Is this bike safe to ride...

Hi

After deciding to give my bike it's annual clean, I came across this crack in the rear fork.

The bike is aluminium, therefore doesn't seem to be as simple to weld as steel.

Question is, what do you think the safety level is on such a bike? At present I've been coasting and not going much faster than 10mph but before this, I would often ride 20 miles per day at 17mph.

If this isn't an immediate threat to my safety, I'll keep it otherwise I may have to buy something new....

Thanks

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A closer look...

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have you tried giving it a clean to get a better look?

^^ get all that much off and you'll know straight away
If it goes through, and its alu, its not safe

Haha, I did clean it and then ride it for a week - hence the filth. It's a clean break.

I'm 90kg and generally ride at a laid back pace locally, but I think a repair will cost more than the value of the bike.

Looks like it's time to upgrade...

That's a Trek Soho right? My brother had one of those and the frame snapped there too!

If that crack is all the way through, then no way!

The frame design looks rather too interesting for its own good.

It would be interesting though, if you could keep riding it, to find out what happens.

Get it fixed, easy repair

Are you aware of someone in London who'd fix this for less than £100?

can you fit a fixed sprocket instead of the freewheel? add a new chain and chainring and the bike will be fixed. the frame is fucked though

@jdmitch can probably help. Or follow his step-by-step and fix it yourself:

https://www.lfgss.com/conversations/266985/?offset=375#comment12902856

anywhere that does aluminium welding. its a tiny job

that whole frame was made up of welding bits together at the end of the day. doing more welds on it wont make any difference.

the only thing is that it would need the parts taking off and being made ultra clean. so if you are prepared to remove the bits and clean it to be 100% sterile and remove the paint in that area, it would reduce the cost lots. if you give it to a guy with a piece to weld back on like that it should be pretty cheap

The frame would have been heat treated post welding to bring the aluminium back to strength.

It can be welded, it would be cheap, but the part is a high load area and with out heat treating post welding don't be surprised if the fix dosen't last long.

It's down to the OP how dangerous they want to live. You can pick up a steel beater frame for not a lot of money, cover some losses by selling the belt drive hub and parts, or get a steel frame modified to run the belt.
I would scrap the frame.

Or just listen to the one person who is saying what you wish to hear and ride a dangerous piece of shit.

That's a belt drive bike, how the fuck did it get so dirty?

imo not worth repairing - as others have mentioned alu welding in that situation is not hugely reliable and has issues, and sure to break again... I think it could be fixed by other means, but those are usually at least 40% for comedy value ;)

Can't believe you have lost faith man.

OP- drill either side of the affected area and bolt some steel either side- bike will outlive you then.

Skirting boards are extremely short for a house with internal bicycles.

@dancing james has hit the nail on the head. Listen to the correct answer not the answer that is the cheapest or the easiest. Safety is key. It only take a small failure on a bike to put people at risk. If you can't afford to ride a safe bike WALK.

Thanks for all of the advice. I've just purchased a Genesis Equilibrium 20.

That'll do me for now.

I shall change the title of this thread to "For Sale" - any offers 😀😀😀