Titanium repair question?

[rsl]

A friend of a friend just cracked the weld on a chainstay on his litespeed. My friend (not the owner of the bike) has a lot of machinest/welder connections, and was going to have a local welding shop repair it.

I suggested finding a local framebuilder to do the repair instead (if possible, that is). The bike is in South Bend, Indiana, and the owner would prefer something local, and would like it back ASAP.

My first thought was Scott Quiring, or possible one of the guys at the Madison framebuilding coop. Any other ideas?

Thanks!

[Marcusaurelius]

I had knew someone who had a titanium frame with a crack in the chainstay. He took it to a local framebuilder who builds titanium frames and it was welded. Now it's as good as new.

[Peter P.]

It's the stingy man that pays the most. Your friend is heading down that road.

Have Litespeed repair it and he'll never be happier.

[Mud]

who pops in here once in a while. He is in PA.

[dekindy]

I would send it to Litespeed or other professional that makes titanium frames as you suggested, preferably Litespeed. Make sure he understands that.

[hansolo758]

Don't forget Cherry Bicycles, near Lafayette, IN:

http://cherry.dcwi.com/Welcome1.html

[Tom Kellogg]

As long as the current owner is the original owner, Litespeed has a lifetime warranty. Go that route. Free.

[sailorboy]

I don't think I could come up with a better excuse to my wife to order a new bike if I thought about it for a week.

"Look honey, it's broken; right here you can see it!"

[rsl]

As long as the current owner is the original owner, Litespeed has a lifetime warranty. Go that route. Free.

I know, it's a bummer, because he's not the original owner.

Tom and others - best to send it to litespeed, or to a local builder?

[Tom Kellogg]

If your local guy really knows and works with titanium regularly, then you should be OK. Some folks Poo-poo Litespeed but they do know titanium ... almost as well as Merlin does. :D

[Sandy]

If your local guy really knows and works with titanium regularly, then you should be OK. Some folks Poo-poo Litespeed but they do know titanium ... almost as well as Merlin does. :D

........almost as well as Tom Kellogg and Colby do.



Sandy

[dekindy]

For that matter, Roark is in Brownsburg, IN, just west of Indianapolis. I don't know if they repair other brands. They would do high quality work so it might be worth a query if they could repair it significantly faster than Litespeed. In the case of a titanium frame from such a quality manufacturer I personally would not consider anyone else unless it was going to take an unacceptable amount of time.