wooljersey

I hot S&S Couplers put on my bike three years ago. At the time I was traveling by air every other week. I took my bike everywhere and I loved it. Now that I don't travel very much I don't assemble and disassemble the bike on a regular basis. Unfortunately that also means that I have not been diligent in making sure that my couplers are tight.

As I was getting on my bike to cross a bridge I looked down and my downtube was completely detached. I also saw the toptube begin to bend. I am not sure how I got out of my pedals but I managed to put my feet on the ground and not go down.

Monday morning the bike is off to Bilenkey to get the top tube replaced and a new paint job

I should have known better -- definitely operator error.

BruceMetras

Perfect picture for the ~folding bike forum~ .. glad you're uninjured .. other than your wallet..

wooljersey

LOL ... Nice one Bruce

Not so much fun watching it fold though!

fourknees

Wow. Glad you are okay. I'm not too familiar with S&S couplers, but I assume it's a steel frame. Looking back, although I'm sure it seems like an instant I. The moment, was it several seconds time to reach that bend in the top tube? Only curious as frame materials and failures have been discussed a lot on this sub forum and others. I've been considering steel for my next folder.

wooljersey

Fourknees, yes, it is a steel frame. Since I had not tightened the couplers, the downtube came uncoupled and separated right by the bottom bracket. At this point all of my weight was on the wheels and pushing down on the top tube. It really was only seconds since the tube was not designed to stand that sort of lateral force.

When I saw the tube bend, my body instinctively knew to unclip from the pedals and put feet on the ground. It should be noted that while the steel tube bent, it did not actually break or fracture.

If this had happened half an hour earlier while I was barreling down a hill, the results would have been quite different! The problem here was not the frame material or the S&S couplers ... totally operator error!

79pmooney

You have heard me talk about failure mode (and how I like steel for exactly that reason. There was a thread recently about an aluminum frame that failed at the DT/HT weld. In the big picture, failing at the couple and at the HT joint doesn't change things much for the rest of the bike. But that rider didn't have the chance to ride to a standstill. Instead he hit the curb and the bike broke in two more places.

Not only is steel real, it stays real longer!

Ben

blakcloud

It is one of those mistakes that you will never repeat. Glad to hear you stayed upright.

SkunkWerX

Bummer! Glad you aren't hurt.

Thanks for sharing the story, reminds me to check hinges once in a while.

bhkyte

All bike fold,
Given enough force.....
Glad your ok.
Ss couplers do sound like a good idea. Possibly cheaper to get a quality bike and lighter?

fietsbob

Rod bikes 6 pack has even more S&S BTC. 2 on each tube. to pack even smaller .

Rodriguez 6-Pack Micro Folder Bicycles More connectors to double check that they're tight..