Weld or Replace?

[Wookee]

So, decided to sort out my hybrid for a daily commuter, tidy it up and give it some much needed loving. It is a 2010 Ridgeback Element that I've had for about 5 years and it has been a very trusty station bike, but now I want to use it more regularly and go further so was going to spend some cash on it because it's far comfier on the roads of London than my road bike.

The problem is that about 2 years ago I discovered that one of the rear drop outs had sheared and is held in by pressure from the axle and the derailleur. There is no point spending cash elsewhere if I can't sort that out. It's an aluminum frame and I have been quoted £130 to repair it, which is quite a lot considering the cost of the bike. Is it worth doing it or sourcing a similar frame and transferring everything over, with some new bits added?

 

[Wookee]

 

[stuarttunstall]

I am no experts, and I dare say a few will reply but if it was me it would just not feel safe to me if repaired... I may be wrong though.

 

[Slioch]

I probably wouldn't ride that even if it was welded - I'd just be scared to death all the time of it going again.

 

[fossyant]

Not there you don't weld. You'll be able to pick up a new frame for similar, and it will be all shiny !

 

[Ajax Bay]

Welding aluminium is more difficult and costly than welding steel. A new (to you) frame would cost less.
Disc brake puts a fair stress on that dropout.

 

[Wookee]

All duly noted thank-you. Just to clarify; it didn't 'go' I only noticed it when I was repairing a puncture some 2 years after I bought it.

Does anyone know where I can get a shiny 60cm hybrid frame??

 

[Ajax Bay]

Also take into account:
type of disc brakes you've got (flat or post mount)
size of seat tube (for FD clamp and seat post)
width between dropouts (the OLN distance ?135mm, to fit current wheels)
QR or thru-axle,
BB type

 

[CXRAndy]

Does anyone know where I can get a shiny 60cm

How tall are you?

Frames can vary hugely in cost. Might be cheaper to buy a complete bike used/new

Are you swapping bits over or building a new bike frame up?

That leads to, disc brakes or rim, tyre width sizes, guards, racks etc etc

 

[FrankCrank]

About as awkward a weld as you could get on a bike. Factor in aly, and would have to say it's not viable. Even if steel, the rates over there have gone berserk. My brother needed some welding done on his car a few years back, and they said they charge per inch of weld!, and all plus VAT. Over this way vast majority of clunkers are steel, and an abundance of welding shops that would do a repair like this for next to nothing. Sometimes the first world is not all it's cracked up (excuse pun) to be.

 

[Pat "5mph"]

Mod Note:
For the frame search, I've started a new thread for the OP in the what bike section.