Stem broke in half while riding
04-28-14 | 12:44 PM
#51
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From: Alpharetta, GA
Bikes: Nashbar Road
You'd think that any stem would be sturdy enough, like handlebars who would deliberately sell one that was flimsy? But, I'll be changing mine to an aluminum one from the old parts-box.
04-28-14 | 12:54 PM
#52
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Joined: Jul 2005
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From: Northern N.J.
Bikes: '11 TIME NXR Instinct, '03 De Rosa Planet '79 Paris Sport (Moulton)
Why from the old parts box? Splurge and get a decent new stem!
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'11 Time NXR Instinct / '79 Paris Sport by Moulton
'11 Time NXR Instinct / '79 Paris Sport by Moulton
04-28-14 | 01:05 PM
#53
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From: SF Bay Area
Bikes: Bianchi Infinito (Celeste, of course)
I suspect the trainer sessions are really what killed it. When I'm on the trainer, I'm sweating like crazy. In an aero-position you're going to be dripping sweat straight into the stem.
04-28-14 | 01:10 PM
#54
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 2,076
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From: Tulsa OK
Meh not the kind of heavy that causes problems like that. I'm sticking with the lack of bike handling thing and the awful sleeveless jerseys.
04-28-14 | 01:16 PM
#55
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From: Alpharetta, GA
Bikes: Nashbar Road
04-28-14 | 01:39 PM
#56
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From: Palm Coast, Fl.
Bikes: Cannondale SystemSix Carbon
The last time I seen aluminum equipment fail like that was back in the day when there was all the anodized aluminum parts around of mountain and road pre carbon age. It was usually the non hard anodized stuff that would fail that I think was of the 7 series variety. Though I thought things were way past that now...
04-28-14 | 02:38 PM
#58
serious cyclist
Joined: Apr 2009
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From: Austin
Bikes: S1, R2, P2
I had wondered about this. Heavy rider, forwardish position, some corrosion, hitting a pothole due to lack of handling skills (tri guy after all), and crack it goes. Good thing this won't affect how poorly he climbs or how ridiculous his sleeveless jersey looks.
Which tri jokes did I miss?
Which tri jokes did I miss?
Oh right, wrong forum for that.
04-28-14 | 04:57 PM
#61
Mr. Dopolina
Joined: May 2007
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From: Taiwan
Bikes: KUUPAS, Simpson VR
The last pics tell a clearer story.
Carbon wrapping is all for looks and just adds weight. Pass.
Carbon wrapping is all for looks and just adds weight. Pass.
04-28-14 | 05:22 PM
#62
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I thank this thread for giving me just one more thing to worry about while riding my nearly 10 year old bike made of a mix of aluminium and carbon parts. Ugh, I feel soo much better now. With all of our cumulative advances in today's technologies a cyclist can still succumb to his own sweat.
I quit.
I quit.
04-28-14 | 07:21 PM
#64
moving target
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 2,952
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From: birmingham, al
Bikes: looks like a specialized crux now
04-28-14 | 07:56 PM
#65
They are good stems. I have two of them with never a problem. I have no idea what caused your failure. You should notify the manufacturer.
As far as recommendations, I have taken a real liking to the Zipp Service Course SL stems (also bars and seatposts). The Cobras have been lying around in the garage for a while.
Glad the outcome wasn't any worse. Wow!
As far as recommendations, I have taken a real liking to the Zipp Service Course SL stems (also bars and seatposts). The Cobras have been lying around in the garage for a while.
Glad the outcome wasn't any worse. Wow!
04-28-14 | 08:21 PM
#66
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From: Hudson Valley, NY
Bikes: Merlin Cyrene '04; Bridgestone RB-1 '92
Was the OP riding in a group or solo?
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04-29-14 | 01:31 PM
#67
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Okay, serious question for the people in this thread who appear to actually know things about things: Does this mean that I should be removing and inspecting my seatpost, stem, bars, crank arms, etc on a semi-regular basis? I mean, my bars have been wrapped and set for literally two years, and that photo of the magic disintegrating bars was terrifying - who knows what awful secrets the bar tape might conceal? I've tended to think of the non-moving parts of the bike as more or less set-and-forget. Dangerously incorrect?
04-29-14 | 01:42 PM
#68
moving target
Joined: Oct 2006
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From: birmingham, al
Bikes: looks like a specialized crux now
yeah, bikes are tools, and like most tools, they break.
you have to consider the chemicals people drink these days, we sweat them out. and as they come out they tend to be bad for the surfaces they come into contact with. that is part of the issue with the corrosion that a lot of the frames are having. and why we are seeing different colors of corrosion.
plus you have to consider the amount the weight some of the more recent bikes and frames, as they get lighter, they get weaker.
it typically has been (strength ,weight, cost,) choose two.
you have to consider the chemicals people drink these days, we sweat them out. and as they come out they tend to be bad for the surfaces they come into contact with. that is part of the issue with the corrosion that a lot of the frames are having. and why we are seeing different colors of corrosion.
plus you have to consider the amount the weight some of the more recent bikes and frames, as they get lighter, they get weaker.
it typically has been (strength ,weight, cost,) choose two.
04-29-14 | 03:11 PM
#69
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Okay, serious question for the people in this thread who appear to actually know things about things: Does this mean that I should be removing and inspecting my seatpost, stem, bars, crank arms, etc on a semi-regular basis? I mean, my bars have been wrapped and set for literally two years, and that photo of the magic disintegrating bars was terrifying - who knows what awful secrets the bar tape might conceal? I've tended to think of the non-moving parts of the bike as more or less set-and-forget. Dangerously incorrect?
04-29-14 | 03:51 PM
#70
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Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 6,682
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From: Above ground, Walnut Creek, Ca
Bikes: 8 ss bikes, 1 5-speed touring bike
Okay, serious question for the people in this thread who appear to actually know things about things: Does this mean that I should be removing and inspecting my seatpost, stem, bars, crank arms, etc on a semi-regular basis? I mean, my bars have been wrapped and set for literally two years, and that photo of the magic disintegrating bars was terrifying - who knows what awful secrets the bar tape might conceal? I've tended to think of the non-moving parts of the bike as more or less set-and-forget. Dangerously incorrect?
BTW, aluminum and it's alloys are subject to corrosion in the presence of even mild acids like citric acid in tomatoes and fruits. (hence my recommendation to the OP to lay off the jalapenos) it's not necessarily a galvanic reaction, which, i think, must involve two different metals in the presence of an electrolyte. sorry i guess i'm guilty of nitpicking here.
Last edited by hueyhoolihan; 04-29-14 at 03:58 PM.
05-02-14 | 11:44 AM
#71
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As I mentioned before, I contacted Profile Design about this, and they concluded that it failed due to corrosion (as my mechanic initially said lol). This is what they said:
"That first picture is very helpful. What looks like happened is there was some scratch or chip in the carbon which exposed the aluminum. Once exposed the sweat and/or drink mix started doing work on it. I would like to get that stem back for further inspection. "
I'm guessing this is because the AL beneath the carbon layer is not as protected as the normal anodized AL stems. So once the carbon starts to peel off, sweat and hydration start the corrosion of the AL, and you won't be able to notice this because of the carbon layer that is hiding the corrosion of the entire stem.
They also told me that the stem was discontinued, and they offered to replace my stem with a new top of line stem plus a new handlebar and aerobars, which is great. They responded promptly and seems they have very good customer service by the way.
However I am concerned about what happened since many people could be riding this same stem without knowing that it may have a design problem and after all, this stem is still available in many online retailers.
To make things worse, I went riding yesterday with my group, and a fellow cyclist had the same stem that I had, and it was already showing the same signs of peeling that mine had. After hearing my story, he was going to change the stem ASAP, but this means that there may be a lot of people using this same stem, not worrying about the peeling since they would never think of the catastrophic failure that could happen. I am attaching photos of his stem, so that you can see what the initial peeling looks like. This was exactly what happened to mine, before it suddenly broke in half.
I have contacted Profile Design again about this, and sent them these photos too, since I think they need to issue a warning or recall before a tragic accident occurs.
"That first picture is very helpful. What looks like happened is there was some scratch or chip in the carbon which exposed the aluminum. Once exposed the sweat and/or drink mix started doing work on it. I would like to get that stem back for further inspection. "
I'm guessing this is because the AL beneath the carbon layer is not as protected as the normal anodized AL stems. So once the carbon starts to peel off, sweat and hydration start the corrosion of the AL, and you won't be able to notice this because of the carbon layer that is hiding the corrosion of the entire stem.
They also told me that the stem was discontinued, and they offered to replace my stem with a new top of line stem plus a new handlebar and aerobars, which is great. They responded promptly and seems they have very good customer service by the way.
However I am concerned about what happened since many people could be riding this same stem without knowing that it may have a design problem and after all, this stem is still available in many online retailers.
To make things worse, I went riding yesterday with my group, and a fellow cyclist had the same stem that I had, and it was already showing the same signs of peeling that mine had. After hearing my story, he was going to change the stem ASAP, but this means that there may be a lot of people using this same stem, not worrying about the peeling since they would never think of the catastrophic failure that could happen. I am attaching photos of his stem, so that you can see what the initial peeling looks like. This was exactly what happened to mine, before it suddenly broke in half.
I have contacted Profile Design again about this, and sent them these photos too, since I think they need to issue a warning or recall before a tragic accident occurs.
05-02-14 | 12:56 PM
#72
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Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 6,682
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From: Above ground, Walnut Creek, Ca
Bikes: 8 ss bikes, 1 5-speed touring bike
nice to hear the company is interested and interacting with you in a responsible way. it's informative to see the pics of other aluminum corrosion. looks like they are largely, as mentioned, non-anodized and protected to some degree from the open air, while simultaneously being subjected to large amounts of sweat. and beyond the critical sight of the user too.
Last edited by hueyhoolihan; 05-02-14 at 04:38 PM.
05-02-14 | 01:38 PM
#74
Banned
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 43,586
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From: NW,Oregon Coast
Bikes: 8
gram shaving has its cost, in durability .. the pros help sell the high end stuff , but they dont use any of the same gear the next year,
its all new ... , and may have a identical bike the next day if their present one has issues ..
now you will change the stem every year or so just to be safe .. Right?
its all new ... , and may have a identical bike the next day if their present one has issues ..
now you will change the stem every year or so just to be safe .. Right?
05-02-14 | 01:52 PM
#75
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,953
Likes: 6
Nice! Glad they were so responsive. That's great! Definitely take them up on that.
Looks like improper prep before they painted and not sticking to the metal well at that area
and/or the paint was too thick and the top cap "crushing" the paint, causing it to chip off.
But that's just raw conjecture. Who knows the reality. Profile is just guessing too, until they see the part in detail.
Even if yours failed in this manner, it's not necessarily logical to say others will too.
So, do what you think is right but glad you were not hurt and Profile covered you so well on replacements!
Looks like improper prep before they painted and not sticking to the metal well at that area
and/or the paint was too thick and the top cap "crushing" the paint, causing it to chip off.
But that's just raw conjecture. Who knows the reality. Profile is just guessing too, until they see the part in detail.
Even if yours failed in this manner, it's not necessarily logical to say others will too.
So, do what you think is right but glad you were not hurt and Profile covered you so well on replacements!
As I mentioned before, I contacted Profile Design about this, and they concluded that it failed due to corrosion (as my mechanic initially said lol). This is what they said:
"That first picture is very helpful. What looks like happened is there was some scratch or chip in the carbon which exposed the aluminum. Once exposed the sweat and/or drink mix started doing work on it. I would like to get that stem back for further inspection. "
I'm guessing this is because the AL beneath the carbon layer is not as protected as the normal anodized AL stems. So once the carbon starts to peel off, sweat and hydration start the corrosion of the AL, and you won't be able to notice this because of the carbon layer that is hiding the corrosion of the entire stem.
They also told me that the stem was discontinued, and they offered to replace my stem with a new top of line stem plus a new handlebar and aerobars, which is great. They responded promptly and seems they have very good customer service by the way.
However I am concerned about what happened since many people could be riding this same stem without knowing that it may have a design problem and after all, this stem is still available in many online retailers.
To make things worse, I went riding yesterday with my group, and a fellow cyclist had the same stem that I had, and it was already showing the same signs of peeling that mine had. After hearing my story, he was going to change the stem ASAP, but this means that there may be a lot of people using this same stem, not worrying about the peeling since they would never think of the catastrophic failure that could happen. I am attaching photos of his stem, so that you can see what the initial peeling looks like. This was exactly what happened to mine, before it suddenly broke in half.
I have contacted Profile Design again about this, and sent them these photos too, since I think they need to issue a warning or recall before a tragic accident occurs.
"That first picture is very helpful. What looks like happened is there was some scratch or chip in the carbon which exposed the aluminum. Once exposed the sweat and/or drink mix started doing work on it. I would like to get that stem back for further inspection. "
I'm guessing this is because the AL beneath the carbon layer is not as protected as the normal anodized AL stems. So once the carbon starts to peel off, sweat and hydration start the corrosion of the AL, and you won't be able to notice this because of the carbon layer that is hiding the corrosion of the entire stem.
They also told me that the stem was discontinued, and they offered to replace my stem with a new top of line stem plus a new handlebar and aerobars, which is great. They responded promptly and seems they have very good customer service by the way.
However I am concerned about what happened since many people could be riding this same stem without knowing that it may have a design problem and after all, this stem is still available in many online retailers.
To make things worse, I went riding yesterday with my group, and a fellow cyclist had the same stem that I had, and it was already showing the same signs of peeling that mine had. After hearing my story, he was going to change the stem ASAP, but this means that there may be a lot of people using this same stem, not worrying about the peeling since they would never think of the catastrophic failure that could happen. I am attaching photos of his stem, so that you can see what the initial peeling looks like. This was exactly what happened to mine, before it suddenly broke in half.
I have contacted Profile Design again about this, and sent them these photos too, since I think they need to issue a warning or recall before a tragic accident occurs.