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handlebar fatigue, 2nd opinions

Old 02-12-12, 11:22 AM
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handlebar fatigue, 2nd opinions

hello, im concerned about the small cracks in handlebar. i asked the shop and they said it is only the crack of the clear coating of handlebar. it is an easton aero 70. when i run my nail over area it i can feel it. just wondering if this is still ridable or just trash...i've upload some pics and hope some can give opinions from experience. (i wont ride this if its going to potentially cause injury even if LBS said whatever...)

thank you for any advance/suggestions

https://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o178/jcc2150/05.jpg
https://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o...c2150/04-1.jpg
https://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o178/jcc2150/03.jpg
https://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o178/jcc2150/02.jpg
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Old 02-12-12, 11:29 AM
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I wouldn't ride with that bar.
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Old 02-12-12, 11:30 AM
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Only an Xray of the part will be definitive .
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Old 02-12-12, 11:37 AM
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Originally Posted by fietsbob
Only an Xray of the part will be definitive .
I wonder how much it would cost to have it tested. If it tests bad, you'll still have to replace the bar.
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Old 02-12-12, 11:40 AM
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i didnt know that was a possibility. but if it cost as much as getting another bar...so be it. im still wondering what the 'clear coat' is on the handlebar...
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Old 02-12-12, 11:46 AM
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Originally Posted by hkboy313
hello, im concerned about the small cracks in handlebar. i asked the shop and they said it is only the crack of the clear coating of handlebar.

https://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o178/jcc2150/05.jpg
https://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o...c2150/04-1.jpg
https://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o178/jcc2150/03.jpg
https://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o178/jcc2150/02.jpg
Did the bike shop guy SEE The Handle Bar?
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Old 02-12-12, 11:49 AM
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yes, but im not sure he was exactly positive...i didnt ask other than him because the shop is a few 5 mins away
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Old 02-12-12, 12:27 PM
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If it is just the clear-coat then it should be obvious if you look at it carefully with a strong magnifying glass.
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Old 02-12-12, 12:34 PM
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Originally Posted by Drakonchik
If it is just the clear-coat then it should be obvious if you look at it carefully with a strong magnifying glass.
so you are also a vote for nay?
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Old 02-12-12, 12:41 PM
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Well based on the photos I would say it looks like a vague surface scrape caused by the shifters clamp, not fatigue. So no reason to throw it away until you confirm either way with a super close look in good light under magnification if possible.

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Old 02-12-12, 12:47 PM
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i dont know if its just a scratch, the black part that is seen in the photos is from the sticky part of the bar tape; when trying to rub off the sticky to clean it got embedded...
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Old 02-12-12, 12:55 PM
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give it the ring test, should not sound dead
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Old 02-12-12, 01:09 PM
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There's no clear coat on those bars. The white is the top coat over the black carbon fiber construction. AFAIK there's a five year warranty on that model and since those are some of the top bars Easton makes - they'll probably want to know if you have a problem. I'd suggest you contact them and send the photos posted. Looks to me like there are cracks at both the top and bottom of the bends which is unusual already.
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Old 02-12-12, 03:22 PM
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Too many of them at curves. You don't want to risk that bar giving way when you are pulling up a hill. Just replace it and sleep easier.
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Old 02-12-12, 06:28 PM
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i WOULD NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCE ride that bar anymore.

the extra cash you'd drop on new bars is a much less painful experience than stitching up your chin, or mending some ribs when you crash, or smash into your stem when the old bars fail.

i don't think there is a clear coat here, and if it was just the white paint cracking from flex issues then i doubt that the crack would look the same way. this ring around that point paired with the discoloration leads me to believe there is a defect in your bar, and that has caused a crack to spread radially around that point on your bars.

i know this would ruin the look of your bars but you could always chip some of the paint back to see if the crack continues below it.
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Old 02-12-12, 06:39 PM
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When you're screaming down a steep bumpy hil at 40+ mph you will wish you had swapped it out. Is it worth the risk?
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Old 02-12-12, 10:52 PM
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ok, i guess its weird that it would crack or if its typical paint would crack due to 'flex' in the bars. i was equipped with these when i got the bike. im 130 lbs, im not an aggressive rider pulling up and down on the bars either. usually on the hoods and tops. the bike has never fallen in house or outside nor has it been crashed...
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Old 02-12-12, 11:13 PM
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Originally Posted by reptilezs
give it the ring test, should not sound dead
Well, it is an EC70 bar which means Carbon. I'm fairly sure it won't ring if you tap it.


hkboy313, I can't tell from the pictures, but it could be a crack in the white paint due to the carbon flexing underneath it, or it could be damage and/or a manufacturing defect in the carbon. If the bar does fail, it will usually happen when you are putting some force on it and you will likely crash. Not worth $160 in my opinion.

Have you contacted Easton for Warranty?

If you need to get the bike back on the road, I would buy another bar and work with Easton on this one.
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Old 02-12-12, 11:52 PM
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thanks, when i picked up the bike, it was included from cannondale as a 'freebie'. after a few months of riding i was no adapting to the curve and took it off to replace with another but noticed that there were these imperfections...im not sure if i should be upset or surprised or thankful because i felt them all.

im not sure if i have warranty on them since it was part of the bike. and i dont have an RA number...i guess i will call customer service and ask them where to go from here since i'd like to sell these off if possible when confirmed 'safe'...
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