{"id":657,"date":"2006-07-12T14:20:35","date_gmt":"2006-07-12T14:20:35","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/127.0.0.1\/wordpress179\/?p=657"},"modified":"2006-07-12T14:20:35","modified_gmt":"2006-07-12T14:20:35","slug":"i-snapped-my-frame","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thehippy.net\/blog\/i-snapped-my-frame\/","title":{"rendered":"I snapped my frame!!!"},"content":{"rendered":"
This morning I was “Just Riding Along” (I can hear all the LBS guys groan but I’m serious!) when my GT<\/a> frame snapped. <\/p>\n I was 30 minutes into a fairly relaxed 36 minute commute, having set a PB for this same ride yesterday (finally cracking the 30 minute mark with a relatively easy 29:52).<\/p>\n I was cruising along Sussex Gardens<\/a> when there was a loud bang from the rear wheel.<\/p>\n I thought it was the quick ‘n’ nasty spoke repair I’d done last week but a glance seemed to indicate the wheel was true. Another quick look at the next set of lights and everything seemed ok. <\/p>\n It was all very odd because when I spun the wheel, everything appeared straight, but as soon as I jumped on and pedalled, the back-end was all over the place, like I had a flat rear tyre. <\/p>\n I thought it might be a broken axle or perhaps shot wheel bearings or some other internal chaos (maintenance levels are not high on this bike) so I watched the hub closely for signs of movement (while dodging the black cabs of course). Nothing seemed out of the ordinary except the swishy rear end. WTF? <\/p>\n Being close to work I just kept going, slowly, knowing I’d get to check it out properly once I’d stopped.<\/p>\n Which I did. The spokes were all intact and the wheel spun straight and free..<\/p>\n So I grabbed the wheel and yanked it side to side. The whole rear triangle moved. This is when I spotted the crack all the way through the drive-side chainstay. Damn.. <\/p>\n Pic was taken at an odd angle, in a dark room with my mobile. I’ll try for a better one just as soon as I work out how to get the bike home!<\/p>\n This certainly explained why the whole back end was fishing around even though the wheel looked and spun fine.<\/p>\n Ode to the GT:<\/i><\/p>\n The GT Talera<\/a> was a mid-90’s steel bike bought for $300AUD in showroom condition with lots of bits in 2002.<\/p>\n It was going to be my first singlespeed project but I got into trials and fitted it with wide bars, platform pedals, etc.<\/p>\n When I bought the trials-specific Zebdi, it was time to turn the GT into an SS. Mick from CCW helped me do this under the “$0 Rule”.<\/p>\n It was raced at the SSWC<\/a> in 2003 (against Cadel Evans!). <\/p>\n It did a tonne of commuting in all weather conditions.<\/p>\n I had so much fun with this I rebuilt it with better bits when the first lot of parts wore out.<\/p>\n It did my first lap at the Kona 24hr in 2005<\/a>.<\/p>\n Before leaving Australia for England I fully rebuilt the GT as a touring machine with new front wheel, Deore LX, guards, rack, panniers, barbag, etc. <\/p>\n Spent 4 months riding around Europe on it – killing both wheels – one from loading strain, one from a head-on with a motorbike.<\/p>\n Rode it briefly while working as messenger for Courier Systems. <\/p>\n Back in London it was my commuter since early 2006 when I started working for a company with showers.<\/p>\n More of the GT’s illustrious history, click here<\/a>.<\/p>\n Photographic Build History:<\/p>\n October 2002<\/a><\/p>\n February 2003<\/a><\/p>\n August 2003<\/a><\/p>\n March 2004<\/a><\/p>\n February 2005<\/a><\/p>\n May 2005<\/a><\/p>\n One of the guys who rides at work suggested this mob for frame repair: Mercian<\/a><\/p>\n Not sure of a course of action yet but given the repair is likely to cost more than the bike is worth, a new machine is definately on the cards. “N+1”, where N=0, currently.<\/p>\n For now I am a Tube-bitch. <\/p>\n But that On-One Il Pompino<\/a> is looking better every day.. “I’m EXCITED!”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" This morning I was “Just Riding Along” (I can hear all the LBS guys groan but I’m serious!) when my GT frame snapped. I was 30 minutes into a fairly relaxed 36 minute commute, having set a PB for this … Continue reading <\/p>\n