what to do?

[yostumpy]

I'm no good at making descisions. My 631 audax bike has a broken bottom bracket shell. I have various options, too many in fact.
a) get the frame repaired, which also involves a repaint (possibly a new colour ) at Bob jacksons, cost incl deliv, C.£285 plus poss a new headset. and put back all old bits.

b) buy a new Bob jackson 'end to end' audax frame , cost £495 + deliv + headset=C. £580 and transfer all bits over.

c) buy a new lightweight tourer 'a la 'Hewitt cheviot or Byercycles Aravis (same bike), which will do Audax and touring. C. £1200 plus sell off all bits of old bike = £300=..... £900.

d) buy a S/H Cheviot or Aravis, for C.£500, (been totally overhauled, looks stunning, new running gear etc.) and then sell off some stuff ..say £250 = £250 spend.

Money isn't really an issue, i just feel uncomfortable spending a large some of money on myself, when spending a lot less has the desired effect, that's why I've not listed a custom Roberts as an option.

HELP

[mig]

how old is your current frame? are there any other signs of significant wear and tear?

[tatanab]

Yours is a lugged frame. It is not easy to change a tube on a lugged frame due to the necessity to spring tubes out of lugs, and a bottom bracket will be significantly more difficult not least since it is the usual starting point for building a frame. The possibility of damage due to reheating such a big lump would make me think twice about a repair like this. In your case I'd say replace the frame.

I've had several frames repaired over the years, but they have all been simple joint failures on lugless frames which are much easier to work on. Heat the joint, knock the brass off, spring the joint.

edit to correct typo

[yostumpy]

how old is your current frame? are there any other signs of significant wear and tear?

Frame is about 10 years old. done ooo,ooo miles so can't complain. its always felt quite 'dead ' tho'.

hadn't appreciated that the bottom shell was the starting point of the frame, makes sense really, it would essentially mean re-building the frame I suppose.

[Brucey]

another option (which should at least postpone the main decision) is, if the crack is in the BB shell, to have the BB shell weld repaired.

I have done this several times (as a 'temporary' measure, you understand...) and in every case the repair has outlasted the rest of the frame, even in the hands of others who 'have form' when it comes to frame beakage.

It is my belief that if a BB shell cracks, it is very often because it had small defect in it to start with. Similar defects in weld metal are certainly possible, but are, for a skilled welder, unlikely.

Such a repair will normally require only a local respray. If the weld beads are dressed correctly (which can take a lot longer than the welding itself...) , the repair can be 'invisible' from the outside.

Just a thought, anyway.

cheers