View Full Version : Alien life found!
No, this isn't my bike.
Unwrapped the bar tape and out poured white powder... Andromeda Strain? Anthrax? Would it spontaneously ignite???
What's lurking under your handlebar tape?
saab2000
03-16-2009, 08:16 AM
Corrosion. Don't ride those bars any more. Seriously.
rockdude
03-16-2009, 08:20 AM
Was that bike shipped over the border from a Mexican Cartel?
William
03-16-2009, 08:23 AM
Did you buy the bike from someone in Columbia or Peru? ;)
Nasty corrosion. Toss them pronto.
William
Yes, that's what I told the owner. In fact I may saw them in half tonight just for fun and so he's committed to replacement.
Scary.
Looks like my old Klein Quantum.
Charles M
03-16-2009, 09:22 AM
Man what a great example of corrosion proof Alu...
I hope lots of folks see it. (in fact would you email me pics? charles@pezcyclingnews.com)
One of the reasons to rewrap your bars at least once a year when you live in places where cars turn the same color as leaves on a regular basis.
Climb01742
03-16-2009, 09:26 AM
the technical term for that is, i believe, cooties.
GregL
03-16-2009, 10:00 AM
Corrosion, likely induced by sweat. I found the same thing under the bar wrap on my wife's bike recently. I'm willing to bet that this is common on bikes that spend a lot of time on a trainer. With little or no airflow to evaporate the sweat, it penetrates the bar wrap and works its corrosive magic on the bar. I suggested to my wife that she keep a fan running when on the trainer (suggestion rebuked...) and a towel over her bars to keep the sweat from seeping through the wrap.
Regards,
Greg
beungood
03-17-2009, 04:10 PM
the technical term for that is, i believe, cooties.
lol :D
mike p
03-17-2009, 05:37 PM
Rewrap and good to go. :)
Mike
Blue Jays
03-17-2009, 06:13 PM
Looks like corrosion/rust on the bottom of the drop, too.
In what kind of condition is the stem?
Sandy
03-17-2009, 06:31 PM
Couldn't we put it on the Serotta Classified and describe it as in "immaculate" condition........ :) :) I am sure many remember that thread.
In better than perfect condition,
Sandy
Yuch, recycle the aluminum.
Blue Jays
03-18-2009, 12:07 AM
Is that adhesive residue or was the finish literally bubbling/flaking from the handlebars?
It's really somewhat interesting because one wouldn't expect that from aluminum.
LesMiner
03-18-2009, 05:55 AM
Yes, that's what I told the owner. In fact I may saw them in half tonight just for fun and so he's committed to replacement.
Scary.
Before sawing them in half try cleaning off whatever it is on the surface. Maybe the owner puts some kind of stuff on his hands or gloves. Really salty hands?
The cooties are deep pitting and oxidation. There's no point in cleaning it off, the bar is toast.
The stem is also tired but I'm having a harder time convincing the owner to replace it. He brought over an Easton EC-90 carbon bar (with 26mm center section) and wanted me to put them on. The stem is an old-style Ritchey WCS with a 4-bolt, 2-piece clamp. The bars are printed, in plain sight, with "USE 2-BOLT STEM ONLY" (or similar). Two shops confirmed this message is to be taken seriously.
Hopefully this will provide sufficient motivation to swap the stem, get a different bar, or hopefully both.
endosch2
03-18-2009, 07:43 AM
I think it is because you are running shimano. If you switched to Campy your bike would be more attractive, stylish, and have thus have better hygene. It is what the metrosexuals ride if I can use that term that is so '05.....
Alien life found!
Umm, that took a while. He's been back in Texas for some weeks.
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