[MBannon]

<p>Was fiddling with (completely revamping) my bike position last night, a mere 2.5 weeks before the first of my 3 triathlons this year, 'cuz that's how I roll bitchez.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Anyway, I pulled some tape off the stem that had been placed there to reduce the rattling of my aero bottle.  Found this:</p>
<p> </p>
<p><a class="H-lightbox-open" href="http://www.kickrunners.com/content/type/61/id/92339/width/1000/height/800/flags/" target="_blank"><img alt="Stem.jpg" class="lightbox-enabled" data-id="17548" data-type="61" src="http://www.kickrunners.com/content/type/61/id/17548/width/600/height/450" style="; width: 600px; height: 450px"></a></p>
<p> </p>
<p>I'm no expert bike mechanic, but I'm thinking that was about to get real ugly real fast.</p>
<p> </p>

 

[AdCo]

<p>that could have been UGLY. funny, but ugly. <br>
 </p>
<div class="quote-container"><span>Quote:</span>
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>MBannon</strong> <a href="/forum/thread/74835/found-the-source-of-the-creaking-noise-my-bike-has-been-making#post_2009736"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a><br><br><p>Was fiddling with (completely revamping) my bike position last night, a mere 2.5 weeks before the first of my 3 triathlons this year, 'cuz that's how I roll bitchez.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Anyway, I pulled some tape off the stem that had been placed there to reduce the rattling of my aero bottle.  Found this:</p>
<p> </p>
<p><a class="H-lightbox-open" href="http://www.kickrunners.com/content/type/61/id/92339/width/1000/height/800/flags/" target="_blank"><img alt="Stem.jpg" class="lightbox-enabled" data-id="17548" data-type="61" src="http://www.kickrunners.com/content/type/61/id/17548/width/600/height/450" style="; width: 600px; height: 450px"></a></p>
<p> </p>
<p>I'm no expert bike mechanic, but I'm thinking that was about to get real ugly real fast.</p>
<p> </p>
</div>
</div>
<br><br><p> </p>

 

[cak73]

<p>At least that isn't your seat post?</p>

 

[xflbk43]

<p>Wow!  Glad you found that when you did and not while riding.  That could have been ugly. </p>

 

[MBannon]

<p>Just back from the LBS, mechanic says I almost certainly caused the failure by overtightening.  Apparently those things are designed for very little torque.</p>

 

[Tri-Tammy]

<p>You are a lucky lucky man!</p>

 

[Yo Mikey]

<p>That's some good tape. <span><img alt="biggrin.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/biggrin.gif" style="width:16px;height:16px;"></span></p>

 

[Thor]

<p>One pot hole and you were going down hard. Glad you found it!</p>

 

[jenotter]

<p>Ouch!!! Glad you found it before your races!!!</p>

 

[MBannon]

<br><br><div class="quote-container"><span>Quote:</span>
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>Thor</strong> <a href="/forum/thread/74835/found-the-source-of-the-creaking-noise-my-bike-has-been-making#post_2009771"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border-bottom:0px solid;border-left:0px solid;border-top:0px solid;border-right:0px solid;"></a><br><br><p>One pot hole and you were going down hard.</p>
</div>
</div>
<p><br><br>
I know, huh?  <shudder></p>
<p> </p>
<p>Poking around the bike forums, the general advice is "no sh!t, Sherlock, buy a torque wrench."  So...just ordered a torque wrench.  Never realized how critical that can be!</p>
<p> </p>

 

[hobey]

<br><br><div class="quote-container"><span>Quote:</span>
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>MBannon</strong> <a href="/forum/thread/74835/found-the-source-of-the-creaking-noise-my-bike-has-been-making#post_2009780"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a><br><br><br><br><p><br>
.....the general advice is "no sh!t, Sherlock, buy a torque wrench."  So...just ordered a torque wrench.  Never realized how critical that can be!</p>
<p> </p>
</div>
</div>
<p><br>
They said it before I could...</p>
<p> </p>

 

[jroden]

<p>i broke one of those it a race, it hurt.  Glad you caught it in time.  You must have grossly overtightened that thing and spilled all nature of salty drinks on it to have it fail like that</p>

 

[pcsronbo]

<p>Nah, he's just a beast and the 3,000watts put out over his last time trial just split it in half.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>ok, so anyone else curious why that thing is scratched to hell?</p>
<p> </p>
<p>p.s. glad you found it, you should never remove tape, it was holding the entire thing together!! No you have to spend $$ !</p>
<p>p.p.s. 5nm torque wrench is a good investment, they told me about that when I got my carbon bike. Basically, I coulda screwed the whole thing up apparently. Not now </p>

 

[MBannon]

<br><br><div class="quote-container"><span>Quote:</span>
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>pcsronbo</strong> <a href="/forum/thread/74835/found-the-source-of-the-creaking-noise-my-bike-has-been-making#post_2010020"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a><br><br><p> </p>
<p>ok, so anyone else curious why that thing is scratched to hell?</p>
<p> </p>
</div>
</div>
<br><br><p>Part of it is a decorative Specialized design.  The rest is from my utility blade when I discovered there was no point in being delicate with my tape removal.</p>