Ouch

[clubric]

A while back I posted pictures of my Dynatech Quantum which I inherited when a friend passed away. Thanks to your help I found out loads about the bike and that it is probably 18 years old and still going strong. Since I inherited the bike I have ridden it for many hundreds of kilometers and have loved every minute of it... until this afternoon.

Cycling back from the gym I went down the dirt cycle path I use most days. I must have hit a small bump in the road - I really don't remember - and the right handlebar disappeared under my hand. The next thing I know I am flying face-first into the dirt at 15 mph (which feels faster than it sounds). My helmet is cracked and my glasses are scuffed, I've got a nasty black eye and any number of grazes and bruises and lumps - but that will all heal. The real damage was done to the bike.

The right end of the handlebar has completely snapped off at the headset and the left end of the handlebar has folded down flat against the side of the frame. Fortunately after a good hose down the rest of the bike appears intact.

My big worry is that apart from some new pedals, chain ring, cog cassette and chain the bike is completely original. If the handlebar has snapped does this mean that there could be metal fatigue in the titanium? I have read on the forums that fatigue is a big problem with titanium frames. Should I simply replace the handlebars and hope it holds together, or should I be looking to retire the bike? I know the bike is probably older than some users of this forum but I'd be really sad to mothball it. Would it be better for the frame if I stuck to using it on roads?

All advice appreciated (sympathy is optional)!

 

[KermitGKona88]

Firstly. Ouch and sympathy hate those sudden face plants I am no expert on titanium but I would check the frame over with a fine tooth comb for cracks or defects. If none found then bung a nice Ti bar on it and ride it again

 

[dbmtb]

Cycling back from the gym I went down the dirt cycle path I use most days. I must have hit a small bump in the road - I really don't remember - and

I've seen a few handlebars in my time that have been broken by body-builder types!

Dynatech Ti bars weren't particularly light IIRC - but if they've been overtightened at the stem, it might be a contributory factor.

Shouldn't worry about the frame. Thing to look out for on bonded Raleigh frames is rust in the steel chain/seatstays (what killed my MT3) and cracks in the lugs. Very unlikely that the ti. tubes themselves will fail.

Without knowing your weight/riding style - it's hard to recommend a particular bar.

 

[marin man]

Just because the bar broke does not mean the frame will,Pics would be nice,but I say "ride on"
Hope you recover quickly :cry:

 

[passiflora]

All I would add to this as a cautionary note, is that there have been quite a few cases of cracked Ti on RB.

So I would check, pay particular attention to the stays, however the bonded frames do seem to last better than the full Ti raleigh ones.

Good luck Im sure it's all fine

 

[john]

The latter ti Raleigh's had some (possible) issues due to the grade of Titanium used. Think they used a pure (i.e. unalloyed) grade which could lead to issues long term. Know there is some fairly in depth discussion of this elsewhere on the site.

Anyhow. No reason to think you frame will be damaged. If worried get it checked by a good local shop.

 

[clubric]

Thanks for the advice

Thanks everyone for getting back so quickly. I'll upload some pics later today.

In terms of body size I am no body-builder, I'm fairly average build.

I did wonder if the bars had been overtightened in the handlebar stem. I have never adjusted the headset of the bike I got it, but looking at the cross section of the bar it does look a little more eliptical than circular. Perhaps it had been over tightened in the past.

Looks like I'm heading down to the bike shop today for a new handlebar then!

 

[02gf74]

ouch indeed.

bollock to the bike, good job you are ok - could have been quite a quite few thousand getting reconstructive surgery had you smaher you jaw/teeth/face in.