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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

2092.0. "component safety" by WLDWST::SANTOS_E () Wed Sep 25 1991 11:52

    Yesterday I realized how easy it is to die from equipment failures
    I have heard of campy crank arms breaking , the famous campy
    titanium bottom bracket snapping during sprints etc. But then it
    happened to me. I was on a easy ride at a stop sign and when it 
    was my time to get on it so I may merge in . I did my ussual off
    the saddle tug on the bars and low and behold the right side
    of by bar snapped . Oh shirt I said as I crossed the car infested 
    road . Never the less my ride was over , and had to pedal 10 miles
    hanging on one side of the bar to steer and break ,while the other
    keeping the broken side on so I do not look stupid. thats whem my 
    mind started to wander , what if ...I was on a sprint or , going
    down hill fast , and on and on . 
    
    The bar was made by specialized ::::::::::::
     my suggestions to all is check your bars once in a while,
     specially when it creeks when you are tugging hard on it.
     you can also chech the sleeve if its getting spread out like
    mine did . Is there any out there that had the same experience?
    or any other safety related tips?
     
     thanks
      ed

T.R	Title	User	Personal Name	Date	Lines
2092.1	still hurts after all these years	RVNDEL::MCCARTHY		`Wed Sep 25 1991 12:55`	15
	Most of us probably do this, take a quick glance and check the tires and then off we go... Back many many moons thats what I did and was staying on the pedals to go faster when one of the pedals fell off (not breaking just unscrewed for some reason) And there I was impaled on the cross bar! Asking God to take me please and put an end to my suffering The incident also made me a firm believer in riding the correct size frame - since the frame was to big and was on tip toes when straddling the bike
2092.2	you just never know...	SHALOT::ELLIS	John Lee Ellis - assembly required	`Wed Sep 25 1991 13:55`	14
	A randonneur friend from Columbia SC has managed to break several cranks (including cold-forged ones), and now he checks cranks for hairline cracks by polishing them, or something like that. I've had one crank break (at the pedal-threads), and consider this a rare thing, but you never know. Always considered handlebars safe (except possibly when crashed upon). Guess what we really want is one of those neutron-guns the airlines use. :-) -john
2092.3		RUTILE::MACFADYEN	Just react naturally " %DVC-I-BOOKBUILT,	`Thu Sep 26 1991 04:20`	7
	The best thing to do is to keep the bike clean, because when you wash it you notice things that are going wrong, and regularly maintained. But some accidents come into the category of Acts of God. However, I'll add breaking bars to my list of worries. One more can't do any harm... Rod
2092.4	Guess it depends on the materials used....	CIMNET::MJOHNSON	Matt Johnson	`Tue Oct 01 1991 18:04`	8
	When I was about twelve, I used to take my Schwinn Continental 10-speed off-road in South Texas. The handlebars were a little soft, so they tended to sag after these rides. No problem: I'd just stand in front of the bike and heave on the bar ends until the tops were level again. Of course, over time, they sagged further and faster, but somehow they never broke off. MATT
2092.5	How hot _does_ it get in South Texas?	DEBUG::SCHULDT	I'm Occupant!	`Tue Oct 01 1991 18:28`	2
	re .-1
2092.6		DANGER::JBELL	Zeno was almost here	`Tue Oct 01 1991 18:37`	1
	Maybe those were the lead handlebars.