RogueMechanic

Mavic Ksyrium SL Issue...

Here's an odd one. This shows that even some of the best products in the market can fail. What you're looking at in the first photo is the part of the hub that the freehub body is installed over. It's where the pawls are located (pawls and springs not shown in photo).

This photo shows the failure...

Here's a closer look..

This should fall under Mavic's warranty policy. The wheel has been sent and I'm just waiting to hear back from the Mavic warranty department. If by some odd reason they say it's not covered....oh.... there's going to be some issues... I'll keep you posted.

VisionTech Aero Brake lever cables

It's been a long day and even longer evening.  Hey, I'm not complaining!  It's good to be busy.  There is something that I'd like to share with you mainly because it's been bugging me.  Today, I was on a quest to find out if there is a specific replacement brake cable set for the VisionTech Aero Brake Levers.  Since the original cables that come with the levers have a unique end, much like a standard shimano derailleur cable, I wanted to know if replacements are available.  I searched their website and a large suppliers catalog and wasn't too successful (I did find a brake cable set of  Drag On cables and housing, but it was listed for mountain bike use and didn't include any other info that might lead me to believe that it was indeed designed for the Aero levers...).  This forced me to call FSA, who owns VisionTech, to get a definitive answer... I was told that a standard mountain bike type cable would work.  I responded that it definitely would not work because the cable end is similar to a derailleur cable.  I asked if there are replacement cables available for purchase.  After placing me on hold, he told me that a derailleur cable "SHOULD" work.... and I quote,  "I mean, like you shift thousands of times compared to braking..."  Unbelievable.  Obviously, I was not satisfied with his answer.  (I'm I the only one that can see the liability issue here?!?  But then again, it was VisionTech that dragged its feet about this...).

I then called the large supplier and left a voice mail with the product manager regarding my concern.  When he promptly returned my call he said that he was given the same answer from FSA and he too was not comfortable with it.  He mentioned that the president of FSA was going to be there later on in the day and that he'll ask him personally.  He promised to get back to me with the answer tomorrow.  Fair enough.  He did mention that the listing in their on-line catalog was a misprint and said that he will get it corrected.  What I'm wondering is  how many people have replaced their brake cables with derailleur cables?  Because there is a significant difference in the diameter of the cables (typically 1.2mm for derailleur and 1.6mm for brake(Shimano DuraAce and mountain)) along with the size of the cable end, there has to be a significant reduction of strength of the cables let alone the ability of the pinch bolt on the brake calipers to hold the cable in the designated groove.  If these are in fact proprietary cables (which is ALL that we really need!), they need to publicly make this known.   I'll keep you posted on what I find out.

Easton issue resolved

After a conversation with Michael at Easton about the continued issue with the interface with the AeroForce aerobars and the DeltaForce base bars, I concluded that I needed to come up with some type of material that is double sided and has a decent amount of friction that would be placed between the aerobars and the top of the base bars.  It was mentioned to me by Michael that the biggest issue is where the two carbon components mate (yes, I do know that there's a clearcoat...).  I believe that this is the biggest reason why the bars are slipping.  After testing a couple of different materials, I came up with a solution.   

It's Screen-Bak Metalite waterproof  type 2 Aluminum oxide mesh sanding material, 400 grit.

  This shows where the mesh is placed, which is on the upper clamping surface area of the AeroForce Aerobars.

This final photo shows the right side extension installed with the mesh in place (look below the white torque spec decal).  If you look on the other side of the stem, you can see the surface of the base bars where the other extension was installed. 

With all of this said,  I'm glad to have this taken care of.  I want to thank Michael at Easton for his concern and his willingness to help.  I hope that Easton addresses that lack of technical knowledge that I experienced with Veltec Sports.  A top notch product needs top notch support. 

Easton issues continued

I thought that I solved this problem yesterday.  Unfortunately, that's not the case.  After bringing up the torque spec on each bolt to the max recommended by Michael M., an engineer at Easton, the bars still slip...This is at 40inlbs higher than is recommended...This is not good, and I'm starting to get upset.  This should be a non-issue.  Someone drops $450+ on an aerobar setup and it should be pretty straight forward, i.e., It should work.  I personally think that it's an issue of the clear coat that they choose to use.  It looks good, but it just doesn't work (at least where the aerobars mate with the Delta bars).  I think that it's too "slick" and doesn't provide enough friction or resistance between the components of the bars.  Maybe Easton needs to check out the FSA carbon bars.  But hey, what do I know, I'm just a bike mechanic and not a mechanical engineer...  I can't be the only one experiencing this problem...  Michael M. will be hearing from me tomorrow... This is starting to get to me....

More about the Vision Tech recall...

This is in regards to my prior post about the Vision Tech USA Integrated Aero Bar recall.  My client, who was the unfortunate soul that experienced the catastrophic stem failure first hand, had this to add to the Vision Tech USA press release:

"I had 6 months of therapy and doctors visits to heal from the crash.  I still have scars as a result.  At almost a year I am still not comfortable in the aero position.  The recollection of the crash is fresh in my mind and its difficult to really let it fly in a TT effort.  So from my perspective its not so minor.  When I think about what could have been, a crash at 28mph , in traffic, telephone poles, curbs, pavement, etc.  , I fail to see anything  minor about it at all."

I guess that my biggest issue with this is the lack of responsibility by Vision Tech.  Their total misrepresentation that there ever was a problem with the design and the untruths about past failures.  I understand the $hit happens, but to be reactive instead of proactive is just not right....