TDF bike failures
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Frank on
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They can all be repaired, but would you really trust it hurtling down some road totally maxed out??
I wouldn't.
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Permalink Reply by Lucas Pittaway on -
I ride a bent 70's steel frame to, around, and from the Velodrome every now and then.
Of course I'm looking to replace it but there's no rush.
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Permalink Reply by Terry C on
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I will aim these comments to the converted. To put anyone's mind at rest, I have over 50 years experience in designing, repairing, and maintaining highly stressed mechanical components. This includes military aircraft, mining equipment, circuit and drag racing cars ( including frames ), research and development and the operation of steel heat treament plants.
Properly carried out repairs to a steel bike frame, with correct treatment of heat affected zones around a welded or brazed area, will result in a repair that returns the frame to as new condition. Yes, I would ride such a bike flat out down hill. When steel frames were the most common in use for racing, it was quite the accepted thing to have a bent tube removed and replaced with a new item - - the frame was not thrown away. The steel framed Kuwahara Triathlon bike in my photos, has done over 45.000 km, much of it racing in the early 1990s. It was involved in several crashes, and the frame was then subjected to dye pentrant and ultra-sonic crack testing after the event, and it passed with not a single flaw.
Terry C
Dip Mech Eng
MIAME
If anyone has a chance to talk to an old time frame builder, do it. .
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Permalink Reply by Richard on -
If anyone has a chance to talk to an old time frame builder, do it. .
I'd love that opportunity but you don't need to look for old-timers, there are craftsmen around the country building steel frames, including one bloke looking to get a business going here in Adelaide.
I note that Darrell Llewellyn McCulloch (of Llewellyn Custon Bicycles) mo longer even bothers to justify why he uses steel ... which is a pity because his previous article on the subject was well worth reading. Darrell makes top quality bikes ('great bikes' is the term used above) that will live long and become a companion, the bike you'll still be riding when you die.
On the other hand, Teschner (also Australian) appear to only make carbon fibre frames, but they're only interested in building high performance racing bikes, rather a different brief to Darrell.
You choose the material for the purpose and quite frankly, the claim that carbon-fibre/steel/ally-carbon compsite/bamboo/dried-camel-dung makes the greatest bikes is simply ignorant.
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Permalink Reply by heather on -
Who is the person in Adelaide?
I spoke to a LLewellyn based neared near the Gold Coast. Would that be Darrell?
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Permalink Reply by heather on
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Terry, unfortunately for AC members, you do not live nearby in SA and now retired (less access to facilities).
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Heather, now I just ride my bikes ! ( Though I did go back to uni last year at age 72, and got a distinction in maths ! ! ).
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Permalink Reply by Lucas Pittaway on
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You're an inspiration :D
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Terry
I hear you loud and clear and do agree to some degree but it also depends which M Eng you speak to and I speak to many.
I currently have a mate that sat his plane on the under belly of the Tarmac because of alloy under carriage failure!
Un diagnosed stress fractures just 10 days after certification by engineers!
I guess I get a bit carried away iosts at times!
I do like the nostalgia of steel frames and their ride, I even came close to buying an stunning old Colnago!
I truly do get it but what really excites me is new technology and innovation!
I just get carried away in my depiction of what I find is best ATM!
That is after all what Forums are for I was led to believe!
If anyone has the chance to talk to a true carbon weaver and builder I urge you also to do so!
I did and by jolly, carbon is the shit IMHO. Lol. Said in jest and not to be taken too seriously as always guys!
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Frank, I also have an alloy 9 speed road bike with CF fork and seat post and STI shifters, with a mix of Dura-Ace and Ultegra bits. My riding averages about 150 km a week, divided between my three bikes. I enjoy all of them, and would probably buy a CF bike, if I were younger, but it would have to be the best, and I really can't justify that now. I would like to build a Ti bike. Though, it would probably have DT shifters ! !
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