"vicariousILive" (vicariousILive)
10/08/2014 at 09:55 • Filed to: Bikelopnik
7
27|
"vicariousILive" (vicariousILive)
10/08/2014 at 09:55 • Filed to: Bikelopnik | 7
| 27 |
Update: Trek warranty has prevailed and replaced the severed seat stay. After a week and a half my bike is back to normal and I can continue to shred up the trails. I don't feel the need to cry anymore!
I was ascending the max elevation of what was going to be the most epic ride of my life. A 27 mile 7000 ft descent from the La Sal mountains back into Moab, UT. This trail combines the trails of Burro Pass, Hazard County and Porcupine Rim making it the Whole Enchilada.
I paid $25 for a shuttle to beginning of the burro pass trail which you have to ascend a 1000 feet to summit which begins the long descent back to Moab. The ascent up to the top of Burro Pass was quite difficult with loose rock and steep grades led to a very much failed attempt to ascend the whole thing while pedaling. Most people were walking their bikes the whole way up.
My pride does not allow me to walk my bike so I always feel I have to bike the trail as much as possible. I had lost momentum going up one of these steep inclines and I applied my brakes in my efforts to keep from rolling back . I dismounted the bike and I walk the bike to a flat spot and get back on. While pedaling, something was rubbing and I get off to check by spinning the wheels and they seemed to spin just fine. I attempted to ride again and it's still rubbing. I was getting frustrated that I wasn't seeing the problem.
I was on the steep hillside looking at the rear cassette and crank not noticing the other side but when I looked on the other side, I saw this and I knew exactly what I just did.
At the grade angle combined with my weight, the load on the upper swing arm was in a compressed load with moment applied from the brakes. Right at the weld of the brake mount on the arm, the whole tube was fractured. I was so mad and then sad that my lips were quivering.
After talking with my group I decided I would walk back down and try to get back down on the next commercial shuttle that came around 11:30 and I would hopefully be there when they got back
I had a very slow depressing walk almost about 2 miles back down the steep mountain I had to explain to ever person going up why I was going down. Most were very sympathetic it seemed but it sure didn't make me feel better.
Luckily, when I got back to the beginning of the trail, these guys running their own shuttle let me drive their Ford Econoline van back to Moab. It was a win win situation. I got their van back to town so they didn't have to drive an hour back up the mountain and I simply were able to get back to town. They were from Aspen and they enjoyed my horrible Dumb and Dumber "where the beer flows like wine" joke. All around good people and made my day a whole lot better than I was smiling by the time I left.
Trek has a lifetime warranty on their frames. Hopefully we can get soemting worked out and i can get back on the saddle sometime soon.
Alex B
> vicariousILive
09/28/2014 at 20:02 |
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Sorry to hear about that. Hope it gets fixed soon!
Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs
> vicariousILive
09/28/2014 at 20:16 |
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Oh man! That sucks. What kind of Trek is it? I hope that warranty works out.
Did the bike have a lot of miles on it?
tromoly
> vicariousILive
09/28/2014 at 20:19 |
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It took me a while of staring at the picture to realize it's not Carbon. That's incredible.
Sorry to hear about your break, that really, really sucks.
bob and john
> vicariousILive
09/28/2014 at 21:06 |
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trek is really good about their warrenty frames (worked in a bike shop, sent back 3 roadie frames for warrenty)
you seem to be riding it like a full suspension bike VS a hardtail. dont worry, i made the same mistake too, thats how i cracked my old specialized.) The trick: try to keep the back wheel as unloaded as possible, keep most of your weight over the front. if your still breaking it, then your are probably riding way to fast for a hardtail, and should consider moving up to a dually :P I ended up with a 2009 Fuel EX 8, and when i was racing, id absolutly RIP thought the crazy technical stuff, i just let the bike jump over it and take the beating.
Bandit
> vicariousILive
09/28/2014 at 21:09 |
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Is that a Trek 4500?
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vicariousILive
> Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs
09/28/2014 at 21:25 |
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it's a trek fuel ex 8 2008. I have it for 6 years. There's quite a but of miles on it.
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vicariousILive
> bob and john
09/28/2014 at 21:26 |
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it's a 2008 fuel ex 8. So yeah, I have been riding it like a full suspension
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vicariousILive
> Bandit
09/28/2014 at 21:27 |
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2008 fuel ex 8
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bob and john
> vicariousILive
09/28/2014 at 21:35 |
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ohhh ok. trek should be good with replacing it, if not just replacing that part of the frame
next time, air up your suspension a little more. it looks like you bottomed out HARD.
if you somehow manage to do it again, i would recommend selling the EX and upgrading to something with a little more travel (a remedy for example)
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vicariousILive
> bob and john
09/28/2014 at 21:59 |
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I always have it aired up pretty well. My coworker with the same bike had the same thing happen to him. He applied the brakes while uphill and put his weight back he has a good 50lbs on me. I saw myself doing that a lot and I knew it was going to happen one day but not anytime soon. Either way I'm going to call the bike shop tomorrow and hopefully there are parts available for the warranty to work
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bob and john
> vicariousILive
09/28/2014 at 22:04 |
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with such an old frame, it may as well just been time to give up the gost...I HIGHLY doubt trek will have any replacement parts, so they will either:
send you a replacement frame and the shop has to swap all of the old stuff over
OR
offer you a new bike for a MASSIVE discount (i cant remember the number for the life off me)
I forgot whether or not you have to send in your old frame, if you can, try to keep it. Strip the parts off of it and keep them as spare/backups and mount the frame on the wall and have an interesting piece of art :P
Mattbob
> vicariousILive
09/29/2014 at 07:31 |
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Nooooooo!!!!!! You missed out on so much! I feel for you man. At least the new frame should be free, but the missed ride sucks.
Captain of the Enterprise
> vicariousILive
09/29/2014 at 09:38 |
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Time for some zip ties and duct tape!
Manny05x
> vicariousILive
09/29/2014 at 12:07 |
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That pic broke my heart.
Philbert/Phartnagle
> vicariousILive
09/30/2014 at 15:16 |
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Needs more duct tape?
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vicariousILive
> Philbert/Phartnagle
10/01/2014 at 14:02 |
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funny thing I was actually wishing I had some duct tape when it happened. It would have held for the decent back to the parking lot at least. Only load is in compression so as long as it was set in place some light riding would have been just fine
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Philbert/Phartnagle
> vicariousILive
10/02/2014 at 08:14 |
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Yes it would have worked and sorry if it seemed like I was poking fun at you. That was not my intention. I was going to write more including condolences, but got called away from my PC.
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vicariousILive
> Philbert/Phartnagle
10/02/2014 at 09:36 |
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It didn't seem like you were poking fun at all. This breaking of the arm is a systemic issue with this Trek frame so I knew it would happen some day. After talking with the bike shop looks like warranty will cover. I'll update this post when the final verdict is in.
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Philbert/Phartnagle
> vicariousILive
10/02/2014 at 10:31 |
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Ok, I was afraid you might have taken it that way, I am glad you did not. Warranty coverage is good, at least you won't be out of pocket for repair/replacement.
The bike shop should know, but you might suggest that some (triangulation) bracing is needed in that area if it is a known weakness point. Best of luck to you.
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vicariousILive
> Philbert/Phartnagle
10/02/2014 at 10:52 |
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That's my only worry. I'm hoping I'm getting an improved, redesigned part rather than the 2008 replacement. Hopefully Trek beefed in the tube on that top end to strengthen that high stress zone
jariten1781
> vicariousILive
10/08/2014 at 10:19 |
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My pride does not allow me to walk my bike so I always feel I have to bike the trail as much as possible.
I don't mountain bike but I do ski. Whenever we're hiking up to a non-lift service crest there's always that one dude who tries to skate or pole it. Dismount and walk you fool! Haha, I don't get it.
Glad it worked out for you though, I hate it when equipment failures ruin a trip. Had to hike down from Whistler peak when my helicoils on my binding mounts stripped out...took all day...so depressing.
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vicariousILive
> jariten1781
10/08/2014 at 10:29 |
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I ski tour as well and I'm one of those dumbasses that tries to skin up the steep section up to the top. If I would just boot pack the rest of the way I would be less tired and hungry
HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles
> vicariousILive
10/08/2014 at 11:27 |
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Ouch. I've broken just about every part on a bike, but never a frame... or a rear wheel. Those are the only thins on a bike I can't remember cracking, bending, or snapping. I feel your pain at least it's warrantied.
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vicariousILive
> HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles
10/08/2014 at 12:49 |
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speaking of wheels, have you heard about this?...
http://forums.mtbr.com/california-nor…
I don't see much value in getting carbon wheels anyway
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HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles
> vicariousILive
10/08/2014 at 13:48 |
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Oh wow that sucks
TulsaMtnBiker (OkieRising)
> vicariousILive
10/08/2014 at 13:56 |
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Now if this was a Niner..... lulz
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TulsaMtnBiker (OkieRising)
> vicariousILive
10/08/2014 at 13:56 |
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Stans.