SERVICES
:: FRAME REPAIR
There can be any number of reasons for a frame material failure,
but in many cases the root cause can be attributed to either
defective or low quality materials, or to improper assembly or
shoddy workmanship. Beyond that there are of course unforseen
incidents and accidents--nasty yard sales on downhill sections
of trail, inattentive drivers--that can also lead to
catastrophic damage to a bicycle frame. Whatever the cause,
whatever the bike, Ti Cycles can fix it.
When repairing a damaged or defective piece of tubing, Ti Cycles
eliminates the first variable by using only the highest quality
materials. We use the same high quality titanium and steel
tubing for frame repairs as we do for our original bike builds,
and that goes for all makes and models from other manufacturers.
Our peerless experience as fabricators of custom bikes for more
than twenty years helps eliminate the second variable. The
craftsmanship that goes into the performance and durability of
our own Ti Cycles frames ensures that all of our work is of the
highest quality.
Materials:
Unfortunately, as any builder or shop will tell you, it is
generally not economical to repair a damaged aluminum bike
frame. The low cost and high availability of the material,
combined with technical considerations in working with the
material, will invariably mean it is less expensive to replace
rather than repair an aluminum frame.
Although titanium is an incredibly strong and durable material,
it is not completely infallible. Over the course of two decades
Ti Cycles has repaired virtually every brand of titanium frame
on the market, from low-end mass-produced imports to high-end
boutique brands manufactured domestically.
Of all modern framebuilding materials steel is considered the
most classic for a reason: it has seen the longest and most
consistent use in the bicycle industry. An unspoken axiom to
this fact is that steel frames can last so long as to become an
inseparable part of a cyclist's life. The beautiful part is that
not only can a properly maintained steel frame be ridden for
decades, it can also be easily repaired.
Of course there are also times when a competent framebuilder is
needed not to repair but to enhance a frame with additional
features. From retrofitting older frames with disc brake tabs,
horizontal dropouts and eccentric bottom brackets, to adding
additional mounting points for racks and other accessories, to
extending head tubes to accommodate the comfort of aging or
injured riders, Ti Cycles can help dial any off-the-shelf frame
in to your exact specifications or modify an existing bike for
new applications.
Whether titanium or steel, no shop in Portland has repaired or
modified more frames than Ti Cycles.
 If
it isn't broke, it may still need fixing.
Bicycle accidents happen all the time, and they aren't all
high velocity impacts with automobiles. From professional racers
to daily commuters, countless numbers of cyclists have damaged
their frames without actually breaking them. Two of the most
common forms of damage to bicycle frames are dents and
misalignments.
While a dent may not result in an immediate and outright crack
in a piece of frame tubing it can seriously alter the load
bearing ability of the metal and compromise the structural
integrity of the material. Such damage can lead not only to a
change in handling characteristics but in many cases invariably
leads to a later, more catastrophic failure.
As anyone who has ridden a twisted frame can tell you, a bike
that is out of alignment can be not only uncomfortable but
dangerous as well. Ti Cycles uses the same state-of-the-art
alignment tools for all of our frame repairs and straightening
that are employed in the construction of our new bicycles.
Repairs:
Dent removal.
Tube replacement.
Bottom bracket replacement.
Dropout conversion.
Head tube extension.
Frame alignment.
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