Cyclocross - Everyone loves to see a broken bike, right?

We had a "for fun" cross race set up Sunday, Feb 15. I rode the practice lap, then ALMOST one race lap before I managed this in a creek. My front wheel was just eaten up in the creek bank and I went over the bars.
I have only had the frame built up since October, so I'm pretty bummed. I'm hoping Voodoo will refund me so I can go with a different brand, but I'm assuming they will just send a replacement.

Most cross bikes don't do that when you crash right? :-| Makes me think twice using my for xc type rides haha.

That's impressive. Either you are very, very strong or that frame is very, very flawed.

was that the scandnium frame?

Not the first time I've seen a Limba sheared off just past the head tube.

Hmmm. I don't know about the very, very strong part.

Yes, it is scandium.

justinb, what year was the frame you saw shear off? This one is a 2008.

I think it was an '06... the metallic mint green version. It broke when the dude mistimed a barrier bunny hop.

Some of the guys who ride for that team (and get deals from Voodoo) moved on to the steel Wazoo despite the weight penalty.

Yes, it is scandium.


Hmm, I wonder how that bodes for my salsa las cruces....

The move to the Wazoo may be the way to go. They are going to replace the frame and fork for me as a refund is not available under their warranty (they don't cover race damages and it is pretty obvious this wasn't JRA induced).

Side note: It was amazing to see how thin the tube walls are.

The move to the Wazoo may be the way to go. They are going to replace the frame and fork for me as a refund is not available under their warranty (they don't cover race damages and it is pretty obvious this wasn't JRA induced).

Side note: It was amazing to see how thin the tube walls are.


I ride an older 853 Wazoo (2006, just prior to the sliding dropouts), and love it. It's heavy the way I have it built (Tange fork, 32 3x wheels, nothing special component wise), but feels rock solid. I've seen some built up with easton forks, nice wheels and Dura Ace that are perfectly capable race machines.

In addition to the Limba failure I mentioned, I've seen similar failures on the scandium Aizan 29er, in that case it was rider error... your race hardtail with an 80mm fork isn't designed for repeated 4 foot drops. I think it may have been a specific year, and I should add that I've seen lots of those frames work just fine for their intended use.

this is a famous problem with Aluminum metal fatigue---all at once, just *snap*. doesn't mean there aren't good AL frames or parts; just that when (if) it goes bad, it's prone to sudden total failure. (and it doesn't mean that steel won't break; but you'll probably notice it before it reaches catastrophic failure.) i guess that "snap value" is also an issue for CF users, though it falls outside of my experience with metal fatigue.

I've heard a lot of problems with voodoo's. They seem to under engineer their frames with thin tubes.

Heard a story about someone in my area who got a steel voodoo mtb. Took it out on his first ride and crumpled the ht/dt junction

I've heard a lot of problems with voodoo's. They seem to under engineer their frames with thin tubes.

Heard a story about someone in my area who got a steel voodoo mtb. Took it out on his first ride and crumpled the ht/dt junction

You can add Salsa to that list...here is my teammate's bike. It happened in a manner very similar to the OP (riding up a small but steep bank). It looks like a beer can.

I have a scandnium Kona Major Jake that I love and would hate to have to replace (or eat it on for that matter).

I wonder how body positioning affects the likelihood of this happening......

Probably the added weight of those water bottles. :)

My body position certainly had something to do with it. I had WAY too much weight on my hands(obviously I should have had my weight over the rear wheel.) Still.....I only weigh 165lbs.