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Conference noted::bicycle

Title: Bicycling
Notice:Bicycling for Fun
Moderator:JAMIN::WASSER
Created:Mon Apr 14 1986
Last Modified:Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:3214
Total number of notes:31946

1231.0. "Bicycle forks." by PICKET::CANELLA (Sandino Vive) Thu Jun 29 1989 12:05

    Well, while riding my usual morning constitutional into Maynard, I
    noticed that the bike was making a strange sound every time I went over
    a bump or crack on the road.  Thinking that it was a loose cone in my
    front axle, I removed the front wheel in my cube to find out that the
    fork had broken just where the brake bolt crossed the tube!
    
    After the retroactive scare I got (I rode at least 6 miles on the
    broken fork including a 35 mph segment), I took out the fork and
    carried it back to Harold at International Bike to ask him what sort of
    crap he was selling (it is after all Columbus SL tubing).  Well, after
    all was said and done, I should be getting a new fork free of charge
    (why not? It had barely 3,500 miles on it).  The only deal is when but
    you can be sure I'll be on them like a cheap suit until I get my fork
    replaced (since now I'm left with riding my wife's bike).
    
    Anyway, has anyone out there had this sort of experience?  I have never
    crashed the bike so I can only blame the break on either poor
    craftmanship or hard riding/bad roads/tough luck.  Also, since I'm 
    getting a new fork, any recommendations on suitable replacements? (As
    you can probably guess I'm not keen on seeing this happen again)
    
    Alfonso
T.RTitleUserPersonal
Name		DateLines
1231.1Actually that is more a function of the fork crown than the SL tubing.NOVA::FISHERRdb/VMS DinosaurThu Jun 29 1989 12:427
    Well, what kind of bike?
    
    SL forks are pretty good, I have 4 of them, no problems, ever.
    
    [To John Lee Ellis]: What kind of fork was it that you broke?
    
    ed
1231.2It happened to me as wellAQUA::OCONNORfifty thousand notes and a blaze of unrelated chordsThu Jun 29 1989 12:4714
    Hi,
    
    I have a fork break right below the left crown lug.  I discovered
    it in a similar way.  Mine was also columbus.  I got it replaced
    but later the head tube cracked so I junked the frame and saved
    the new fork.  I really don't have any advice as to which forks
    will survive better, I've got another columbus and a tange with
    similar mileage on them.  I vote for tough luck in my case and yours
    plus I live in Mass where the roads are paved with potholes.
    
    
    Good Luck
    
    Joe
1231.3PICKET::CANELLASandino ViveThu Jun 29 1989 13:2012
    Re .1
    
    I ride a Miele Gara, Columbus SL tubing and Shimano Ultegra gruppo.  It
    is an entry level racing bike.  The bike handles like a champ on the
    flats and the hills (IMHO, it handles better than the Cannondales, Bianchis
    and Centurions I've ridden) but I'm starting to suspect that they chintzed 
    out on the fork's soldering job and put in a cheapie crown (the crack went 
    right through the crown).  You can be sure, however, that I'll ensure
    that I get a good fork for IB (I'll flash 'em one of my "lawsuit"
    looks!).
    
    Alfonso
1231.4my variable-geometry bike...SHALOT::ELLISJohn Lee Ellis - assembly requiredThu Jul 06 1989 00:158
    RE: .1
    
    Ed, the fork I broke had a decal on it emblazoned "FT" - which
    suggested no more than maybe "Falk" - but I really can't vouch
    for its quality.  The Fiorelli's fork (which was rifled Columbus
    stock) has held up for many more miles.
    
    -john