Major Mechanical Failure - Any Ideas...?

[George]

I'm avin a larf me old fruit cake.

But it's true about Andrews bike, he was descending fast off Ranmoor at the time when his bike just snapped in two

Stop being a JESSY and rip that bl00dy chain from where it should not belong

[Mike I]

I don't think it's a design fault, Snoop. Clearances are pretty tight on modern frames. I agree that it looks as if the front mech has not been adjusted correctly. It might happen as well if your chain in too long, but usually only if you are on the small chainring and small sprocket.

If it happens again, you can always release the chain by taking the chainset off. Just remember to tighten it up again afterwards.

[-Adam-]

Campagnolo crap.

Seriously though, front mech should not drop the chain if properly adjusted. And usually if it does, it doesn't get so wedged. However, some carbon frames, for example my Trek, have a metal reinforcing plate at this location as an insurance policy. But in my experience, when the chain has dropped, i've always been able to get it on again by shifting the other way. I've never had a chain get wedged.

But then I do, of course, use Shimano.

[Tony]

There's quite a few of us have had Chain Suck and yes - it's seriously annoying when it happens. If you aren't comfortable taking off the chainrings (or even the crank if needed) to shift it, then defo go back to the shop. At least you weren't 80 miles from home at the time!

This incident reminds me of classic training ride in autumn 2004 - with myself, Dave Kenett, Ibbo, Tamar and a few other locals one midweek afternoon. First-off someone punctured on the damp autumn roads. We stopped at the end of a really long driveway to a non-descript bungalow. This bungalow happened to be home to the smallest but most defensive yappy little terrier you could imagine. This little thing yapped away as it ran flat out (at about 2mph) from the bungalow to the end of the drive. After several minutes, it finally arrived on scene. Scary it most cetainly wasn't (honestly, I really wasn't scared)! The little thing was too timid to get too close to any of us but savaged anything and eveything put on the ground - empty inner tube boxes, old inner tubes, handkderchief used to clean the tyre, etc.

Having been duly entertained and having wrestled our stuff back from the terrier, we set off again, only for another puncture after a few more miles.

Off for the third time and we finally made it to the Colgate roundabout on the A246 near Rusper. Then it happened - someone got chain suck. In fact, this was chain suck from hell. No one could shift the f***ing chain and none of the tools we had would help.

After much p***ing around, it was clear that one of the riders was going to have to get a taxi home. Then a miracle happened. God intervened and sent his son, Jesus, to save us. He was in the form of a random punter in a white van. This guy stopped and asked what sort of predicament we were in. Expecting him to be about to take the p*ss we were amazed to find he was the owner of a newly opened bike shop! He also had tonnes of tools and spares in the back of his van! Within 10 mins we were off again and enjoyed the rest of the ride.

The really bad bit about this is this story is that all three incidents happened to the same person. However, we swore a pact that they would never be named.....

[-Adam-]

Bet he was using Campag though

[mrP(Boonen)VT]

Campy or that other one makes no difference - if the front mech is adjusted properly it wouldn't happen in the conditions Cap'n Snoop described.

So says the Guru

[Elliot M]

Snoop, I would not touch the chain but take it back to the shop exactly as is, and ask for a new frame.

This occurred on my first ride on my Cannondale (second hand but bought from a shop). In that case the cause appeared to be a short arm rear mech, rather than a long arm mech fitted on a triple. They acknowledged the issue, put a new mech on and checked all worked OK of course. But I didn't realise that there was now a sizeable dent in the chainstay.

I always regretted not asking for a refund - the frame was rendered worthless for resale.

With a carbon frame I would be even more concerned. But I would stress the resale value issue perhaps rather than whether or not the frame is safe (no idea who would be qualified to comment on this).