63
votes
Accepted
How is this damaged aluminium frame likely to fail?
How is this damaged aluminium frame likely to fail?
Sorry. It's not going to fail, it has failed. It's no longer ridable. The head tube is near vertical making the steering very unstable and the ...
- 74.3k
40
votes
What is a taco?
To taco a wheel means you've bent it so badly its a write-off and cannot be salvaged through truing.
This is significantly worse than going out of true, because the rim will be creased or torn, ...
- 96.6k
38
votes
Accepted
How bad is switching derailleur gears under load?
The answer heavily depends on the groupset construction/generation and personal perception of what is "bad", among other factors. Below are a few aspects that I am aware of.
Switching gears ...
- 13.8k
36
votes
Does riding high gear up a hill damage a recumbent bike?
The bike will be fine -- the riding conditions are within the specifications of the bike components.
The bigger issue is you -- you don't want to end up damaging joints and what not by overexerting ...
- 45.5k
35
votes
Warranty on lock damaged during attempted theft
Warranties exist to protect you, the consumer, against defects in materials or workmanship, not against deliberate damage. The purpose of a bike lock is to help avoid your bike being stolen, so if it ...
- 11.4k
30
votes
Big dent on frame: How did this damage happen?
It seems that this dent belongs in the bike.
Here is a photo of a similar bike. While image is of low quality, the dent is visible:
However, as pointed out by Lamar Latrell in comments, in your ...
- 1,315
24
votes
How does a bike 'degrade' whilst unused
Of course things rust in normal use. Still, rust without moving is worse, as things stick together.
Even if the chain is generously oiled (more so than normal) before storage you'll get rust and ...
- 45.3k
21
votes
Big dent on frame: How did this damage happen?
If it is damage then no one here can say for sure how it happened.
However, it's in the realm of impossible-ish for a dent that severe to happen without paint damage or a clear mark in the paint ...
- 65.5k
20
votes
Does riding high gear up a hill damage a recumbent bike?
A very strong rider will put a lot of strain on the bike doing that. Wear on the sprockets will be slightly increased by grinding a small sprocket, but that's not a big deal. What's more significant ...
- 45.3k
18
votes
What options do I have if my rear derailleur breaks when I'm out on a trail?
If you carry a multi-tool which happens to include a chain tool, you could also convert your bike to a single speed. If you do so, you would have to replace the chain afterwards as well (since you ...
- 595
17
votes
Warranty on lock damaged during attempted theft
Some locks offer "insurance" where you can get a payout if their lock fails to protect your bike.
Of course there are caveats like "lock must be used" and "thief must leave lock behind" (for ...
- 96.6k
17
votes
Accepted
Why is a damaged bike tyre a problem?
Two things could happen:
You pump up the tube, and after a while, the side of the tire yields. Usually when you´re sitting on the bike, because that increases the pressure a bit more. Looks like it ...
- 305
17
votes
How is this damaged aluminium frame likely to fail?
Oh, that frame is done. It’s not worth saving a few hundred bucks now and spending thousands in the hospital later.
Make sure to check over the rest of the bike, especially the fork. It might have ...
- 10.5k
16
votes
Big dent on frame: How did this damage happen?
I think you'll find that the handlebar 'stem' folds to the left, and will line up with the dent when folded.
If the dent is not supposed to be there, my best guess is that the handlebar was folded ...
- 74.3k
16
votes
What do I do when I am unsure if a carbon fiber component is safe to use or needs replacing or repairing?
Carbon fiber composites are made up of sheets of carbon fiber filaments. These are usually impregnated with resin. To make CF structures, manufacturers will cut up the sheets, then lay them up onto a ...
- 18.5k
15
votes
Broken rear brake - told it was unfixable
The brake pivot broke off the frame in a very unusual way. A framebuilder may be able to contrive a pretty cheap way of fixing it by putting a new pivot stud in. This would still require removing the ...
- 65.5k
14
votes
Accepted
Frame with bottle cage boss ripped out - how serious is the damage?
You'll need to very carefully inspect the area around the boss that's been ripped out, as well as your usual second hand frame check. If the bike was ridden after the damage cracks could easily have ...
- 23k
14
votes
Accepted
Shredded bits of material under my trainer
Yes, its tyre rubber.
People typically use either old/worn, cheap hard compound or dedicated turbo tyres for this reason with wheel on style trainers.
The bad news is that more typically sprays off ...
- 12.8k
13
votes
What options do I have if my rear derailleur breaks when I'm out on a trail?
Another suggestion: Scooter it.
The bike is functional but the drive train cannot transmit power.
So one solution is to scooter along with one foot on the opposite pedal, and your other foot ...
- 96.6k
13
votes
Warranty on lock damaged during attempted theft
It still doesn't hurt to contact the manufacturer, but do not talk to as if they owe you anything.
Do an open inquiry and see if there's anything they can do.
Companies can actually do things out of ...
- 231
13
votes
How is this damaged aluminium frame likely to fail?
The problem with aluminum is, that it tends to break abruptly. Aluminum can bend under pressure, but it does no stretch significantly under tension before being ripped apart. You get no warning, you ...
13
votes
Dent below seat stay on a steel frame safe to ride?
No, you should not be worried. A dent of that size is probably not a concern on all but the very lightest (and thinnest walled) steel tubing. Surly are economical bikes and use relatively heavy and ...
- 18.5k
12
votes
Can this crack in the steel chain-side dropout be welded?
You need to consult in person with someone local to you who can make a qualified recommendation.
"It is Steel so can be welded" is mostly true, but there are always exceptions. A good welder will ...
- 96.6k
12
votes
Can this crack in the steel chain-side dropout be welded?
A lifetime frame warranty may not require that you have the receipt.
Take it to a Trek dealer and see what they say.
Several of the shops I worked at did frame warranty work with no receipt.
- 16.1k
12
votes
Scratch or damage on carbon frame
That's just a light scratch. No issues.
if you are worried that the carbon-fiber composite has been damaged by an impact or scratch, the abrasion is far too shallow for that. It has not even ...
- 74.3k
12
votes
I have a question regarding the structural integrity of my aluminum frame after its having... incurred damage;
Unfortunately the frame is now scrap. I would not ride it. The jagged edges of the hole will not help, it will induce a stress riser and the frame will crack. The question when, not if.
You will ...
- 39.4k
11
votes
Why doesn't my (battery-powered) light work in the cold?
Batteries, especially most types of rechargeables don't work well in cold conditions. The chemical reaction that powers the electric voltage does needs some temperature to perform as intended. If you ...
- 3,419
11
votes
Accepted
Why doesn't my (battery-powered) light work in the cold?
There are two reasons why it might not work:
The batteries don't like the cold. Many battery chemistries don't like the cold -- notably alkaline, manganese (heavy-duty), and NiMH/NiCad batteries. To ...
- 28.4k
11
votes
Does riding high gear up a hill damage a recumbent bike?
A friend of mine broke a crank (the "arm" of the pedal) in the Alps, so yes, parts can fail under load. It's not always the case that cheap parts fail earlier; sometimes they are actually sturdier: ...
- 1,204
11
votes
Accepted
E-Bikes - Is it bad for the bike to run out of battery?
Most rechargeable batteries have a certain voltage threshold below which they will get permanently damaged. Li-ion cells should never drop below 3.0V (slightly higher at 3.2V for LiPo). Smart ...
- 543
Only top scored, non community-wiki answers of a minimum length are eligible