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Trek recalls nearly 900K bikes for possible crash hazard

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Trek recalls nearly 900K bikes for possible crash hazard

Old 04-22-15, 03:55 PM
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Originally Posted by bt
irregardless, the handle went into the rotor, allegedly, and paralyzed someone.
Regardless, someone forgot to use their quick release as it was designed to be used, and their misuse of the product was a causal factor in their paralysis.

Last edited by RNAV; 04-22-15 at 03:58 PM. Reason: To be less inflammatory.
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Old 04-22-15, 03:55 PM
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Originally Posted by bt
irregardless, the handle went into the rotor, allegedly, and paralyzed someone.
In 16 years, with almost a million bikes, there appear to be 3 reported incidents. These are mostly low end bikes so they may not be ridden a lot, so assume an average of 500 miles per year. That's 8 billion miles ridden. So in 8 billion miles, we've got 3 completely clueless people crashing, and one paralyzed.

I guaranteed you many more people than that have died riding those bikes in that time frame.

No product is perfectly safe, and its impossible to make a product idiot proof. At best you can make it idiot resistant.

I just don't find a QR lever that has been around since Tullio was a young man to be unreasonably unsafe, or a failure rate of once every 2.6 billion miles to be unacceptably high, particularly when those failures are completely the result of product misuse and totally avoidable by the proper use of the product.

And to be pedantic, irregardless is not proper usage. It's effectively a double negative; you mean regardless. [Edit, RNAV bet me to it.]
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Old 04-22-15, 03:59 PM
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Originally Posted by merlinextraligh
In 16 years, with almost a million bikes, there appear to be 3 reported incidents. These are mostly low end bikes so they may not be ridden a lot, so assume an average of 500 miles per year. That's 8 billion miles ridden. So in 8 billion miles, we've got 3 completely clueless people crashing, and one paralyzed.

I guaranteed you many more people than that have died riding those bikes in that time frame.

No product is perfectly safe, and its impossible to make a product idiot proof. At best you can make it idiot resistant.

I just don't find a QR lever that has been around since Tullio was a young man to be unreasonably unsafe, or a failure rate of once every 2.6 billion miles to be unacceptably high, particularly when those failures are completely the result of product misuse and totally avoidable by the proper use of the product.
yes maybe, but you could add it to your signature!

"You could mis-install your skewer and die"
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Old 04-22-15, 04:00 PM
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Originally Posted by bt
irregardless, the handle went into the rotor, allegedly, and paralyzed someone.
The QR system has been flawed for decades. Tabs on the fork ends were one solution to a glaring problem. Curved levers are another. Most of the time everyone wants everything to work out all right. The customers, the manufacturers, the lawyers even. But imagine a family outing with the the bikes. You and your spouse with the kids. The bikes get unloaded, the wheels need to be installed, a moment of distraction leads to the nut that should have been tightened left alone, the QR lever left open, a bike leaning against a car is rolled onto the path and a there a ride starts well but ends badly.

These ARE predictable moments but even when predictable, like fingers between spokes, they are inherent dangers of the sport. A stick can fly into spokes and cause death. It CAN happen but risks abound and most athletes, and even casual riders, manage the risks well.

It seems that this particular problem may have roots in some former litigation and Trek is acting in its best interests. And, no doubt, the interests of their customers.

Last edited by cale; 04-22-15 at 04:07 PM.
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Old 04-22-15, 04:03 PM
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i like that!
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Old 04-22-15, 04:10 PM
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Originally Posted by cale
The QR system has been flawed for decades. Tabs on the fork ends were one solution to a glaring problem. Curved levers are another. Most of the time everyone wants everything to work out all right. The customers, the manufacturers, the lawyers even. But imagine a family outing with the the bikes. You and your spouse with the kids. The bikes get unloaded, the wheels need to be installed, a moment of distraction leads to the nut that should have been tightened left alone, the QR lever left open, a bike leaning against a car is rolled onto the path and a there a ride starts well but ends badly.

These ARE predictable moments but even when predictable, like fingers between spokes, they are inherent to the dangers of the sport. A stick can fly into spokes and cause death. It CAN happen but risks abound and most athletes, and even casual riders, manage the risks well.

It seems that this particular problem may have roots in some former litigation and Trek is acting in its best interests. And, no doubt, the interests of their customers.
But imagine a family outing in the minivan. On the way to the beach you get a flat. You pull over to a safe place and put on the spare. But a moment of distraction you forget to tighten all the lug bolts. You continue on your way but a few miles later you feel a shutter and then suddenly the wheel falls off.

Who's fault is it... the car manufacturer?

If you're not responsible enough to ensure your own safety, you should not remove the wheel. My wife is not so we have AAA and she'll call them to put on the spare.
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Old 04-22-15, 04:10 PM
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I'm glad QRs were invented when they were. There's no way they could introduce a product like that now.
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Old 04-22-15, 04:15 PM
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Who does this guy sue?

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Old 04-22-15, 04:20 PM
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Rudy Project, LBS, LBS Salesperson who manned register, LBS Shift manager at the time, foam manufacturer, strap manufacturer

Originally Posted by oldnslow2
Who does this guy sue?

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Old 04-22-15, 04:29 PM
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Originally Posted by merlinextraligh
a good number will hear of the recall and not bother to look into it, and a good number will say, I don't need to bother because I know how to use a QR.
Occasionally recalled Viscount forks show up.

Dell had a recall on their laptop batteries a few years ago. About 3 or 4 years into the life of the battery, it was perfect timing to get a new free replacement battery

I agree that putting the lever away from the disc is the most logical thing to do. How were the bikes shipped? One can't assume a skewer won't get bumped while riding, especially on a MTB. If oriented properly, bump and release would seem rare, but undoubtedly happens occasionally.

Stuff should be designed to minimize errors.

Yeah, we can't all live in a padded room, but products should be made to minimize hazards.
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Old 04-22-15, 04:57 PM
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Originally Posted by oldnslow2
But imagine a family outing in the minivan. On the way to the beach you get a flat. You pull over to a safe place and put on the spare. But a moment of distraction you forget to tighten all the lug bolts. You continue on your way but a few miles later you feel a shutter and then suddenly the wheel falls off.

Who's fault is it... the car manufacturer?

If you're not responsible enough to ensure your own safety, you should not remove the wheel. My wife is not so we have AAA and she'll call them to put on the spare.
I bought 4 new tires for my Ranger and had them installed at a shop in Utah in the middle of one of my trips.
Drove to Oregon, and then was headed back east when I felt an odd shimmy near Ontario, OR. It turns out the tire shop forgot to tighten down one of my wheels, and I almost lost it on the road. I know EXACTLY who's fault it is.

Of course, you might say that I should check every lug nut every day with a torque wrench. I'm a bit lazy that way

Thinking of spare tires...
Ever read the labels on the spares...
"TEMPORARY USE ONLY"
"MAXIMUM SPEED" 45

Ever notice in every downturn of the economy how many cars are driving around on the Donut tires?

Originally Posted by oldnslow2
Who does this guy sue?

There's more padding on the part of the helmet protecting the forehead... Are you sure he's not safer that way?

Last edited by CliffordK; 04-22-15 at 05:01 PM.
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Old 04-22-15, 06:03 PM
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Originally Posted by Jax Rhapsody
When a simpler fix is to put the lever on the side without the disk.
Post #24 is the voice of reason!
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Old 04-22-15, 06:05 PM
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Originally Posted by oldnslow2
Who does this guy sue?

Why did I immediately think that was a photo of Timtac?

If he needs to sue anyone for his mistake, it would be his parents. But they were absolved of any responsibility when he turned 18; he's the taxpayers' problem now.
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Old 04-22-15, 06:12 PM
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Originally Posted by oldnslow2
But imagine a family outing in the minivan. On the way to the beach you get a flat. You pull over to a safe place and put on the spare. But a moment of distraction you forget to tighten all the lug bolts. You continue on your way but a few miles later you feel a shutter and then suddenly the wheel falls off.

Who's fault is it... the car manufacturer?

If you're not responsible enough to ensure your own safety, you should not remove the wheel. My wife is not so we have AAA and she'll call them to put on the spare.
It says as much in the owner's manual. Just as I'm sure it says as much about quick release skewers in the Trek manual.
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Old 04-22-15, 07:00 PM
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Originally Posted by merlinextraligh
I just don't find a QR lever that has been around since Tullio was a young man to be unreasonably unsafe, or a failure rate of once every 2.6 billion miles to be unacceptably high, particularly when those failures are completely the result of product misuse and totally avoidable by the proper use of the product.
Tullio's levers wouldn't open more than 180 degrees. Unfortunately, lots of people just don't get the QR. That's why we are devolving back to the wingnut, I think anyone can use a through axle safely
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Old 04-22-15, 08:39 PM
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Originally Posted by merlinextraligh
Properly tightend QR's don't just fly open.
Unless you're John Howard chasing ambulances
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Old 04-23-15, 04:52 AM
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On the local news last night, the news reader said, "if you own any Trek bike that has been sold within the last fifteen years, STOP RIDING IT IMMEDIATELY."

I think that advice might have been a little bit broad.
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Old 04-23-15, 07:58 AM
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Originally Posted by CliffordK
Occasionally recalled Viscount forks show up.
I had a Viscount Fork of Death.

Fortunately for me, I bought the bike from a shop in another city, and had it shipped Greyhound. The fork broke in shipping, Greyhound paid for it, and I replaced it with a chrome moly fork. Bullet dodged.
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Old 04-23-15, 08:54 AM
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Originally Posted by JimF22003
On the local news last night, the news reader said, "if you own any Trek bike that has been sold within the last fifteen years, STOP RIDING IT IMMEDIATELY."

I think that advice might have been a little bit broad.
It's like when someone gets sick because Pedro didn't wash his hands after pinching a loaf while picking the lettuce. All of a sudden, it's "Throw all of your lettuce away" all over the country. Sick. Just another way we're [the US] killing-off business. Sickening. [This is why I don't listen to mainstream media...it's nothing but misinformation; exaggeration and fear-mongering....]
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Old 04-23-15, 09:00 AM
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Originally Posted by Elvo
Trek should redesign the quick release so that it fails closed or that you lockout/tagout when you open it and require the signed acknowledgement mandatory pre-bike-ride safety checklist before every ride.
I think that's actually part of OSHA 1910.333.
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Old 04-23-15, 10:18 AM
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Originally Posted by oldnslow2
Who does this guy sue?

Paving company for making asphalt too hard.
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Old 04-23-15, 11:20 AM
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Originally Posted by oldnslow2
Who does this guy sue?

Even with today's helmet locking systems I still see this fairly often, and it astonishes me. Saw it again just last Sunday. I yelled "Your helmet is on backwards!" as a woman passed going in the opposite direction. Last year I said something to a woman wearing hers backwards. She said "That probably explains why it hurts so much." When I see children wearing helmets backwards I usually stop and say something (nicely) to the parent(s).

Most people thank me, but not always. While riding through Cleveland during a cross country tour a buddy and I caught up to two cyclists who were also doing an unsupported tour. As we passed them, I told one of the two women that her helmet was on backwards. She gave me the an incredibly nasty look as if to say "Up yours, you macho a-hole."
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Old 04-23-15, 11:29 AM
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I'm amazed how many are not adjusted correctly. The LBS should adjust the helmet and show the owner how to wear it before letting them leave. But I have seen people walk out with the helmet still in the box.

I suggested to my local club that they setup a table at 2 or 3 popular entry points tot he MUP and educate people on how to wear it correctly and make adjustments if needed.

Many times i've yelled "its not a hat, you have it on wrong" with mixed responses.

My other pet peeve is when kids have one on but the parents don't. You know that kid when older will not wear it when alone.
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Old 04-23-15, 11:48 AM
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Originally Posted by JimF22003
On the local news last night, the news reader said, "if you own any Trek bike that has been sold within the last fifteen years, STOP RIDING IT IMMEDIATELY."

I think that advice might have been a little bit broad.
There may well be some confusion on the recall.
The general advice of any recall is to stop using whatever it is until it is repaired.

In this case, it only applies to Trek bikes (MTBs?) that originally came with front disc brakes and a front QR. It would be a fairly narrow group of relatively high-end MTBs. Were a million built and distributed in the USA?

The advice should be to put the lever on the opposite side of the bike from the disc (right), then go to the shop and get the permanent fix.
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Old 04-23-15, 03:12 PM
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Originally Posted by CliffordK
The advice should be to put the lever on the opposite side of the bike from the disc (right), then go to the shop and get the permanent fix.
The advice should be to close the QR before riding.

It's that simple.

I stopped by the LBS that my son used to work at on my Trek Dual Sport. It was the fort time they actually was a bike on the recall list and agreed that you have to be stupid to ride with the QR open. They are waiting for Trek to send replacements but don't expect that many to come in.

They received a number of calls from customers that are confused on exactly what is being recalled.
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