A note of caution...

[SimonBrown]

I don't post here much, but thought I would share my experiences with my Orange C16r, or more specifically the Hot Rod handlebars.

For sentimental reasons I hung on (literally!) to the original Orange Hot Rod handlebars. Bought new with my first Orange Clockwork in 1992 and used extensively before being swapped over to the replacement C16R in 1997.

Last year the handlebars failed big time. It was on a downhill rooty section and the right hand bar snapped. At least that is what I determined after I woke up and took a look at the bike. The helmet was in bits and left a liner bruise on my head, and my right collarbone shattered and after 12 months has not healed, nor will it ever*. Strava records me as going from 25kms to zero and not moving for 4 minutes. I really have no idea what happened in this time as I was riding alone...

Hindsight is wonderful and load bearing components like handlebars won't last forever. They should have been replaced years ago.

I only mention this as I see a few bikes here with original equipment. Don't get me wrong - the bikes look great - but if you intend to ride them as fully intended then I would advise a little bit of caution and have a close look at handlebars, seat stems etc and if in any doubt change them.

*In spite of the lack of mend, a collarbone is optional and having one in bits has not been a burden.

 

[ishaw]

Sorry to hear about your experience and lack of mending, I hope in time it does get better.

I agree with you and heed your caution.

My retro steeds are really more for casual riding, there are a couple that I think would withstand the abuse intended for them, but like your bars, they have a value to me which is why I built them up, and also why I have recently just finished a modern build with modern parts that I know will not fail due to age, and in theory care a little less about so can happily thrash it around with abandon. This should allow me to keep a shiny fleet of retro loveliness, to be used sparingly when the weather is good, and also get out on the trails without that nagging suspicion of what may break, or what I might damage if I don't take it easy.

Out of interest, where did the bars fail? Might be worth flagging so that other owners can inspect carefully around the same place.

 

[The History Man]

Got some hot rods here you can have karma. Original and well used. Should be fine though.

 

[M-Power]

Re:

Good point well made. These retro 130-150g bars were supposed to be replaced after a season of hard use or abuse bitd. Always buy mint cond and take a close up look for signs of damage from high res images. Same issue with alloy threadless steerers on sus forks. They are also prone to 'catastrophic' failure.

 

[jimo746]

Glad to hear that you are ok and sort of mended, you're right, these bikes and parts are getting on a bit now and things like alu bars especially might be prone to failure (not that they didn't break bitd either, but now there's an added cause for failure.)

Out of interest, where did the bars fail? Might be worth flagging so that other owners can inspect carefully around the same place.

OP said the right hand bar snapped off, it probably sheared off at the right hand edge of the handlebar clamp on the stem. This seems to be where bars fail most, sharp edges on the stem clamp area, overtorqued clamps, and general wear and tear can cause cracks to form at the handlebar/handlebar clamp junction.... or as in the OP's case one day you're riding along, the next thing half your handlebar comes adrift :shock:

I'm guessing the same isn't true of steel or Ti handlebars.

 

[Mike Muz]

Re:

I had a 'moment' last year on my road bike. Riding down a hill to a main road, the bar snapped off in my hand as I was braking for the junction. Thankfully I stopped in time, front wheel just poking out into the main road, with only the rear brake to stop me.
I'd had these bars from new. They snapped where they meet the stem. Thing is, how can you inspect them? Obvious cracks or creaking is a sign maybe, but these were ok in that respect.

Mike

 

[SimonBrown]

Re:

The Hot Rod snapped just inboard of the right hand shifter clamp.

No internal corrosion and no sign of a crack/scratch.

Perhaps only non-destructive testing may have revealed the flaw? Who knows?

 

[Ollie]

Sounds nasty. Hope your collarbone gets better .

 

[SimonBrown]

Re:

The collarbone will never heal. It's trashed.

That's the bad news. The good news is we don't really need them. Collarbones are, as I have discovered, optional.

6 weeks after the crash I was back in the saddle. 6 weeks after that I found out you can't break a broken collarbone twice whilst operating outside of what grip the front tyre offered on another downhill...

 

[Splatter Paint]

Re:

Point well made. I swapped out my retro light bars for basic jobs from SJS Cycles. You can have 180g bars for £9.99 brand new.

http://www.sjscycles.co.uk/mart-black ... prod17446/

SP.