So today, the TiMega makes it's way back to Cumbria....
Mark was fantastic, offering me all of his posessions as compensation, and more. But I'm not greedy, and that's not fair on Mark either...
So I contacted a few Ti welding specialists.
1st one (Enigma) tells me they don't want to touch it as they wouldn't like to repair the bike, basically. Their reply was a lot more informative than that, but this isn't the place for it.
2nd one was a local motorsport fabricatiors, that specialise in Ti work. They CAN repair it, but it would involve a chuffing great brace up from the bottom of the drop-out up to the rear stay, at an angle. I'm sure that would be noce and strong, but would ruin the aesthetics of the bike.
.....And then there's my head... The crack would always be there in my mind, and I'd never be able to enjoy as I'd like to...
I'm gonna keep harping on about Mark, cos he's been just amazing through this whole ordeal (and I use the word 'ordeal' for both of us) which must be as difficult for him as it is me. And he's the one who's put most of the work into it..
So I hope Mark won't mind me saying that if anyone is interested in the frame, then maybe they should get in touch with him on here, and see what can be worked out.