Best WTF failure on your bike

milemuncher1

Over the years, I've had bits fail on bikes, whilst on a ride. On Sunday I had my best WTF failure evvvver. I was riding up to Goodwood via Singleton, and I turned onto Kennel Hill. Just as I reached the steep bit, I shifted down, and the bike made a horrendous noise, and I came to an undignified stop, on a steep unsighted, blind corner. First thoughts were that I'd dragged the mech into the spokes, but looking at it, that wasn't it. Then I tried to turn the cranks by hand. They went about halfway round, then came to a grinding halt. I still couldn't see anything obvious, but upon close inspection I saw that one of the links in the chain had twisted, so that it resembled a small metallic Pringle, or other twisted shaped snack product. How the hell that happened is beyond me, what was also beyond me, was the ability to bring a 10 speed quick link, for a 10 speed chain. So I pushed the bike, now minus its chain, up to the top of the climb, then got on the bike, and coasted down the entire length of the Hill, from the Race course, to the Roundabout, by the Rolls Royce Factory. Then, in a bizarre, but strangely amusing twist to the tale, as I was rolling down the Hill, past Goodwood House, I was aware of a large vehicle approaching from the rear. When I turned to see what it was, I saw that it was one of the Paris Dakar Rally support race trucks, which was making it's way back to the start of the Goodwood FOS hill climb course, using the road past the Kennels. I then had a short walk to the LBS, to get a 10 speed link, before continuing on my way.

bikes`n`guns

Out 2 nights ago and was trying to source my cause of a funny noise, / shitty feeling in the drive train.

Traced it to BOTH Look Keo classics being knackered, after 6 month, my 3rd pair in 3 yrs ? wtf ?

Pippy aston

A few years back I set out on my winter bike which was a Gazelle 'Trim Trophy' had done about four miles when I heard a loud crack, looked down but couldn't see anything, resumed pedalling and it felt really weird. Looked down again and the cast bottom bracket shell had snapped at the bottom of the seat tube, all that was holding it together was the gear cables. Made it home okay then took the frame to where I had it from and Gazelle replaced it with an 'AB' frame.

evodeda

Heard a strange pop noise, crank felt wrong as if there was a dead point in the pedal stroke. Changed gear and it was fine. On closer inspection the rear cassette had failed, 2 of the rivets had broken and the cog had moved.

I've since replaced the dura ace 9000 cassette with the stronger Ultegra version, Not too happy!

First.Aspect

I once snapped a QR. It had fused in the hub, so appeared fine on the outside, but was being twisted as the wheel rotated. Eventually it seized completely and snapped shortly thereafter.

Couple of times I've worn right through a rim and the tyre bead has blown right through. You'd think I'd learn.

I've fecked a rear mech riding with several seized chain links in the past as well. In fairness, it was one of those really cold winters and the bike had been caked in salt daily for weeks.

I wash my bikes more often now.

When I was a kid, my padlock came undone from around the seat tube and jammed in the wheel. That was fun.

And I've had a saddle part company with its rails as well. Uncomfortable.

buckmulligan

evodeda wrote:

Heard a strange pop noise, crank felt wrong as if there was a dead point in the pedal stroke. Changed gear and it was fine. On closer inspection the rear cassette had failed, 2 of the rivets had broken and the cog had moved.

I've since replaced the dura ace 9000 cassette with the stronger Ultegra version, Not too happy!

This is a known problem with the DA 9000 cassettes; if this was relatively recently and you owned it from new I'd be inclined to take it up with whoever you bought it from and try to get a replacement.

cougie

I did have the rim explode off my wheel once. Guess it was just worn through.

Broken two seatposts ,- pulled the saddle clamp out of the top on two high end MTB posts. Bit tricky remembering to ride all the way home out of the saddle

Had a crank come off once or twice. That's quite awkward to get out of.

Oh folded my front mudguard up on a bike that really didn't have the clearance for them. Man that stops you quickly.

Had the freewheel freeze up in the cold one day too.

Oh yes snapped a titanium saddle rail. Almost forgot about that.

Never snapped any cables yet.

thistle_

Was riding into work once turning right, going about 15mph and hit a pothole and my left foot came out of my SPD pedal. No problem, it happens often so after getting around the corner I tried to clip in but couldn't and I couldn't figure out why.

I stopped to investigate and found the cleat, backplate and part of the shoe still attached to the pedal with a corresponding hole in the bottom of my shoe. Shimano shoes too so not the crappiest ones in the world!

darkhairedlord

I properly maintain my bike so have no such issues.

evodeda

BuckMulligan wrote:

evodeda wrote:

Heard a strange pop noise, crank felt wrong as if there was a dead point in the pedal stroke. Changed gear and it was fine. On closer inspection the rear cassette had failed, 2 of the rivets had broken and the cog had moved.

I've since replaced the dura ace 9000 cassette with the stronger Ultegra version, Not too happy!

This is a known problem with the DA 9000 cassettes; if this was relatively recently and you owned it from new I'd be inclined to take it up with whoever you bought it from and try to get a replacement.

Sadly I'd purchased the Groupset second hand so have no comeback. I've read up on these failures and it seems Shimano have released an update to the cassette. Pity they never issued a recall but again that would require a receipt.

fat daddy

It was raining the other morning, so whipped the Mud guards off the single speed to attach to the Caad10 .. quick 30 second job as they are just SKS ones with the rubber wraps.

jumped on the bike, cap visor down, open garage door, start to pedal ... immediately the wheel locks and I fall off sideways .... couldn't figure out why the wheel would be locking, qr ok, brakes not on, wheel seated ..... eventually discovered I had put the mudguard wrap around a spoke AND the fork tying the wheel to the forks

fenix

darkhairedlord wrote:

I properly maintain my bike so have no such issues.

Do tell me how you can maintain saddle rails or similar ? Things do break if you ride them enough.

laurentian

Pedalling up a hill in Ireland last week with the Mrs behind me . . . "my bike's just broke" she shouts. Stopped and had a look and the front derailleur cage had snapped - very odd.

dee4life2005

Bike had been making a noise for a week or so, but couldn't track it down, until one morning the left crank arm came off ... still attached to my shoe ... when I tried to unclip. Didn't fall over, surprisingly.

Also had my ultegra 6800 crank spider fail, and peel apart ... I guess that's where the creaking had been coming from, but I'd never noticed the growing hair-line crack forming along the join.

trivial_poursuivant

Few years back I built up a new TT bike. New carbon chainset, new groupset. I borrowed a carbon disc from a friend to try out. I got to a descent and clicked up into my biggest gear then 'clunk!!'' The chain comes off the cassette and jams in the frame then the chainring and wraps itself around the crank arm twice. Scratching it to hell and pulling the rear mech up. In my attempt to remove the chain I scratched the chainstay and bent the hanger. Not a happy bunny after that episode

darkhairedlord

Fenix wrote:

darkhairedlord wrote:

I properly maintain my bike so have no such issues.

Do tell me how you can maintain saddle rails or similar ? Things do break if you ride them enough.

I have a strict inspection and maintenance regime in place.

fenix

Admirable. But ride enough and you'll find something breaks suddenly without warning. ;-)

darkhairedlord

Fenix wrote:

Admirable. But ride enough and you'll find something breaks suddenly without warning. ;-)

No, I won't. I will identify any defective components before they fail.

fenix

#famouslastwords

fat daddy

darkhairedlord wrote:

No, I won't. I will identify any defective components before they fail.

seems like a good excuse for upgrading wheels, frame, brakes etc with absolutely no necessity .... yes honey the wheels were about to fail so I bought these carbon ones

milemuncher1

darkhairedlord wrote:

I properly maintain my bike so have no such issues.

Yeah that'll be it, lack of maintenance, not things being flung into fragile bikes from the shockingly bad roads in most of this country :roll:

milemuncher1

fat daddy wrote:

darkhairedlord wrote:

No, I won't. I will identify any defective components before they fail.

seems like a good excuse for upgrading wheels, frame, brakes etc with absolutely no necessity .... yes honey the wheels were about to fail so I bought these carbon ones

That sounds like a plan.

darkhairedlord

Milemuncher1 wrote:

darkhairedlord wrote:

I properly maintain my bike so have no such issues.

Yeah that'll be it, lack of maintenance, not things being flung into fragile bikes from the shockingly bad roads in most of this country :roll:

better send the team car ahead next time. poor road maintenance..

navrig2

Broke my arm after my wife fell off her MTB knocking me off my MTB and us both landing in a heap.

Why did she fall off?

'Coz, I slapped her bum as I passed her.

cougie

Lol ,! Brilliant !

k-dog

Probably worth it though...

Frank Wilson

I was out riding once and we'll you wouldn't Adam and Eve it, down the left hand side of the frame all this yellow gooey type stuff appears! So there is me, middle of nowhere dressed only in flippers and a snorkel attempting to figure out what it was. Un zips my 497 piece comprehensive tool kit from my 4 by 2 saddle bag and totally strips the bike down. Many cyclists passed me and asked if I was ok, at first I found this quite heartwarming but after a while I decided they were all just after self gratification so when the fourteenth turd went "ok mate" I mooned at him.

Anyway, back to the gooey stuff, stripped the bike right down, a few cows in an adjacent field looked on inquisitively, wheels off, pedals, BB etc could'nt find out wrong.

Puts it all back together, rides home.

Just as I pulling into our street I spy Diane, getting on a bit but still a looker with a bottom like a Sainsbury's peach.

Ok sexy says I, hi Frank says Di, see that boil behind your ear has burst she says.

I then went home and had two rounds of toast.

N0bodyOfTheGoat

~2005, cycling into work on my old Principia RSL, when suddenly the left side of the handlebar shears at the stem clamp! :shock:

Somehow managed to take all weight off the loose bar, but hold it to stop it swinging into the spokes and brake without dying.

milemuncher1

Navrig2 wrote:

Broke my arm after my wife fell off her MTB knocking me off my MTB and us both landing in a heap.

Why did she fall off?

'Coz, I slapped her bum as I passed her.

High five.

term1te

NitrousOxide wrote:

~2005, cycling into work on my old Principia RSL, when suddenly the left side of the handlebar shears at the stem clamp! :shock:

Somehow managed to take all weight off the loose bar, but hold it to stop it swinging into the spokes and brake without dying.

Same happened to me, but the right hand side of the handlebar. It slowly bent downwards, then snapped off. Fortunately I was going very slowly at the time. I was in Bracknell at the time, I don't know if that makes it any worse, or in some way explains it?

ratsbeyfus

When getting out of saddle to climb a hill on commute home my FSA Gossamer crank left arm came off which in turn caused the right arm/chainset to also come out at the same time. The right arm got caught in rear wheel which rotated and slammed the arm and trapped it into the seat stays. All happened in a split second. Put everything back together and cycled home only to discover that the RHS carbon seat stay had actually been crushed. Repair would've cost more than new frame.