On Wednesday, August 28, 2019 at 4:28:17 PM UTC-7, 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.
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?
Cheers
Cracked for a while and exposed to an electrolyte like sweat. I would expect creaking or clicking since it looks like more than a third of the radius was significantly corroded. Maybe Andrew could diagnose.
-- Jay Beattie.