I was on the way back from a day at Bwlch Nant yr Arian trail centre, six miles east of Aberystwyth in Wales when it happened. When I tighten the clamp on to the top tube, I always secure it with a flexible tie wrap, just in case. But I forgot on this occasion!
I was driving down that steep and twisty road into Aberystwyth when there was a loud bang. A glance in the rearview - no blue bike!!!!!. Fortunately there was no following traffic. As I slowed down I could see that there was no bike wreckage tumbling down the road, so I assumed that the bike was still attached. I jumped out and sent my grandson up the road to flag down the traffic (it was a very winding road). The top clamp had come undone and the bike had pivoted down to the road, still secured by the wheel straps. The right grip had been dragged down the road, with the tarmac acting like a belt sander! It took a while to loosen the by now extremely tight wheel straps and to upright the bike. I was amazed that the straps had not torn through, or been ripped out of their mountings (well done Thule!) I was very lucky that I was using Ergon grips because it took the brunt of the wear. The bike is still rideable, all I need to do is to smooth down the rough edges. The photo below shows clearly that the bar has been partly abraded away, but mostly protected by the alloy of the Ergon grip. Big lesson learned. Always lock the clamp, and check that the JIC tie wrap is in place!
I was driving down that steep and twisty road into Aberystwyth when there was a loud bang. A glance in the rearview - no blue bike!!!!!. Fortunately there was no following traffic. As I slowed down I could see that there was no bike wreckage tumbling down the road, so I assumed that the bike was still attached. I jumped out and sent my grandson up the road to flag down the traffic (it was a very winding road). The top clamp had come undone and the bike had pivoted down to the road, still secured by the wheel straps. The right grip had been dragged down the road, with the tarmac acting like a belt sander! It took a while to loosen the by now extremely tight wheel straps and to upright the bike. I was amazed that the straps had not torn through, or been ripped out of their mountings (well done Thule!) I was very lucky that I was using Ergon grips because it took the brunt of the wear. The bike is still rideable, all I need to do is to smooth down the rough edges. The photo below shows clearly that the bar has been partly abraded away, but mostly protected by the alloy of the Ergon grip. Big lesson learned. Always lock the clamp, and check that the JIC tie wrap is in place!
That aside, a very lucky escape all round fella..
