I've never had a Pivo break, but then I've never had an AVA stem break either, unlike AVA bars. Maybe the fundamental thing to remember is that aluminum is subject to stress fatigue cracking, and that after enough use, any aluminum component will eventually break. For some components, this might take more than a lifetime of normal use, for others much less. The only way to be absolutely safe is not to ride aluminum components at all, or maybe to change them every couple of years. I think this is overreacting, especially since aircraft are also mostly constructed of aluminum, meaning that by that logic one would never fly either. I think the wise thing is to inspect older aluminum components frequently, especially those with a poor reputation, like AVA bars and maybe their stems. A lot of people will not use a model with which they have personally had a dangerous failure, and that is probably a good idea just for peace of mind.
Regards,
Jerry Moos
-----Original Message----- From: John Quigley [mailto:eurocycle@hotmail.com] Sent: Wednesday, April 25, 2001 5:17 PM To: jmoos@urc.com; classicrendezvous@bikelist.org Subject: RE: [CR]AVA "death stem" ID
I have several bikes with a "Pivo" stem that looks nearly identical to the Ava. Were they know to break also?
>From: "Moos, Jerry" <jmoos@urc.com>
>To: "'Bingham, Wayne'" <WBINGHAM@imf.org>, classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
>Subject: RE: [CR]AVA "death stem" ID
>Date: Wed, 25 Apr 2001 16:07:11 -0400
>
>I guess the one in the auction also differs in having a vertical rather
>than
>horizonal bar clamp bolt, so they are different models, but I don't know
>that one type was any more reliable than the other. BTW, I've seen nearly
>identical stems to both models marked with another brand or with no brand.
>
>Regards,
>
>Jerry Moos
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Bingham, Wayne [mailto:WBINGHAM@imf.org]
>Sent: Wednesday, April 25, 2001 3:47 PM
>To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
>Subject: RE: [CR]AVA "death stem" ID
>
>
>I don't think that one is the "death stem". Take a look at the pictures
>here:
>
>http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumIndex?u=1304152&a=12713123
>
>
> >>>>>Anyone care to ID whether this is or is not the AVA stem that was
>known
>to break? I don't have any first hand experience with breaking the
>style shown in this auction.
>
><http://ebay.com/<blah>
>
>Chuck Schmidt
>South Pasadena, California<<<<<