Guess the CycleChatter?

[Crackle]

I thought when you got your foot down you were just going to fall in an undignified heap but then you just flipped, now we know why. Yep, watch out for tomorrow, that'll be stiff day (no sniggering at the back).

 

[MacB]

Spectacular O, glad you're ok, is there any way to check for this sort of thing or is it generally a sudden fail?

 

[Crankarm]

Blimey! Glad you are ok. When they go they go. Happened to me about 12 years ago in London as I've written about on another thread. Fotunately I was going slowly moving away from lights managing to hold balance before I could put my feet down to steady myself a few yards on.

You had a lucky escape. Still looked painfull though. I was thinking "No, not your face/collar bone!" when you went down. Hope you are ok.

 

[Crankarm]

Spectacular O, glad you're ok, is there any way to check for this sort of thing or is it generally a sudden fail?

You can inspect for cracks showing metal fatigue I guess. Remove the bars from the stem clamp and look for any sign of imperfection or hair line crack on the surface of the bars in this area which might suggest imminent failure.

Also you can adopt a more forgiving style of cycling for your bike ie don't pull so vigorously on the handle bars instead use core strength and leg power to turn the pedals whilst seated. Adopt a smooth cycling style like a swan.

 

[Tharg2007]

Adopt a smooth cycling style like a swan.

I have never seen a swan on a bike, is this a southern thing?

 

[Sheffield_Tiger]

Adopt a smooth cycling style like a swan.

They ride bicycles? Do they have special cleats for their webbed feet?

 

[Bollo]

First it snaps off, then it scratches your laminate! Those bars are cursed, I tell ye, cursed!

I guessed who it was from your 'Johnny Cash of Cycling' apparel. Good control under the circumstances - I thought you were going to auger in to that bollard as well.

 

[TheDoctor]

Ouch!!! That looks bad, yet could have been so much worse.
Glad you're (mostly) OK.

 

[Bman]

I'm also glad your ok!

/me goes to check his bars for fatigue!

 

[Keith Oates]

Like others have said I'm glad you are more or less OK. Handlebars are an area that a lot of us don't look at so often when it's hidden under tape, perhaps it should be put on a regular inspection list!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[eldudino]

Ouch! Glad you didn't go into the car or under one of the passing motorbikes.

 

[ColinJ]

Like others have said I'm glad you are more or less OK. Handlebars are an area that a lot of us don't look at so often when it's hidden under tape, perhaps it should be put on a regular inspection list!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ah, but the bit that snapped wasn't covered by tape.

Sometimes stems can have little burrs on the inside which can score the surface of bars and create stress risers (I think that's what they are called?). That's what causes cracks to form. It's worth checking before you fit the bars.

I know it sounds obvious, but bars and stems do come in different diameters so make sure that they match!

This has got me all nervous again... I had the bolts on my stem fail on my MTB once, immediately after a kamikaze descent on a boulder-strewn bridleway. It took me ages to stop thinking about what might have been!

Anyway, I'm glad that you weren't badly hurt. You could have easily ended up under a car!

 

[PBancroft]

Ouch! I hope you feel better soon Origamist.

 

[summerdays]

Ouch - hope you are feeling better soon. Do you have a spare bike or are you off until you can get this one fixed?

I have never seen a swan on a bike, is this a southern thing?

I've always said cycling is akin to being a swan... frantic leg movements whilst the top half is smoothly gliding along hopefully looking serene - isn't that how we all cycle? .

Is there a recommended number of years/miles after which you should replace your handlebars?

 

[Origamist]

Argh - well saved - glad to hear you live to tell the tale-shame about the bike though. Rest up 'Man Mountain' and hope you don't feel it too much tommorow.

I do look lardy in that jacket - note to self -get a fitted Gore jacket next time. I want to look good when I hit the floor...

Also you can adopt a more forgiving style of cycling for your bike ie don't pull so vigorously on the handle bars instead use core strength and leg power to turn the pedals whilst seated. Adopt a smooth cycling style like a swan.

I'm hard on bikes. Less like a swan, more like a hippo.

Spectacular O, glad you're ok, is there any way to check for this sort of thing or is it generally a sudden fail?

Those bars had seen 2 minor crashes (I checked them after each crash) - and were due to be replaced in April after 15000 miles (2 and half years use). I should have been more diligent...

First it snaps off, then it scratches your laminate! Those bars are cursed, I tell ye, cursed!

I guessed who it was from your 'Johnny Cash of Cycling' apparel. Good control under the circumstances - I thought you were going to auger in to that bollard as well.

I've ordered a new wheel, OS bars, OS stem and bar tape - all in black...

Ouch - hope you are feeling better soon. Do you have a spare bike or are you off until you can get this one fixed?.

I only live a mile away from where I went down - so I pushed back and got on the tourer.

Didn't sleep too great last night, but cycled in this morning OK.