Re: [CR]Death Stems are you just being alarmist?

(Example: Framebuilders)

Date: Fri, 07 May 2004 16:50:36 -0400
To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
From: "Larry Osborn" <losborn2@wvu.edu>
Subject: Re: [CR]Death Stems are you just being alarmist?
In-Reply-To: <409BD687.4384944E@earthlink.net>
References: <BAY16-F38qIQ3pEjOTp000091a3@hotmail.com>


I agree with both these comments, but the glaring difference in circumstances is that these are high stress racing situations. I don't break stuff. I don't even bend stuff. I don't have the strength, weight, or riding style. I've always been a little guy, moving slow, nursing bad knees & shoulders (an excellent early warning system if I ever wonder if I'm pushing too hard), "just riding along" in the most literal sense of the word except now when I'm screaming like a crazed woobie down some WV/PA hill. Even now there's not another component out there that I'm afraid of, except maybe used lightweight mtb bars, and I'm just not stupid enough to ride those. If something broke under ME, and my stick boy pal, riding in the flat midwest, that's really gotta get your attention. Your teeth. Your face. Your head. Your choice.

Larry "Kong" Osborn Bruceton Hills WV

At 10:33 AM 5/7/2004 -0800, you wrote:
>Mick Butler wrote:
>>
>> I have ridden Viscount Aerospace forks, Ava and Pivo extensions (stems) and
>> Cinelli M71 pedals without any problems. Where do all these horror stories
>> come from? I never had any trouble with any of this equipment. Although I
>> would not recommend road riding on the Cinelli's. In my capacity as an
>> official starter in time trials have personally witnessed Campag cranks
>> snapping and also their pedals breaking when pushing off. We have had their
>> titanium bottom bracket axles spectacularly fail in our events.
>> Why no horror stories about this maker?
>> Best wishes and be lucky. Michael Butler Huntingdon UK.
>
>
>All you have to do is ask people that have raced for a long time about
>the parts they have broken and you'll hear stories that will make your
>hair curl. And if they are old enough they will tell you about the
>_steel_ cranks they broke.
>
>Racing components evolve to the lightest weight that will still get the
>job done. As a consequence you will have breakage and injuries.
>
>Alarmist? As the saying goes, "Life will kill ya!"
>
>Chuck Schmidt
>South Pasadena, Southern California

>

>.