I saw cracked chainstay on friend's Ritchey Ti Breakaway

eddief · #1 10-09-2016, 08:56 AM

I am not writing this to set off an internet alarm, but thought worth posting.

I rode with a husband and wife team in Italy in the last few weeks. They were both riding Ritchey Ti Cross Breakaway bikes. I do believe both bikes were 8 years old or so according to the owner. When he was breaking them down to put back in the cases for the plane ride home he noticed lengthwise hairline cracks on the underside of the chainstays on both bikes. The crack I saw was a few inches long and looked like weird metal fatigue of some sort. Unless he had them upside down for taking them apart he would never have seen the cracks. He is a big 6 footer, but his wife is petite, so one wonders what the cause is for the cracking.

It will be interesting to to hear how Ritchey responds. And do check your bikes.

pbarry · #2 10-09-2016, 09:01 AM

Just curious: Both chainstays on both bikes?

eddief · #3 10-09-2016, 09:03 AM

I was packing my bike at the same time, so only had a brief look. All I saw was one crack on one stay on one bike, but he said both bikes were victims.

Quote:

Originally Posted by pbarry

Just curious: Both chainstays on both bikes?

pbarry · #4 10-09-2016, 09:13 AM

Probably DS stay. Hope they make it right.

oldpotatoe · #5 10-09-2016, 09:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eddief

I am not writing this to set off an internet alarm, but thought worth posting.

I rode with a husband and wife team in Italy in the last few weeks. They were both riding Ritchey Ti Cross Breakaway bikes. I do believe both bikes were 8 years old or so according to the owner. When he was breaking them down to put back in the cases for the plane ride home he noticed lengthwise hairline cracks on the underside of the chainstays on both bikes. The crack I saw was a few inches long and looked like weird metal fatigue of some sort. Unless he had them upside down for taking them apart he would never have seen the cracks. He is a big 6 footer, but his wife is petite, so one wonders what the cause is for the cracking.

It will be interesting to to hear how Ritchey responds. And do check your bikes.

Were they from CO? I sold a couple a couple of ti Breakaways..

eddief · #6 10-09-2016, 09:20 AM

nice folks.

Quote:

Originally Posted by oldpotatoe

Were they from CO? I sold a couple a couple of ti Breakaways..

pbarry · #7 10-09-2016, 09:22 AM

Six degrees of Old Potatoe..

soulspinner · #8 10-09-2016, 09:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pbarry

Probably DS stay. Hope they make it right.

8 years old? Make it right?

Cicli · #9 10-09-2016, 09:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pbarry

Probably DS stay. Hope they make it right.

How? These are 8 year old bikes that travel.

Mzilliox · #10 10-09-2016, 09:45 AM

I'd love to hear more about this, see photos, anything else that comes of it. considering the purchase of one, sounds pretty isolated, but would love to know more.

pbarry · #11 10-09-2016, 09:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cicli

How? These are 8 year old bikes that travel.

Travel stresses the chain stays?

Lifetime warranties for Ti bikes are not uncommon, but I have no idea what Ritchey says in writing. I would bet TR will offer a replacement or repair.

AngryScientist · #12 10-09-2016, 09:54 AM

what is interesting is that bikes like this probably see a ton of variation in use. higher end travel bikes probably see everything from 12k hard miles/year to the other end of the spectrum with people who buy them for a single trip, ride a couple hundred miles and leave them packed in a case for years and years. with that in mind, it would be hard to see a "trend" in this kind of failure i'm betting. i'd be interested to hear if any more information comes to light on this one, just out of curiosity.

Tickdoc · #13 10-09-2016, 10:00 AM

Hard case, soft case?

Sounds both fixable and caused by a myriad of unknown factors.

Glad they made it home safe. What a nice way to live, travel riding in Italy with you SO.

Cicli · #14 10-09-2016, 10:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pbarry

Travel stresses the chain stays?

Lifetime warranties for Ti bikes are not uncommon, but I have no idea what Ritchey says in writing. I would bet TR will offer a replacement or repair.

Not saying that caused it but my travel bike sees alot more stresses and knocking around that others. It tends to get ridden on whatever comes along while I am out on the road. Seen everything from road to light single track. Maybe its just me.

pbarry · #15 10-09-2016, 10:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cicli

Not saying that caused it but my travel bike sees alot more stresses and knocking around that others. Maybe its just me.

TSA and associated rough handling should not cause a crack, especially in Ti. A baggage truck ran over a Subaru team bike in a soft case, when I was at Merlin. The frame was checked for alignment. Iirc, the rear end was barely out of spec.