Clank ding crunch - bent and dented downtubes

[2manyoranges]

I noticed a huge thwack doing DH yesterday - a large stone thrown up against the downtube - and it reminded me of times past.

I had a Klein, with its hyper thin downtube and only second time out on the South Downs a huge flint came up from the tyre and went ‘clunk’. It didn’t go ‘dink’. So I knew it was probably bad news - and so it was - dented. Not terminally but enough to Really Piss Me Off.

Chris - many many years ago - had just bought a Kona Explosiv and on the South Downs Way down into Alfriston he was running fast behind us. We heard a real ‘crack’ and then a string of expletives. Yep, nasty little dent in a new frame. Was fine, but he was also very upset.

The sounds:

Ding
Stone on steel. No problem but get the paint touch up out. Or smile having put invisitape on

Clang or crash
Stone on steel. Probably not good. Likely dent.

Dink
Stone on alloy. Fine.

Clunk
On ally. Probably not fine.

Ping ping PING… P I N G!!!
Stone on ti - all usually fine - can take huge abuse

 

[sheppf1000]

Horrible sounds! I flinch at chain slap.

Where in the south east are you based?

Dan

 

[2manyoranges]

Horrible sounds! I flinch at chain slap.

Where in the south east are you based?

Dan

Hi Dan
Regrettably….work in Cambridge…flatlands with really only Thetford to play in. But lived in Brighton off Preston Drove for 25 years and just miss the Diwns so much. That means we head down as much as we can…..

 

[stevet1]

Worst ones are when you drop a tool onto the frame and chip the paint or worse that way. Not that I've ever done that...

 

[greencat]

The worst is the handlebar induced top tube dent. Leaves you cursing yourself, but mostly the manufacturers. Some brands were very pretty vulnerable to it IIRC.

 

[2manyoranges]

Worst ones are when you drop a tool onto the frame and chip the paint or worse that way. Not that I've ever done that...

Agreed - not that I’ve EVER done it either….grrrrrr

 

[Lucidone]

Worst ones are when you drop a tool onto the frame and chip the paint or worse that way. Not that I've ever done that...

Even worse when your mate does it for you!

 

[Black_puma]

I wish I could find it but there was a GT Zaskar advertised on eBay or FB MP with a Girvin forks and a rather tasty dent (almost through the top tube)!
I felt sorry for that bike!
Update, I found the bike, see https://www.facebook.com/share/KDRWoDFnBz8HaqW1/