Just had a disaster today on a group ride. The chainstay on my road bike appears to have failed - it essentially collapsed inward. Fortunately we had not yet ramped it up some no one went down. The right chainstay has a hairline fracture running the length of the tube, probably 3-4 inches. The right rear drop out bent inward. We had just stood up on the pedals to crest a small rise when this happened. Rear wheel slammed into the left chainstay and the bike locked up.
So here is my problem: The bike is relatively new, say 18 months. I cannot recall the name of the dealer as I bought it out of town. I live in Orlando. Shop was in South Florida (Boca? Delray?). I also cannot find my warranty book. Just moved, life in boxes, so it could be anywhere.
The frame is a Colnago Ovalmaster Titanium. Can anyone suggest where I start to track down a representative? I have no clue what warranty I have or whether Colnago has any replacement policy. I’m really bumming as this frame was discontinued last year. Please don’t take my emails as harping on Colnago. I love this frame. I have no qualms of getting the exact same one as replacement. I’m sure my experience was a pure fluke. Did I say I really love this frame? Have you seen a grown man cry?
Unless the manufacturer is super generous, you are going to have to produce the receipt. I’ve warrantied a couple of frames and had to produce the receipt.
Please identify yourself as a consumer when you call them and describe your circumstances. My expereince with them is that they are helpful and resourceful.
Wow, Herbert, you can’t drop innuendos and not follow through. Since I chose this bike after narrowing my choice between it and the Vortex, and will like buy Colnago again (over the Vortex which still ranks high on my list), please tell me why you think I have not headed in the best direction. Ironically I chose Ti over carbon because of material strength - I’m a physically larger guy (more of a sprinter) and will use this bike predominantly for crits.
Aztec - you are right. I lost track of my time line. I should I have said the line discountinued the year I bought it, best as I can recall. I searched online last night for some closeouts on this frame, but found none (I’m also pretty lame on yahoo/google stuff!).
22 reviews - 20 are very good - 1 is OK, and 1 bad, but he sounds kinda disturbed anyway.
Surely Colnago can find where you bought it from the frame number ? But I’m a bit surprised at how vague you are about the bike and where you got it from ?
people might think that the colnago frame was made in the US, because there was a time not too long ago when most of the big euro frame designers had their Ti frames actually made in the US, by litespeed. Bianchi was one such company, not too sure about colnago though. More recently, litespeed has shared the wealth, and many of these companies are now doing thier Ti in house.
“Vague”? I thought I was clear: No memory. That’s not vague! This was a one-time purchase from that shop.
Actually, after about 2 hours in internet searches this a.m. I tracked down the dealer and the warranty return process is underway. So far Trialtr - the Colnago importer - seems very helpful. Proof will be in the pudding, but I am optimistic.
I have no idea where your frame was built, and I doubt Herbert would be able to comment more, but several of the Italian “name” mfg were using Eastern Block builders to make their Ti frames. Good bad or indifferent they were made from Soviet Ti. Most all the American Ti frames are made from US milled tubes from two major plants. Haynes and Anotec (sp?).
I am sure that there are different specs and alloys of Ti used in different parts of the world, some better or different than others. There have been a bunch of frames sold from China now, and I think the Chinese welder can probably lay down a pretty good bead and uses the same Argon gas the Americans do. I haven’t heard of massive problems with their frames at about half the cost of American built ones. Colnago likes to repute themselves as “the best”, so I hate to hear that happened to you.
I think Ti and Carbon are two materials you should know where they were milled/mfg and who did the sticking together. Steel and Alum aren’t quite as critical although Tig welding Alum is a pretty good trick.
With all that said, yours is not the first Ovalmaster I have heard of fail. For as few of them as there are out there that is an anomoly that raises my eyebrow. I am sure Litespeed, Merlin, Moots, Seven, Serotta and others have had a frame or two fail for some reason or another, but that number is very low. Ti frames are usually noted for their toughness and longevity.
I hope Colnago takes care of you as they are one of my favorite companies. As far as a replacement bike I would probably go with Litespeed, Moots, or Seven as my sprint bike. All are good and have great service if needed. G
And I have never ever heard of a Litespeed, Merlin, Moots or any of the sort fail while just JRA…crashing on the other hand I have seen a thing or three…but this guy was JRA…that is a whole new ball game.
I have first hand knowledge of a Merlin braking. On a group ride just after a long hard section one of the guys stands up at the front of the pace line and the down tube of his Merlin swings out! it had sheered off 3” below the head tube, I would say just at the end of the butting, And then it swings back and sticks! No one goes down every body stops to look at the Frame/bike in aw and he starts walking home, the rest of the group heads home at a fast pace so some one can drive back and pick him up.
So it’s can happen to any frame, some time sh&# happens. He had a new frame from Merlin PDQ.
Customers come in…I was “just riding allong” and my wheel taco’ed and rear Der hanger busted off…this is under warranty right…I was “just riding allong” on a bike path…with nun’s.
This was a one-time purchase from that shop.