So close to a catastrophic fail

My bike been making a few odd noises the last couple of days and there was something not quite right with the handling. Especially going down the steep hill on my daily commute. So I figured I would spend today taking apart the whole bike, re-greasing it, replacing parts if necessary etc. And fuck me, am I glad I did. Took the front wheel off went to change the brake pads. Noticed a small hairline crack in the fork. Gave it a little wobble and
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Always check your bike if it starts misbehaving. I do not want to think about the consequences if that had come off whilst I was going downhill at 30mph+!!

2 Attachments

WTF!

that's incredible-glad you checked it out when you did. What kind of forks are they?

It rotted from the inside....

urrgh

Something about...

exotic sports cars owners and last laughs...

uh, so close to a joke.

glad youre ok

Oh and has anybody got any nice threaded 1 1/8 forks for sale, preferably chrome?

They are branded Simoncini, but they are just bog standard steel forks. About 3 years old, but I feel my Karma must be good right now :)

Sure you don't mean 1" forks? 1 1/8" threaded forks are rarer than hen's teeth.

You were lucky, very, very lucky.

Glad you escaped injury.

And now you're off the bike, you'll have time to mow that lawn in the background of the pic.

good luck, i couldn't find any.

I bought a complete bike for the forks.

Sure you don't mean 1" forks? 1 1/8" threaded forks are rarer than hen's teeth.

You were lucky, very, very lucky.

Oh really. You are probably right. Best find that tape measure

They are 1" forks.

Not sure if there's anything knocking about at the track, Mike. I have seen new ones for reasonably cheap grits online somewhere

what if the frame is going the same way?

Always check your bike if it starts misbehaving. ]

Amen to that.

unnecessary debate about frame materials pros and cons ensues

what if the frame is going the same way?

Cheers Rob, its going on my Simoncini commuter. I need to get a pair asap I cannot bear being without a bike. Will look on-line now too

obligatory busted carbon link

http://www.bustedcarbon.com/

Oh wait...

Oh and has anybody got any nice threaded 1 1/8 forks for sale, preferably chrome?

FWIW, Dave Yates warned me off chrome for exactly this reason. The surface prep for chrome plating can leave the forks covered in corrosive nasties which eat the steel from the inside if not removed very, very carefully, leaving you with a bike made of shiny chrome foil.

So it could have been a manufacturing error then? Cheers for the advice. May go for red or yellow then. Will see what I can find

I'm after chrome reynolds forks in a wtd thread and Plastic Pedals was offering some chrome tange ones for a tenner-maybe drop him a Pm. I'm not in London so would be easier for you to get em anyway.

what if the frame is going the same way?

hmm you are talking to the person who's track frame is one more crash away from snapping straight in half :) Had a look over it and it's sound. I don't think a frame failure would be anywhere near as catastrophic is a fork failure though

hhhmmm nice. May get these

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/APREBIC-CRO-MO-1-THREADED-CHROMED-RACING-FORKS-/390224993586?pt=UK_sportsleisure_cycling_bikeparts_SR&var=

jesus, mike. that shit's fucked up .. dread to think of the consequences of a fork failure at high speed.

there's a little bike workshop run by a couple of polish guys just off holloway road, it's called jazz cycles, they should be able to sort you out with a new fork. they're nice guys.

FWIW, Dave Yates warned me off chrome for exactly this reason. The surface prep for chrome plating can leave the forks covered in corrosive nasties which eat the steel from the inside if not removed very, very carefully, leaving you with a bike made of shiny chrome foil.

goes to check old chrome forks very, very carefully

mike,that could of been very nasty,very lucky you spotted it..............do the lottery this week

jebus j crist!

good job taking the old lady apart, was that bike really only 3 years old, or did you buy it from roberto 3 years ago?

goes off to kick the wheels of my bikes