Is this Trek past it?

[YOWSAH]

I have this old Trek in the garage at the moment. The frame looks pretty bad on the surface. However, is it saveable or is it too far gone? I was looking for some advice here as I am considering using the components from the bike to make up a road bike with a steel frame.
Here's the pics:-

 

[Johnsqual]

Hey,

I've seen and ridden much much worse than that, but perhaps I have low standards

It doesn't look like the paint damage is caused by rust (it might be a reaction caused by the base coat and top coat of paint - there was a thread about this recently).

But maybe scrape away those bubbles near the seatpost to see if there's rust forming underneath. If there is rust, it may be worth stripping the components to see how bad it is (e.g is it rusty inside the seat tube and bottom bracket?).

You could either touch up the paint with car paint chip touch up paint or have it sand blasted and powder coated or resprayed. Powder coat is cheap (can cost as little at 50 quid) and tough, so good if you're planning to use the bike as a commuter bike.

But as a first impression that does not look too bad at all.

Johnny

 

[YOWSAH]

Thanks Johnny. The frame is aluminium so should I be looking for rust? I'm not too well up on how aluminium lasts and wondered if this damage is showing a weakness in the frame.

 

[KermitGKona88]

Hi

I was thinking the frame is Aluminium so rust no problem corrosion is the main problem but nothing major on alloy frames, I was talking to a paint sprayer the other week and he told me he does not like spraying aluminium as the paint has a weak bond, this is what I think has happened here water has got under the paint and bubbled it. The frame is fine just the paint is bad

Mark

 

[Pyro Tim]

no, no rust, but look for a white powdery substance. It's probably the paint rather than the frame though

 

[Johnsqual]

:facepalm:

I hadn't thought about it being aluminium.

 

[feetabix]

That's a paint blemish, nothing structural....it will be a bitch to patch up though, if you mess with it then be prepared for a full re spray/powdercoat/ano job.....

 

[legrandefromage]

Strip and polish?

The frame as well.

 

[feetabix]

Nice mark......I see what you did there!.....

 

[Barneyballbags]

If you're thinking about using the bits to build up a road bike anyway, then I wouldn't bother stripping and polishing the frame. Just put it up for sale on here and I'm sure somebody will buy it. They're lovely frames