I just got home from riding my rolling deathtrap:
http://www.simonjester.net/images/dead-deda.jpg
No fatal failure occurred. I heard a funny ping when I hit a bump. Continued the ride. Was BBQing some burgers after the ride and looked at my bike and saw the crack.
I seem to recall an insert in the box the stem came in saying they were good for one season only. So I got 5 or 6. Play it safe. Stop at 3. Just kidding. Always read and follow manufacturers instructions.
Rolling deathtrap
Sun, 07/16/2006 - 8:13pm
Mon, 07/17/2006 - 8:17am
#1
I see the break and you are sooo lucky to have made it home unscathed.
But what sort of part is this that is expected to break in one season? Why would you use it?
Why does it break so soon compared to others? I've never seen this happen, and in my ignorance, never heard of a break being expected from the manufacturer.
Mon, 07/17/2006 - 10:32am
#2
I just thought it was a scam to get you to buy a new one each year. They claimed it was intended for racing and should be replaced after a season.
The good news is that it didn't even losen. The bars didn't budge till I losened the other screws.
Mon, 07/17/2006 - 12:55pm
#3
One year or 10,000 miles
"""I just thought it was a scam to get you to buy a new one each year. They claimed it was intended for racing and should be replaced after a season.""
It is a scam. A recommendation like that makes no sense. Some folks ride more than 10,000 miles in a year; others less than 1,000 miles. And what about rider weight, road roughness, etc.?
There are certain places where saving grams doesn't pay. A stem is one.
""Chainwheel""
"
Mon, 07/17/2006 - 10:58am
#4
All lightweight aluminum stems will fail at some point. To think otherwise is nuts. The Deda Newton is a particularly notorious candidate, but no stem is a lifetime purchase.
(Except that steel 58d Nitto track stem...)
Mon, 07/17/2006 - 1:11pm
#5
uh oh
"""All lightweight aluminum stems will fail at some point.""
Ah, something else to worry about. I hate to think how many miles are on my Cinelli 1A stem and Model 64 bars.
""Chainwheel"""
Mon, 07/17/2006 - 2:08pm
#6
Um, lightweight? :-)
In all seriousness, the 1/A is probably one of the safer designs, second only to a forged Nitto, but given enough load cycles, it will crack and brake.
Maybe time to treat yourself to a Technomic Deluxe and a Nitto Model 177.
- Christian
Mon, 07/17/2006 - 1:31pm
#7
what does normal wear, not covered mean?
"manufacturers instructions which includes among other things blowing compressed air through all threaded holes before lubrication them and do not lubricate the bolt's threads, check bolt torque regularly and replace the bolts at least every two years. In short, handle your stem with great care.
Deda also provides a 2 year warranty, with the usual disclaimer text, plus one additional, most interesting stipulation: ""normal wear"" of the product is not covered."
