[cbrossman]

here is my Father's day ride in CO. http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=202600

But I think I might have bent my seat stay?

I don't know when this might have happened, and I don't notice any handle problems, so I'll wait until the season is over (well, the slow season) to replace it, if no one thinks it is a problem.

 

[Ciclistagonzo]

Wow! That's amazing.
Bottomed out hard on something?

I'd send it in, the tube is bent in the very direction that it is in tension.

-Aaron

 

[mtnbiker4life]

Were you just riding along when that happened or were you six feet in the air? :thumbsup:

 

[snakeoiler]

I'd say the tube was in compression, not tension...

 

[demo_slug]

I'd send it in, the tube is bent in the very direction that it is in tension.

nice one. but why do you think that it didn't bend in the middle?

 

[Ciclistagonzo]

Correct, the load is compressive, same advice though, get it replaced.

Demo - no idea, especially not knowing what caused it. Probably the highest compression loads there.
Just an educated guess on my part.

Aaron

 

[mtnbiker4life]

My guess without knowing all the details would be it bent adjacent a heat affected zone.......ie the welded on cable support. But I would take Aaron's advice and get it replaced asap because the next ride you may end up with that seat stay impailed in your backside.......ouch

 

[moclan]

Strange, how is the other side looking?
It must of been quite an effort on that seatstay and more so how come the chainstay not get damaged ?

 

[Soupboy]

Clearly the cause of unbalanced side loading imparted by the brake jack resultant of that suspension design.

Did you wheelie drop off something and land with the rear brake locked up?

 

[cbrossman]

The other side looks fine, and I am not one to get much air.
I think it was caused by a rock kicking up, but it is odd that there is no damage to the chain stay.

I really don't know when this occured, it may have been months ago and I am only noticing it now.

I have a note into Ventana. I'm confident they will take care of me, but concerned I'll be without the ride for longer than I can stand, which is about a week considering we are hitting the peak of alpine riding in Colorado (see main point of this post).

 

[FoShizzle]

bummer....my guess is that your manly bike rebelled against you wearing lycra

 

[jk99]

I had very similar damage in nearly the same location, though on mine the tubing bent more inward rather than backward. The part is called the "brake stay" and runs around $200. I continued to ride while waiting for the replacement in the mail so I did not miss any trail time. Making the replacement is pretty easy -- it takes maybe 1 hour and can be done with allen wrenches, though a torque wrench is nice if you want to be anal about torquing all the pivot bolts to spec.

On the positive side, the replacement brake stay eliminates the lower yin/yang cable guide -- which forces too much bend in the cable -- in favor of a zip tie guide higher up.

I did not press the case for warranty replacement, assuming it must have been something I did while riding, though seeing the photo of your bike makes me wonder if it could be just a coincidence?

 

[cbrossman]

bummer....my guess is that your manly bike rebelled against you wearing lycra

I actually enjoy the clash of motercycle sized tires and oh-so-sexy lycra.

 

[cbrossman]

I had very similar damage in nearly the same location, though on mine the tubing bent more inward rather than backward. The part is called the "brake stay" and runs around $200. I continued to ride while waiting for the replacement in the mail so I did not miss any trail time. Making the replacement is pretty easy -- it takes maybe 1 hour and can be done with allen wrenches, though a torque wrench is nice if you want to be anal about torquing all the pivot bolts to spec.

On the positive side, the replacement brake stay eliminates the lower yin/yang cable guide -- which forces too much bend in the cable -- in favor of a zip tie guide higher up.

I did not press the case for warranty replacement, assuming it must have been something I did while riding, though seeing the photo of your bike makes me wonder if it could be just a coincidence?

Thanks, excellent info. If I get a hold of Theresa I hope the part will be here next week.
Sherwood suggested that it was a stick of some size, since there are no gouge marks in the location of the bend. But you do have me wondering, if I got hung up on something enough to cause this damage, I'ld have replaced spokes ... I think. And I've never damaged a wheel on this bike to the extent it would bend the brake stay.
I rarely if ever bottom out, and I find it hard to believe rear braking has anything to do with it, since it locks up so easily.

Anyone else experience a similar issue?