Fork 6 ways damaged just by riding on it!
Posted: Mon Dec 31, 2012 11:54 pm
Some of you may be interested in the damage that can be caused by 2-3000kms of mostly inner city and bike trail riding.
I had a favourite fixie based on an old Speedwell Strada and did well over 5000km on it. Then I did a deal with #1 son in mid-2011 where I had to give him the Speedwell, change it to flat bars and powder coat it because he didn't like drops or the good original paint scheme. He rode it a bit including the last Melburn Roobaix, then started using it every day for uni and work when he shifted out of home just after mid-year. It came back to me for some "servicing" over Christmas.
Here's a photo before I sadly gave it up:
Here's a photo that I took a couple of days ago when I saw it side on - note the splayed forward fork:
And here are a few of the fork:
Look for:
1. the crack in the bottom of the fork crown
2. the twist of the fork crown
3. the spot where the left fork blade is splitting away from the underside rear of the fork crown (which allowed that blade to stay unbent)
4. the crack between the steerer tube and the top of the fork crown
5. the horizontal crack in the steerer tube about 6mm up from the top of the larger diameter bit the crown race fits on, and
6. last but not least the bend in the right fork blade.
I'm thinking that the reasons come down to weight & usage. Tom was over 110kg last year and is down to just at bit over 100 now, along with a willing approach to riding. Note that he hasn't had any accidents on it. The good thing about it is that it was steel - I'd bet that other materials subjected to the same usage would have failed catastrophically, but this was in the process of gradually separating / tearing the steel in several places.
Whilst I'm disappointed, I'm putting a stronger (but not authentic) fork on that I had around so he can keep (ab)using it. I'm looking out for a 49-52mm drop caliper to replace the front brake, as the old 57-70mm drop dual pivot caliper is too long and road calipers are too short. Any cheap offers?
I had a favourite fixie based on an old Speedwell Strada and did well over 5000km on it. Then I did a deal with #1 son in mid-2011 where I had to give him the Speedwell, change it to flat bars and powder coat it because he didn't like drops or the good original paint scheme. He rode it a bit including the last Melburn Roobaix, then started using it every day for uni and work when he shifted out of home just after mid-year. It came back to me for some "servicing" over Christmas.
Here's a photo before I sadly gave it up:
Here's a photo that I took a couple of days ago when I saw it side on - note the splayed forward fork:
And here are a few of the fork:
Look for:
1. the crack in the bottom of the fork crown
2. the twist of the fork crown
3. the spot where the left fork blade is splitting away from the underside rear of the fork crown (which allowed that blade to stay unbent)
4. the crack between the steerer tube and the top of the fork crown
5. the horizontal crack in the steerer tube about 6mm up from the top of the larger diameter bit the crown race fits on, and
6. last but not least the bend in the right fork blade.
I'm thinking that the reasons come down to weight & usage. Tom was over 110kg last year and is down to just at bit over 100 now, along with a willing approach to riding. Note that he hasn't had any accidents on it. The good thing about it is that it was steel - I'd bet that other materials subjected to the same usage would have failed catastrophically, but this was in the process of gradually separating / tearing the steel in several places.
Whilst I'm disappointed, I'm putting a stronger (but not authentic) fork on that I had around so he can keep (ab)using it. I'm looking out for a 49-52mm drop caliper to replace the front brake, as the old 57-70mm drop dual pivot caliper is too long and road calipers are too short. Any cheap offers?