Many of the bikes at Paris-Roubaix are "custom" bikes, designed to look like the sponsor's regular bike, but substituting steel parts, stronger forks, stems, bars, and rims. Hincapie was injured yesterday, and it may be a serious injury. His stem failed after his first crash, causing a second, more serious crash.

Bike companies have substituted carbon and aluminum for steel in the on-going quest of "lighter, lighter, lighter". And, we now have bikes that can't survive one hard day of riding. Pathetic and sad.