Fail! Bicycle and component failures

[Danneaux]

This will kill productivity for awhile...a few selections from Danneaux's collection of Fail links.

Best,

Dan.
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http://www.yellowjersey.org/fail.html
http://bulgier.net/pics/bike/Broken/
http://www.m-gineering.nl/oopsg.htm
http://pardo.net/bike/pic/index.html
Bicycle Museum of Bad Ideas http://pardo.net/bike/pic/mobi/
Hypercracker-caused frame failure (dropout elongation): http://pardo.net/bike/pic/fail-029/index.html
http://cozybeehive.blogspot.com/search/label/Equipment%20Misbehavior <-- More if you go "older" from here (link at bottom of pages)
http://cozybeehive.blogspot.com/2009/12/thomson-masterpiece-seatpost-failure.html
http://cozybeehive.blogspot.com/2008/09/ax-lightness-daedalus-seatpost-failure.html
http://cozybeehive.blogspot.com/2008/08/breaking-look-pedals-cyclists-prayer.html
http://cozybeehive.blogspot.com/2008/10/inspection-of-daves-carbon-fiber-road.html
http://cozybeehive.blogspot.com/2009/03/thomson-elite-seatpost-failure.html
http://materials.open.ac.uk/mem/mem_ccf.htm
http://www.bikexprt.com/witness/index.htm
http://www.bikexprt.com/witness/product/stems.htm

Survey of cold-related failures: http://www.icebike.org/surveyfailure.htm

"Steel is Real". Carbon...has some limitations:
http://jimlangley.com/articles/caring-for-carbon-fiber-bicycles-and-components-pg71.htm
Enve Carbon fork disclaimer, warnings: http://www.enve.com/manuals.aspx?id=qxcoPJNCEaY%3D
Busted Carbon: http://www.bustedcarbon.com/
Easton Carbon fork warnings, installation cautions: http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=bicycle+component+failure&source=web&cd=31&ved=0CCMQFjAAOB4&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cervelo.com%2Fr%2Ffork_07-EN.PDF&ei=87U4T5WiO8WsiAKRnPXRCg&usg=AFQjCNGSwkZg_IoVw7ffs86hTnzt9aTeoA&cad=rja
Fork failure following component failure: http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=bicycle+component+failure&source=web&cd=5&ved=0CD0QFjAE&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.robsonforensic.com%2Flibrary%2Ffiles%2FCases%2FBICYCLE-FAILURE-EXPERT.pdf&ei=NK44T8nqB8eiiQKJs6XbCw&usg=AFQjCNHiFQ8JjTLhW0EWm52UX2_52kPq1A&cad=rja
Care and Maintenance Guide for Carbon Fiber Components: http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=bicycle+component+failure&source=web&cd=20&ved=0CGAQFjAJOAo&url=http%3A%2F%2Fforum.slowtwitch.com%2Fcgi-bin%2Fgforum.cgi%3Fpost%3D1713412&ei=qbI4T9ygLsOliQLWm9CLCg&usg=AFQjCNENl27b71NuIzlN3GEIMBBWNQGrRg&cad=rja
Carbon fiber testing methodology: http://www.carbon-bike-check.com/html/forces.html
Carbon vs Steel vs Failure modalities (Calfee): http://www.calfeedesign.com/tech-papers/technical-white-paper/#
 
Photos, failed and broken parts: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jakesbikes/
Quantification of Structural Loading During Off-Road Cycling: http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=bicycle+component+failure&source=web&cd=77&ved=0CEwQFjAGOEY&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bme.ucdavis.edu%2Fhull%2Ffiles%2F2011%2F11%2FDeLorenzo_JBiomechEng_1999-2.pdf&ei=78A4T_nZOOW0iQLoysikDg&usg=AFQjCNE52rGE4m0t_mYZHQ8Uh8XhEWb7Gg&cad=rja
Sealed bearings that aren't: http://pardo.net/bike/pic/fail-036/index.html

Touring-related failures:
Touring Parts Failure: http://www.downtheroad.org/Equipment/Pictures-Equipment/Pannier_failure.htm
http://www.vwvagabonds.com/Bike/BikeSuccessFailure.html
What worked, did not on tour: http://www.goingslowly.com/gear/
Velocity rim touring failures: http://journal.goingslowly.com/2009/12/velocity-rims-part-2/
Karrimor pannier suspension failure: http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2908

[Danneaux]

Hi All,

Though Rohloff failures are rare, they apparently do sometimes occur. As with all failures listed under this topic heading, seeing photos and reading accounts gives us something to look for and check as we clean and sort our bikes. Most bike failures are gradual, and start as small cracks that propagate before giving way. Knowing what to look for -- and taking action while failures are in their early stages -- is to the rider's benefit. Hence, this Rohloff-specific followup to my first list of failure links.

Best,

Dan.

Addenda: Rohloff-specific failures
Rohloff flange failures (gallery, with source links):
http://www.pardo.net/bike/pic/fail-001/FAIL-141.html
http://www.pardo.net/bike/pic/fail-001/FAIL-145.html

Photos and narrative:
http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/page/?o=RrzKj&page_id=138727&v=2x
(Still functional despite problems, tour continues)
http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/page/?o=1&page_id=138728&v=58
http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/page/?o=1&page_id=140882&v=4l
http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/page/?o=1&page_id=142374&v=3y (resolution)

http://takeonafrica.com/bike-expedition/thoughts-on-a-rohloff-equipped-bike/

[Danneaux]

Hi All!

Though Ortlieb failures appear to be rare, they can and do happen. As an outgrowth of the discussion on Ortlieb reliability here: http://www.thorncycles.co.uk/forums/index.php?topic=54.0 , I am posting links related to Ortlieb failure modes below; they are the most relevant links extracted from my collection on pannier failures.

Hope this helps.

Best,

Dan.

------------------------------------------------
Replacing a broken Ortlieb hook (QL-2 rails/hooks):
http://nhfobb.com/2010/05/13/replacing-hooks-on-ortlieb-panniers/

Fellow with a Thorn Sterling going from Alaska to Tierra del Fuego...who has had to replace a number of broken rtlieb hooks:
http://www.thefuegoproject.com/i_gear.html

Ortlieb Rail Failures (sheared bolts)/Ortlieb welded seam split/Mechanical failures while on-tour:
http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/page/?page_id=93000

Broken hook on first ride, REI user review:
http://www.rei.com/product/784042/ortlieb-bike-packer-plus-panniers-pair

Complete Ortlieb failures on upgrading to newer model:
http://www.velomad.co.uk/Basics/equipment.htm

Running four hooks on Ortliebs:
http://cyclingabout.com/index.php/2011/11/ortlieb-pannier-bag-tip/ <-- With older mounting system

Running double stabilizer fins:
http://thelazyrandonneur.blogspot.com/2008/07/ortlieb-ql2-double-hook.html

Ortlieb hook adapter insert retention problem/loss:
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/thread.jspa?threadID=2005186
http://www.woollypigs.com/2010/06/ortlieb-bike-packer-plus-rear/
...and addressing the problem... http://www.woollypigs.com/2011/09/fettling-ortlieb-pannier-hooks/
http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/reviews/board/message/?thread_id=38352&page=1&nested=0#127860 <-- With older mounting system
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/thread.jspa?threadID=1697911 <-- Including a comment by Vikram Banerjee, late of this Forum, who discarded his adapters and wrapped his racks oversize with tape.

Swapping Ortlieb hook inserts:
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php/759908-How-do-I-switch-the-hook-inserts-on-Ortlieb-QL1-%28to-fit-a-smaller-diameter-rack%29

Ortlieb pannier comments (Surly LHT Forum, including comments by Vik Banerjee):
http://groups.google.com/group/surlylht/browse_thread/thread/341c902e7504713a/8595d7f77e905ab8

Someone who passionately hates Ortliebs:
http://www.cyclingscholar.com/ortlieb.html
 
Pannier mounting systems compared:
http://lovelybike.blogspot.com/2011/03/pannier-mounting-systems-compared.html

Holes chewed in Tubus rack by unrestrained/unpadded Ortlieb hooks (photo 1/3 of way down page):
http://homepage.mac.com/isaetterry/pagestoplevel/pageequipment.htm

Pannier reviews and comments on breakage:
http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=16803654

Karrimor 'Iberian'pannier hook failure (pull-through; also can affect Vaude):
http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2908

Vaude pannier hook failures (pull-through and hook inversion):
Karrimor 'Iberian'pannier hook failure (pull-through; also can affect Vaude):
http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2908

Solicited opinions (Bike Forum), best pannier mounting scheme (Ortlieb vs Arkel vs Rixen & Kaul):
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php/614767-Mounting-Systems-Ortlieb-vs-Arkel-vs-Rixen-Kraul

Mounting systems compared:
http://www.bicycle-touring-guide.com/bicycle-panniers/

[JWestland]

If I may add...

http://www.bustedcarbon.com/

http://brokenbikeparts.com/

Hmmm no Thorns on there