Check your handlebars!

[geekinaseat]

I just went out for a quick blast and on the descent down Blackheath Hill towards New Cross my handlebars came loose! One moment I was on the drops trying to be as aero as possible (fat chance anyway but I try my best) going ~25-30mph and the next thing I knew I nearly chinned myself on the stem as the bars loosened. The thing that really saved me was that I have suicide levers so I could brake without applying torque to the bars and keep it all under control until the bottom of the hill. It's something I really wouldn't want to repeat!

I had my multitool with me so when I stopped to tighten them there was around a quarter of a turn for each of the bolts before the bars could rotate with zero friction... they must have been working themselves free over time until today when my weight on the drops just pushed them too far!

I think I need to go and find some locktite....

 

[ianrauk]

if we ask @Origamist nicely, perhaps he can tell us about the handlebar problem he had one day

 

[Deleted member 1258]

Fortunately when I had this my speed was barely into double figures, a failure at 25-30mph sounds like a constipation cure, in my case the bike was fitted with a quill stem and I had a clamp bolt failure, the bolt screwed directly into a light alloy or aluminium stem and the thread failed.

 

[PaulSecteur]

You need Loctite threadlock...and some new shorts.

 

[biggs682]

You need Loctite threadlock...and some new shorts.

i have just spent a lot of time undoing threadlocked head set bolts and quill stem as previous owner was worried about them coming loose !!!

i dont think there is a need for threadlock on bikes just check and replace components when threads show signs of stretch or damage

 

[Chris S]

I think I need to go and find some locktite....

My left-side rear wheel nut kept working lose. I just put a single layer of plumbers tape on the axle before I put the nut on. It should be easier to undo than loctite and so far it hasn't happened again.

 

[Biker Joe]

That's a very good reminder. One we should all take note of.
Checking the tightness of fixings should be done often. It doesn't take long but it does often get overlooked.
I don't think you need the locktite.
At least you had your multitool with you.
I'm glad you got away with it without injury.
( Now to check my fixings)

 

[fossyant]

My Ritcheys have a tendency to come loose so I just check once in a while.

 

[Sara_H]

I just went out for a quick blast and on the descent down Blackheath Hill towards New Cross my handlebars came loose! One moment I was on the drops trying to be as aero as possible (fat chance anyway but I try my best) going ~25-30mph and the next thing I knew I nearly chinned myself on the stem as the bars loosened. The thing that really saved me was that I have suicide levers so I could brake without applying torque to the bars and keep it all under control until the bottom of the hill. It's something I really wouldn't want to repeat!

I had my multitool with me so when I stopped to tighten them there was around a quarter of a turn for each of the bolts before the bars could rotate with zero friction... they must have been working themselves free over time until today when my weight on the drops just pushed them too far!

I think I need to go and find some locktite....

Cripes! I've had handlebars just decide to go wobbly before, but as I'm an upright cyclist, it doesn't seem to present the same level of risk. Glad no damage done o n this occasion.

 

[Hip Priest]

Sounds awful.

You don't need locktite, just tighten the bolts. But don't be tempted to over-tighten them!

 

[geekinaseat]

Thanks everyone, for now I think I'll skip the locktite and just keep checking them regularly. It's probably worth mentioning the bike was about 4 months old and I'd not touched (or checked) the bolts since I bought it.

New shorts have been ordered

 

[ColinJ]

I had the opposite problem on my mountain bike! I set off on a ride and soon started hearing a strange creaking noise. I had a quick hunt for the source but couldn't track it down, so I made a mental note to sort it out when I got home. The ride continued, and so did the creaking ...

Eventually, I did a rapid descent down a steep, rocky bridleway which has a big drop down to a river on the left (over 60 ft in places). This is the top section of it, and it gets worse further down ..

Something on the front of the bike was creaking like mad all the way down.

I had just got onto a smoother, less steep section when there was a loud 'crack' and my handlebars rotated through 90 degrees, almost throwing me off the bike!

I managed to stop safely and discovered that the bolt in my handlebar stem had ripped the thread out of the light alloy!

So ...

1. Yes to regular bike inspections
2. Yes to making sure bolts are tight enough
3. A big 'NO' to over-tightening bolts!

 

[crazyjoe101]

I have a quill stem and the part that clamps the handlebars in has come loose three times now, only the first one being dangerous (I can read the signs now). It was when I was relatively inexperienced and was bombing it down a hill because I was late, my bars came totally loose and I was in effect holding them there myself. Luckily for me there was a Thames Water team around the corner and one chappie managed to allen key the clamp for me.

 

[Mallory]

+1

Also check your QR.

I must have rode to and from work for 3 days with a loose front QR!!! Then I found out that my stem/headset was way under torqued!!

 

[Deleted member 1258]

+1

Also check your QR.

I must have rode to and from work for 3 days with a loose front QR!!! Then I found out that my stem/headset was way under torqued!!

I've done this, front wheel off to put it in the car to go to a forum ride, when I got back I got the bike out of the car put the wheel back on gave the bike a quick check then put it away, I did several rides wondering what had happened to the handling before I discovered I hadn't fully tightened down the QR.