Wear patch on downtube by bottle - is it serious?

[DCLane]

I've been cleaning the Secteur this evening and noticed a patch of bare aluminium that appears to have been dented / worn away by the water bottle - I've mounted a bottle cage and pump holder at the same point and I'm guessing that by having two it's forced the bottle out further than expected.

However, I'd not noticed it until tonight. Naturally I won't be using the 2nd bottle cage until it's sorted, but it's not something I've seen before, despite cleaning the bike regularly.

What I think has happened is this; on the Colomba Chemo Classic on Saturday the roads were dirty and I got a puncture about half-way round. The water bottle looks like it's got some dirt/a small stone on and worn the paint off the downtube, rubbing against the metal.

Is this serious?

 

[TheDoctor]

I'd not be worried about that. A Secteur (nice bike though they are) isn't some mad light and fragile thing. Worth getting something on there to cover up the bare alloy though - we're heading into winter and salt corrodes alloy something horrid.

 

[Rob3rt]

Looks just like paint damage, same as you see from cables etc.

 

[doctornige]

Nothing to worry about, but if you love, love, love the bike, touch that up with some BMW Schwartz paint, let it dry and pop some black insulating tape, or some of the clear protective tape that bike shops sell, over the repair. I have to ask if you might have a crap bottle cage if the bidon is contacting the frame,

 

[andrew_s]

You should do something about it.
Plastic things can wear right through steel if left long enough (grit gets embedded in the plastic, and moves with the plastic cutting away at the steel).

 

[ianrauk]

As wot others said.
Nothing to worry about.
Normal bike wear and tear.

 

[potsy]

I wish mine was as lightly damaged as that

 

[mrandmrspoves]

I think it's serious and would recommend buying a new bike at the earliest opportunity!

 

[DCLane]

Thanks - It'll be taped today and re-painted in the next week.

 

[doctornige]

You should do something about it.
Plastic things can wear right through steel if left long enough (grit gets embedded in the plastic, and moves with the plastic cutting away at the steel).

It's aluminium - even softer!

 

[Blue Hills]

nothing to worry about - relax - worrying too much about that sort of stuff is the way to madness. Worn looking bikes are happy and make you happy. Get out and ride it