what should I do with a broken frame?

I picked up an old Raleigh for super cheap on Craigslist last week, but when I brought it to a bike shop to be looked at, they said that it had been in a collision-- the frame was cracked, fork was bent, it was in worse shape than it looked to the untrained eye. I emailed the guy who sold it to me, but I don't have high hopes for getting my $40 back. Most of the parts are in bad shape-- I was intending to strip it and convert it.

So what should I do with it? Will West Town Bikes or Working Bikes have the capability or interest to fix it? I worry that if I leave it in the alley, a bike thief will find it and sell it to some unsuspecting new owner. (In that scenario, I know it's more likely to be found by metal scrappers. I just don't like the idea that another cyclist might end up riding it without realizing that it's unsafe.)

or hey, anyone here want a broken Raleigh for $20?

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Permalink Reply by heather s on May 7, 2010 at 5:24pm

The crack is in the head tube. I actually asked about whether getting a new fork would be sufficient, but apparently that won't work. This isn't something I would have known to look for, but you can see that the lugs are pulling away from the tube.

Michael Perz said:

Where is the frame cracked? I wouldn't know for sure without seeing it in person, but there doesn't appear to be any buckling or cracked paint at the headtube lugs. There's a chance that all that would need to be replaced is the fork.

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Permalink Reply by Hector on May 7, 2010 at 8:31pm

I like Gabe's idea.
As much I hate to admit it that Ghost Bikes are always needed.
On the other hand I can make it a chair for you and a toilet paper holder as well.