Changing handlebars

cjcp
cjcp Posts: 13,345
edited July 2009 in Commuting chat
How often do guys and gals change your handlebars?

My commuting bars are 2.5 years old and have done what must be close to 20k miles. I've got spare bars I'm tempted to fit soon because I read somewhere sometime that changing them every three years is a good idea to avoid fatigue failures.

Anyone have any thoughts on this? Any metallurgists amongst us? Roastie?

Cheers.
FCN 2-4.

"What happens when the hammer goes down, kids?"
"It stays down, Daddy."
"Exactly."

Comments

  • JonS123
    JonS123 Posts: 171
    Mine are 15 years ish old, now you have me worried!
  • cjcp
    cjcp Posts: 13,345
    :lol: You've made me relax!
    FCN 2-4.

    "What happens when the hammer goes down, kids?"
    "It stays down, Daddy."
    "Exactly."
  • Fireblade96
    Fireblade96 Posts: 1,123
    As long as your bar tape matches your saddle, you'll be fine :lol:

    allegedly
    Misguided Idealist
  • tardington
    tardington Posts: 1,379
    Neeeeever - and my last bike lasted ten years from new.

    Unless yours is one of those fancy quadruple butted jobs made from space carbon?

    I think they are one of those bits of the bike that have no moving parts, and if it's going to break, it'll have done so. Think frame!
  • cjcp
    cjcp Posts: 13,345
    Loos like that's settled then. :)
    FCN 2-4.

    "What happens when the hammer goes down, kids?"
    "It stays down, Daddy."
    "Exactly."
  • prj45
    prj45 Posts: 2,208
    I was sat at a junction once and I felt this wierd sinking sensation.

    I sort of didn't realise what was happening until the left part of my bar had sunk by about 45 degrees, a big crack smiling up at me. the bar came completely off at the stem and I held it up and looked at it.

    I'm so glad that didn't happen when I was at speed.

    As for changing them (them?), never. I went to loosen and tighten my stem nuts the other week, and I'm sure I didn't rotate the bars at all, but they must have moved by about 0.000000001 radians.

    Cue two days of riding what felt like somebody else's bike.
    Photos - Blog - Bike
  • itboffin
    itboffin Posts: 20,064
    @cjcp undo your stem bolts and look at the area under the clamp plate that should help you make up your mind, mine was indented very badly.
    Rule #5 // Harden The Feck Up.
    Rule #9 // If you are out riding in bad weather, it means you are a badass. Period.
    Rule #12 // The correct number of bikes to own is n+1.
    Rule #42 // A bike race shall never be preceded with a swim and/or followed by a run.
  • prj45
    prj45 Posts: 2,208
    itboffin wrote:
    @cjcp undo your stem bolts and look at the area under the clamp plate that should help you make up your mind, mine was indented very badly.

    Don't, your bike will feel different for days!

    I'd much rather fall flat on my face at 35mph.
    Photos - Blog - Bike
  • Roastie
    Roastie Posts: 1,968
    itboffin wrote:
    @cjcp undo your stem bolts and look at the area under the clamp plate that should help you make up your mind, mine was indented very badly.
    Yep, unless you've crashed with them, I'd just check the clamp area - if there is any sign of indentation or scoring (which would act as a stress raiser) then probably replace, ortherwise You'll prob be OK for 2 more years I'd estimate (thumbsuck).
    David
    Engineered Bicycles
  • Oddjob62
    Oddjob62 Posts: 1,056
    My bullhorns are a chop and flip from an 80s raleigh.
    As yet unnamed (Dolan Seta)
    Joelle (Focus Expert SRAM)
  • Gazzaputt
    Gazzaputt Posts: 3,227
    Once per year for me.
  • gtvlusso
    gtvlusso Posts: 5,112
    I was gonna drill holes in my Nitto bull horns for brake cable routing - Is this a bad idea?! Any thoughts?! Sorry to hijack thread!
  • Agent57
    Agent57 Posts: 2,300
    I've never changed a set of bars*. My commuter is 20 years old, bars still seem fine. My old MTB has bars which are about 19 years old, and also seems fine.

    * OK, I did once; but that was because I'd wrapped the original bars around a tree.
    MTB commuter / 531c commuter / CR1 Team 2009 / RockHopper Pro Disc / 10 mile PB: 25:52 (Jun 2014)
  • whyamihere
    whyamihere Posts: 7,714
    gtvlusso wrote:
    I was gonna drill holes in my Nitto bull horns for brake cable routing - Is this a bad idea?! Any thoughts?! Sorry to hijack thread!
    Do you like your teeth?

    Bars with internal routing are specifically strengthened for it. Drill a tube and you lose much of its structural integrity.

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