Creaking handlebar may signal trouble's brewing!
04-07-10, 06:56 PM
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Creaking handlebar may signal trouble's brewing!
So a few days ago I noticed creaking on the left side of my bullhorns. Didn't think too much about it, I've had plenty of handlebars creak over the years. When I got the bike home I put a dab of grease between the stem and the bars and that seemed to fix the problem for the most part. Still a little sound now and then, but not as bad as it was.
Today I made it to the end of my driveway then suddenly found myself on the pavement, with no idea what just happened. Until I saw the broken bar that is.DSC00125..jpgDSC00124..jpgDSC00126..jpgDSC00121a..jpg
So now nursing a sore neck and minor road rash, but grateful it wasn't as bad as it could have been. Could have happened in traffic, while riding much faster, and I could have impaled myself on the broken bar.
Today I made it to the end of my driveway then suddenly found myself on the pavement, with no idea what just happened. Until I saw the broken bar that is.DSC00125..jpgDSC00124..jpgDSC00126..jpgDSC00121a..jpg
So now nursing a sore neck and minor road rash, but grateful it wasn't as bad as it could have been. Could have happened in traffic, while riding much faster, and I could have impaled myself on the broken bar.
04-07-10, 07:01 PM
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Wow.... you were lucky. How long have you had that handlebar? Do you ride a lot out of the saddle? First time I've seen one shear like that.
04-07-10, 07:24 PM
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Bummer about the bar and helmet, but at least you don't have to replace pieces of skull.
I put a brand new stem and moustache bar on my bike a couple of months ago, and they've creaked since day one. Everything's tight, and the bar only creaks when I'm out of the saddle and climbing. Think I'll go take 'em apart and look for cracks.
How old and what brand were the bars?
I put a brand new stem and moustache bar on my bike a couple of months ago, and they've creaked since day one. Everything's tight, and the bar only creaks when I'm out of the saddle and climbing. Think I'll go take 'em apart and look for cracks.
How old and what brand were the bars?
04-07-10, 07:36 PM
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the dog ate my earbuds
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Dude that's epic!
And in the kind of traffic and urban sprawl you maneuver each day it's amazing it happened right there at home. Damn, and the speed you ride too.
You are lucky!
Do you need to borrow my helmet????
And in the kind of traffic and urban sprawl you maneuver each day it's amazing it happened right there at home. Damn, and the speed you ride too.
You are lucky!
Do you need to borrow my helmet????
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Litespeed Siena, Campy
Peugeot U010, Deep V's in orange and fixed
Bridgestone X03 - the beer bike
Waterford R2200, Campy Chorus/Super Record Cobaltobrakes
Motobecane Tandem - Craigslist find
Belgium Bertin. an angel spared it and sent it my way.
Fuji Folding 4130 Mountain bike - Marlboro edition trash find
Specialized HR -A1, latest trash find (who throws bikes out??!!)
04-07-10, 07:37 PM
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Yeah, I like that helmet a lot too! But I like my head a lot more!
Bars are Profile bullhorns, not sure what model. At least 15 years old. I do my fair share of out of the saddle riding I suppose.
Bars are Profile bullhorns, not sure what model. At least 15 years old. I do my fair share of out of the saddle riding I suppose.
04-08-10, 01:54 AM
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I'm going to go right out and say what everyone is thinking: It's that damn stem, something that hideous is bound to cause catastrophic failure.
Seriously though, I'm glad you made it out allright.
Seriously though, I'm glad you made it out allright.
04-08-10, 02:16 AM
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I've experienced a similar failure with a comparable bar. Crack originated on the underside. Bars failed while rowing on them away from a stop sign.
I believe lower end bars like Profiles to be safe. provided they are replaced regularly. Like maybe at half to a third of the lifetime of the OP's, depending on usage.
For longer life, invest in higher quality bars.
Inspection is still key. The OP's crack had likely been opening up for months. Look at the dirt/grease/oxidation in the upper part of the break.
I believe lower end bars like Profiles to be safe. provided they are replaced regularly. Like maybe at half to a third of the lifetime of the OP's, depending on usage.
For longer life, invest in higher quality bars.
Inspection is still key. The OP's crack had likely been opening up for months. Look at the dirt/grease/oxidation in the upper part of the break.
04-12-10, 08:20 AM
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the dog ate my earbuds
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I was with him the day he found that stem at the bike swap meet. I think it was $5, (right?).
The glare was unmistakable coming from the table.
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Litespeed Siena, Campy
Peugeot U010, Deep V's in orange and fixed
Bridgestone X03 - the beer bike
Waterford R2200, Campy Chorus/Super Record Cobaltobrakes
Motobecane Tandem - Craigslist find
Belgium Bertin. an angel spared it and sent it my way.
Fuji Folding 4130 Mountain bike - Marlboro edition trash find
Specialized HR -A1, latest trash find (who throws bikes out??!!)
Litespeed Siena, Campy
Peugeot U010, Deep V's in orange and fixed
Bridgestone X03 - the beer bike
Waterford R2200, Campy Chorus/Super Record Cobaltobrakes
Motobecane Tandem - Craigslist find
Belgium Bertin. an angel spared it and sent it my way.
Fuji Folding 4130 Mountain bike - Marlboro edition trash find
Specialized HR -A1, latest trash find (who throws bikes out??!!)
04-12-10, 01:02 PM
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04-12-10, 01:06 PM
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Some may think the mutant is an ugly stem, to each their own. I say show me a threadless stem that isn't!
