RogueMechanic

H2O + Bearings = Trouble

Most bikes that I come across for some reason do not have drain holes in the bottom bracket area of the frame. Most frames allow water to collect in the bottom bracket with nowhere to go. This results in the bottom bracket component sitting in water, which isn't good. Below are just a few examples of what I'm talking about...

As you can see, the results are generally not good. If you catch it early enough, you might not have to replace anything. This will depend on the design of the component and the lenght of time it was submerged.

For some reason, it's more common to find drain holes of some sort in euro frames than domestic. This leaves me scratching my bald head... How difficult would it be to add a drain hole under the bottom bracket (at the lowest point I must add because not all of the drain holes that I do find are at the lowest part of the frame...)? I have been known to fabricate a way to allow drainage without doing anything to the frame that will void the warranty. Anyway, the moral of the story is that if you seem to regularly get caught riding in wet weather and your bike doesn't have drain holes located in the area of the bottom bracket, I would recomend that you have it checked out by your favorite mechanic. If you're lucky, the bearings will be fine the cups will not be corroded in the bottom bracket....

Ritchey WCS Recall Update

The link to the page with the info regarding the recall is now working... It's here. Now it's up to them and American Classic to make it right. I can't imagine that recalling 2000 wheels is going to have a positive effect on their bottom line...

VisionTech USA Integrated Aero Bar Recall...Unplugged

It's been one day since VisionTech USA came out publicly and recalled their four models of integrated aerobars, specifically the SuperMax, TriMax, TriMax Plus, and the Pro Integrated Bicycle Aero Bars. The hazard being "The centerpiece of these bicycle aero bars can crack or break, causing the bicycle rider to lose control and crash." The "centerpiece" being the stem. The last time I checked, nothing ever good comes out of a stem failure such as this.Why am I so interested in this recall? It's because it was my client who experienced the failure last fall and initiated the recall. Fortunately, he was able to walk away from it (he can tell you all about what it's like sliding along the pavement at 28+mph a second or so after cruising along tucked in an aero position...). My part of the process was to compile report that would include my professional opinion as to the nature and cause of the failure as well as photos. These photos clearly show, even to the untrained eye, that there were inconsistent stem wall thicknesses as well as voids in the casting that contained silca sand, that is used in the casting process. Neither of these deficiencies should ever be present in a cast aluminum component so critical in nature as a stem. It's clearly not only a bad cast but also a very questionable design.... This photo shows the failure from the riders prospective...

Here's a closer view...

Here a photo from the front looking towards the steer tube clamp...

And finally, a magnified view of the impurities found in the casting of the stem wall (the white granular material is the silca sand and the larger "pebbles" is wax...)

Needless to say, a picture is worth a thousand words... These photos tell the truth about what is the force behind the recall. Hopefully they do the right thing and get all of these off of the market and out from under the riders before someone gets more than just "minor scrapes and abrasions. " One final note, they stated in the press release that, " VisionTech has received two reports of the centerpiece of these aero bars breaking, resulting in minor scrapes and abrasions. " I find it hard to believe that they would conduct a national recall of a product that they received only two reports of failure. Something smells fishy... With all of this being said, it's needless to say that if you currently own a pair of these integrated bars, I highly recommend that you cease using them immediately. Spread the word.

He did it.

This is one of the most powerful and thought provoking photos that I have seen in a while. It definitely ranks up there as one of my favorites...

Seven Cycles.....Wow!

My hat's off to the folks at Seven Cycles for a ONE week turn around (including shipping!!!) for a warranty frame repair that included replacing a seat tube. Very Impressive.

Confession.

"Hi, my name is John, it's been 18 days since my last posting....." The fact of the matter is is that I've been really swamped with work that by the end of the day, or I should say, when I get everything done that needs to be done, I find myself out of steam. I like to call this a happy problem! Anyway, enough about my excuse for not posting... I have a lot to share with all of you that I'm sure you will enjoy. I am in the process of putting together the photos that ended up being a major factor in the recall , (CPSP link)that was announced yesterday of VisionTech aerobars. I have to laugh at their comment that they only know of two failures of this nature... The design is completely flawed. More on this later. If you have been around for a while, you would remember the issue with the Ritchey hub/freehub body. It was FINALLY announced that there is a recall (The link given by Ritchey as of today is dead...) on the hub that was manufactured by American Classic. Well, I FINALLY received the call tag from Ritchey to send the wheel back. I REALLY appreciate the folks at Ritchey for keeping on top of this... I mean, it's been only 4 months... I'm not happy about this, and neither is my client. I do not want to sound like I'm bitching about everything, but I've had it up to here with issues like these... And the industry wonders why it's in the position that it is in. Again, more on this later. I gotta run because I have some bikes that need my attention. Thanks for reading. -John

Yes....it's Gary

For your entertainment, here's one from the Old Skool BC Photo File...Yep, that's Gary Fisher at The Bike Club. The story behind this photo is that he just flew in to town to do a ride at, if I remember correctly, Vulture's Knob, and he had us assemble his bike which happened to be his prototype 29'er. Those of you who are familiar with BC knows who's who...

My opinion regarding the crash

Based on the videos that I have watched showing the Zabriskie crash in the TTT, I highly doubt that it was caused by the chain "skipping" as was quoted. I believe that he touched the wheel in front of him. Clearly rider error, not mechanical.

New FAQ Page!!!

Check out this link to the RogueMechanic FAQ page that I'm working on. Let me know if you have any questions that you would like for me to include. Thanks! -John

This is great....

19:02 Jan Ullrich labouring, chugging a monster gear but not looking like his usual locomotive self... HOLY MOLY... Lance Armstrong has Jan Ullrich in his sights... The American started one minute back of the German champion and can now see Ullrich just up the road. Can you spell H-U-M-I-L-I-A-T-I-O-N?

19:06 AMRMSTRONG RIDES RIGHT BY JAN ULLRICH, DUMPING THE GERMAN LIKE GARBAGE!!!!

19:05 LANCE ARMSTRONG -- turning a killer cadence -- is right on Jan Ullrich's heels... The American reeling in the German like a fatigued fish... 4 km to ride... Armstrong just 5 metres off Ullrich's wheel...