On 2019-08-28 16:28, Sir Ridesalot wrote:
On Wednesday, 28 August 2019 19:09:47 UTC-4, Joerg wrote:
On 2019-08-03 11:31, Joerg wrote:
Folks,
Had a nasty crash about three months ago. Long story short my
handlebar broke without any warning. There was no cause such as a
speed bump or pothole.
http://analogconsultants.com/ng/bike/Handlebar1.jpg
The handlebar was not cheap, an ITM Mondial. It seems they
botched the design in that they used a non-coated steel stiffener
tube in the center. This corroded the aluminum from the inside
out, interestingly in riding direction. Possibly because that's
where the headwinds are hitting it and maybe cause condensation:
http://analogconsultants.com/ng/bike/Handlebar1.jpg
JFTR, it should have been this pictu
http://analogconsultants.com/ng/bike/Handlebar2.jpg
Luckily it didn't happen 1/2h earlier where I was coming down a
steep hill at more than 40mph, with a rocky drainage ditch. It
happened at a leisurely travel speed of 15-17mph. Thanks to the
fact that it was a very wide bike lane I had space to roll and at
the end I skidded to avoid traffic. In the lane I'd have crashed
into the path of vehicles. About the only body part that wasn't
hurt was my head, thanks to the helmet.
http://analogconsultants.com/ng/bike/Helmet1.jpg
I am back in the saddle. I no longer trust aluminum and certainly
not any kind of plastic stuff so the road bike now has a flat
steel MTB handlebar. Put MeetLocks ergo handles on it, rides
nicely.
As a side note I cycled by the crash site a week ago. I still saw
the scrape marks on the asphalt and debris from my bike which I
cleaned up. Interestingly all the blood was gone. Maybe a wild
animal has licked it clean.
-- Regards, Joerg
http://www.analogconsultants.com/
looks like the handlebar was cracked for a while before finally
failing.
But not visible from the outside. I checked it very thoroughly whenever
I replaced the handlebar tape which I had to do a lot.
Not having that dreaded handlebar tape anymore is another serious upside
of the (steel) flat bar I have now. I mounted these:
https://www.meetlocksonline.com/coll...e-parts-1-pair
Very comfortable. So much so that I installed the non-horned version on
the MTB.
https://www.meetlocksonline.com/coll...e-parts-1-pair
Helmet saved you from serious injury? Ohh! that statement will open a
can of worms and most likely start yet another anti-helmet thread. I
wonder how long it'll take?
The helmet did prevent a head bruise and maybe some headache but it
wasn't much. It clearly made pavement contact. Had to because I tried to
roll.
So no, this was not a "the helmet saved my life" crash. It just made
sure that my head was about the only body part that didn't get banged up
at all, not one little scratch.
--
Regards, Joerg
http://www.analogconsultants.com/