More Broken Bars

From Luke:

I was puttering -- 8 KM/H if that -- down a 1 1/2 meter gravel embankment when my front wheel washed out and down I went. Basically I just toppled over. Having hopped clear before the bike became acquainted with gravel (visible inside the bar on some photos), there was no weight on the carbon bar other than the bike's at the time of the impact. Astonishing that such an innocuous spill could result in such a failure. Or perhaps not. I'm grateful that the bar's demise didn't come under more painful circumstances.

I've since reconsidered the merits of carbon components where recreational and utilitarian cycling is concerned. No wonder.

Carbon and downtube shifters is a pairing you don't see too often.

Brontrager XXX Bars

From Ben, all he says is "Impact with van."

Broken Handlebar

From Ernesto:

I'm sending to you two pics of a broken handlebar of a Orbea Orca from a colleague of a discussion forum. He brought the bike from Spain on Iberia Airlines. To his surprise, upon opening the box, the handlebar was broken.

It shouldn't really be a surprise that an airline would mistreat luggage.

Another broken handle bar

This one is from Chhristian. A Specialized FACT bar that looks like it was used with a bar end, but I'm not sure.

FSA K Wing

Mike sent me these photos, the result of slow speed (10mph) crash.

Broken Handlebar

From a mountain bike race in Singapore. Less than 500m in to the race. You can't win if you don't finish.

Specialized Handle Bars

Ted just sent in these photos of his handle bars. No crashes, just out of the saddle cranking and they broke. Lame.

Even More Cyclocross Carnage

Dave alerted me to this photo of Molly Cameron, North America's worst European Cyclocross racer. He got a beautiful Vanilla 'cross frame with a broken carbon handlebar.

No Carbon Wednesday: Titanium

I just bought myself a new titanium frame and in its honour I thought I'd post some busted titanium. Handlebars was all I could find. Thanks to Erich for the photo.

Specialized Handle Bars

Kevin sent me this photo of the Specialized handle bars that came with his 2007 Tarmac Pro. They were clamped to spec and yet Specialized won't replace them.

Ritchey Carbon Bars

Mountain bikers want in on the fun too. Broken carbon bars aren't just for roadies.

Pile of Carbon

The guys at rideyourbike.com have a carbon fiber warning. This is their 2007 collection of broken carbon fiber that has collected at their shop.