Is this fixable?

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Deeble

Regular
I had an off today. Well 2 actually. The first was queuing in traffic clipless moment over on the left side. Embarrassing but no harm done. Gave the bike a once over but as I fell left I never thought to check the right side. Cycled on for a good 10/15 miles no problems then came to a hill, changed down a few gears quickly..not the best change in the world.. heard a clunk then this happened... rear derailleur snapped clean off and tangled up in chain.

Obviously I need a new derailleur but I'm worried about the frame just as it goes around the quick release mech (the white in the photos).. is that ever going to be safe again?
 

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Cycleops

Legendary Member
Location
Accra, Ghana
What should happen in this situation is the hanger ( an aluminium part that screws into the frame and holds the derailleur) breaks thus saving damage to the frame. What's happened to you is the frame has snapped instead. I'm afraid it's a new frame. Sorry.
 

DCLane

Found in the Yorkshire hills ...
:eek:

There should be a derailleur hanger attached to the derailleur - that would normally snap first.

However ... it also looks like some of the frame has snapped off. If so, the frame is almost certainly terminal.
 
OP
OP
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Deeble

Regular
I've just noticed that the bit of frame that came away with the rear has a screw in it, presumably to fix the derailleur to. Without that could a new one even attach? There is one more on the other side of the quick release that is still there.
 

battered

Guru
You *might* be able to get it repaired by a frame builder who can weld aluminium. I have a bike that has had a snapped hanger replaced by a very good welder. Ironically I now run it as a single speed so it could live without it, but there you are. It came to me like that. On yours though the break point is rather high, it's not just the bottom of the hanger that's broken off.
 

T4tomo

Legendary Member
as aove, the black glossy bit in photo 2 should have snapped not the white bit.

That said I would get onto Basso as the black bit should be made of softer aluminium that the white drop out, which even in a carbon frame will be alu dropouts. Something has gone badly wrong which they should warrant.
 
Me and a mate just fixed an R3 where this happened, little different as it's carbon but same sort of principle. Got a rear dropout insert and glued it in place with some serious aerospace / F1 adhesive, its worked a treat, wouldn't sell the bike as it can't be guaranteed but perfect for tooling around on. I might be able to get some photos later.
 
OP
OP
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Deeble

Regular
Omg thanks guys. Kind of confirmed my worst fears as soon as I saw part of the frame had come off.

I don't understand how it has happened? My little clip less moment shouldn't have caused it to weaken so much as I say I fell left not right. I'm wondering.. I had it on a turbo for a year or two, could that have caused that area to weaken? Was it just a terrible gear change that did it??
 

CanucksTraveller

Macho Business Donkey Wrestler
Location
Hertfordshire
That said I would get onto Basso as the black bit should be made of softer aluminium that the white drop out, which even in a carbon frame will be alu dropouts. Something has gone badly wrong which they should warrant.
I thought similar, depending on age (i.e. if it's newish) I'd probably be talking to the maker / retailer. Looks like fatigue cracks might have developed in the dropout.
I don't understand how it has happened? My little clip less moment shouldn't have caused it to weaken so much as I say I fell left not right. I'm wondering.. I had it on a turbo for a year or two, could that have caused that area to weaken? Was it just a terrible gear change that did it??
No, a fall onto the left side should have no real effect on the drive train / derailleur hanger. Falling to the right can definitely result in a bent or snapped hanger (but usually no damage to the frame, excepting cosmetic). A terrible gear change shouldn't do that either, again if anything goes bang it'll be the hanger. This looks like metal fatigue at the dropout... Is this a second hand bike? I'd guess it's been stressed previous to this, maybe an impact you don't know about.
 
OP
OP
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Deeble

Regular
No, I bought it new in 2011 I think so its a good ten years old. Definitely no huge mileage on it it was left in an outhouse for a good few years before I dug it out and got riding again. I've never had a serious crash, can't remember impacting that area at any point.

Could it be the turbo trainer? I've weakened it and it was just waiting for an excuse to go? That seems like it could stress that area? I don't want it to be me who's ruined it on a turbo but I want to find out the cause.
 
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