a replacement frame from ebay.
Oo look...
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/273594266784
tbh, if they've done that to the back I'd be worried how much has come off the front but not caused the material to perforate - I'd treat the whole frame as scrap 🙁
"Sandblasting" should probably have rung alarm bells, tbh - it's like using a hammer to strip wallpaper.
The damage is where a solid billet of alloy has been machined both sides leaving a paper thin web, they turned the pressure up to get in the corners of the machining and that’s when the damage occurred. Rest of the frame is fine, but useless!
I had seen that frame on eBay but hers was 16” I think (I’ve left it at the company at the moment, don’t really want to look at it!)
Best get some Superduperlight decals made cup too.
I'd look for a new frame, I was given all sorts of horror story warnings about powder coating places and cycle frames, I went ahead anyway and it was a complete PITA.
Whilst the process was cheap, the cost of fixing some issues afterwards (getting the power out of the threads) meant it cost more and took longer to complete than just sending it to Argos Racing in the first place, the place I turned down because the wanted it for 3 weeks.
As above, if they've blown through the frame on the thin parts, they've probably torn the arse out of the thicker parts too. I can't speak for all of them, but most of these places require a huge dose of Caveat emptor, they might not say it, they might promise a wonderful result, but in reality like resorting old cars etc, they blast and what's left is what's left and on your head be it.
I tried everything to remove the original powder coating - paint stripper (industrial stuff not available to the public, not the stuff in b & q), sanding, heat but nothing would shift it. Sandblasting was the last resort. (I was going to respray it in 2k myself after blasting, I used to spray commercially)
Anyway, lesson learnt. Perhaps she’d like a hard tail instead! (As long as it is leaf green)
I sandblasted a ti frame, but the grit had been used before on cast iron, now I have a rusty Ti bike
I like it,like some old ww2 dakota or halftrack vehicle thatts been left in the jungle for 50 years. Like me
I've got a nearly complete SC Superlight from that era hanging on the wall, where are you and would your wife fancy a white one this time?
Its only done one event and was my first ever bike.
Man that sucks. I loved my Superlight. Closest I found modernised was the Santa Cruz Bantam or the Superlight 29er but they’re both rare model. So I went elsewhere when I had a windfall.
I’ve got a complete 09,
A medium in anodised dark blue, has the newer curvy style rear triangle and Fox rl 100 forks, XTR shifters , XT mech. Hope brakes, DT Swiss hubs/mavic rims. Dropper post.
Only stopped riding it in the summer as got a new bike and haven’t got around to selling it (been collecting the bike specific spares and tools to go with).
(In Somerset)
I just gave away a Superlight MK2, that was given to me by someone else on the forum....
Perhaps she’d like a hard tail instead!
Not now you've ruined her bouncer.
IGMC.
Did they use sand? I had a frame done once and they used walnut shell chipping I think.
would your wife fancy a white one this time?
Could always get it sandblasted and repainted green... er, oh.
Just get her a new bike... Best intentions lead to misadventure.
Stump up the cash, new bike.
Would a similar age heckler swing arm fit?
Get her a new bike. 2006 is prehistoric geometry, she will probably find a modern bike way better. My wife went from a similar aged Trek to a modern Scott, it made a massive difference to her riding enjoyment just due to a better frame shape.
Trimix is right. New bike for her time.
Get her a new frame/bike.
Another one for the "bin and replace" camp here as
Rest of the frame is fine
is really a complete unknown now. Wrong abrasive and unknown pressure, you've got no real way of telling what the wall thicknesses are now.
My wife went from a similar aged Trek to a modern Scott, it made a massive difference to her riding enjoyment just due to a better frame shape.
Fit bloke, that Scott. 😀
If it is new frame time, and I suspect it is given that other bits may have been weakened, are they going to get you a new frame?
Did they say 'Are you sure you want it blasted? We don't think it's a good idea but if you insist...' then you should cough up for one.
If they said 'That'll be fine, we've done loads and it's no problem' then they should cough up.