In regard to the recent rough stuff postings, I set my P-13 Paramount up with wide rims and tires, flat bars, and the rest of the rough stuff kit. I hit the gravel roads and dirt roads in the area and even took it on the single track Maah-Daah-Hey Trail in our northern badlands. Frankly, riding it on the single track was scary and the low bottom bracket wasn't too helpful. But it was great on the dirt roads and such.
Anyway, I was giving it a good cleaning in preparation for turning it back into a road bike, and to my horror I discovered a large crack across the lower head lug at the point where the down tube joins the head tube. The semi-circular crack extended from the side, over the top, and to the other side, gracefully decorating the already graceful Nervex lug. At any rate, I was mortified.
Well, I thought only young and strong riders broke frames -- I guess I was wrong. So, I wonder whether it was the rough riding that caused the crack or whether it just brought it to the surface. I have been riding the darn thing pretty consistently under all conditions for 21 years.
Another question is what to do. The crack is in the lug itself, not in the tube so far as I know. Can this be fixed? Or should I use the thing for decoration? What have you other folks done when you've broken a bike?
Thanks for any assistance you can offer.
Mike Hagburg
Bismarck, ND