There are many different materials for bicycle frames. Steel, aluminum, titanium, stainless steel, carbon, magnesium, and so on.
Each material has its own merits, and naturally, each has its drawbacks as well. One of the joys of cycling is comparing different bikes to find the material that matches your riding style.
Among those many materials, my personal favorite is "steel." I feel that a steel frame, which can combine a supple ride quality with optimal durability, is an excellent material for bicycles.
However, steel also has one major weakness.
That is "rust."
This rust issue isn't limited just to steel frames. No matter what material your bike is made of, it is impossible to exclude "iron" entirely from any bicycle.
Even if the frame isn't steel, iron is always used in various components, so there is always a chance that somewhere on your bike will rust. A bike recently came into the pit where the rust had progressed to the worst-case scenario. Rust rarely reaches this point unless extreme conditions overlap. In this specific case, the use of lightweight pipes made the walls thin and accelerated the process, but as there is always a potential for the worst-case scenario, I hope this serves as a cautionary tale.
This is that frame.
You can see areas next to the bottle cage where the paint has become bumpy.
This is because rust eroded the inside of the seat tube, causing it to swell under the paint and distort the surface.
Now, let's strip the paint to see what's happening underneath.
The rust has continued to erode the pipe, creating a hole. Here is another angle.
There is an even larger hole. The paint had covered it, so it wasn't visible from the outside.
However, bit by bit, the rust was eating away under the paint and inflicting critical damage to the frame.
Here is one more shot, trying to capture the inside of the seat tube as best as I could.
Grease should have prevented the rust, but years of use caused the grease to wear away, allowing the rust to progress deep into the interior of the pipe.
Once it reaches this stage, it cannot be repaired and requires a pipe replacement. Unfortunately, in this case, the damage was to the seat tube. Because there are so many weld points, the pipe could not be replaced, resulting in the unfortunate situation of having to replace the entire frame.
So, what caused this to happen?
The rust inside the seat tube is caused by water entering through the gap between the seat post and the seat tube, often from riding on rainy days. If this area is properly greased, the grease acts as a water seal and can prevent this. Another entry point can be the threaded holes for the bottle cage, which can also be protected with grease.
Another factor could be condensation inside the frame due to temperature changes. This can be prevented by spraying an anti-rust agent inside the frame during routine maintenance.
In other words, most entry points can be protected with regular checks and maintenance. Furthermore, the tasks—like applying grease or oil—are simple. It would probably take all of 3 minutes of actual work, wouldn't it?
So, everyone, pull out your seat post right now and take a look. How does it look?
If the clamp is loose but the post is stuck, be careful!!
Apply grease or anti-rust spray immediately.
Protecting the bike you love only takes a little bit of maintenance. It truly is a case of "a moment of caution prevents a lifetime of regret." If you feel like you're out of your depth, please bring it in for an overhaul at our shop, Circles, and we will provide the best possible maintenance for your bike at that stage.
But remember, the key to maintenance is to do it frequently and little by little!!
