Cracked Serotta ti frame located in Berlin, Germany. Recommendations needed

[RickD.]

I have a Serotta Classique Ti CX which developed stress cracks on the driveside chainstay, top and bottom (see pics). I know Serotta is no more and therefore I can't use them as a resource. I'm a US citizen living abroad, and bought this new in the States in 2010. I need to get this fixed but I have no idea who in Germany to contact. Hence the following questions:

1. Can anyone recommend a quality ti framebuilder in Germany who may be able to fix this for me? I'd like to not incur the expense of shipping to/from the US, and I'm sure there are excellent builders here.
2. Is it safe to assume if one chainstay is damaged the other should be replaced as well as it undergoes similar stresses?
3. Any ideas how this happened? Faulty/improper tubing? Rider error? I don't race or abuse the bike, but I'm a big guy (250lbs). My fear is the rest of the back end of the bike will develop the same issues.

Thanks in advance.

Rick


IMG_4043.jpgIMG_4056.jpgIMG_4053.jpgIMG_4045.jpg

[Rody]

I had a batch of tubing from the same supplier, of the same timeline, that affected a run of my Ti Luv handles and two frames...had to recall them all and replace. The supplier gave me the tubing but it does not come close to the time it takes to replace the products.

I'd contact Darren at Crisp Cycles in Italy...he has the skills to take care of the repair.

cheers,

rody

[RickD.]

I had a batch of tubing from the same supplier, of the same timeline, that affected a run of my Ti Luv handles and two frames...had to recall them all and replace. The supplier gave me the tubing but it does not come close to the time it takes to replace the products.

Rody,

I know you cannot answer this with any degree of certainty, but what are the odds the other tubes are from this same batch on my bike? I know nothing of tubing selection so I don't know if it's common to use tubing from different batches or suppliers when building a frame. I don't want to spend the money fixing this if the others have a similar propensity for failure.

Rick

[e-RICHIE]

RickD. please add your first and last name to all posts on Frame Forum as per the user agreement atmo.
Thanks

[Rody]

Rick,

The batch of tubing affected two sizes; .875" and 1.000".

It would be a safe assumption that the other chain stay is of the same mill run. The error was traced back to debris on the tubing mandrel that left linear irregularities on the ID of the tube wall.

rody

[RickD.]

Rody,

What about the seat tubes? It wouldn't be worth me replacing the whole back triangle of the bike I would think. Thanks so much for yours (and others) input. It's very helpful to me.

[Too Tall]

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Crisp...um/60496315802

Dareen Crisp. It's a bit of a hike but you'll find no better.

[Lionel]

Jean Pierre Levacon in France can easily take care of this for you (but almost no english spoken).

[lfo]

Try to get in contact with Daniel Pleikies (Titanrahmen) located in Berlin (unfortunately Daniel is a very busy man).

MAWIS Bicycles could be an other option.