I am at Ironman Canada and as of right now, my bike is BROKEN!! Please read below and let me know if you have any suggestions!
I have a 2.5 year old Guru Crono. A few weeks ago on a training ride, I got stuck in the front small chainring and couldn’t move the chain into the big ring. I noticed that some of the cables at the bar end shifter were busted and brought it to my local shop. They said the cables were bad and replaced the cables and it worked fine. Then today, during a ride, the same thing happened, except the cable was fine. I brought it to Bike Barn and they immediately noticed that the front derailleur hanger is cracked. The hanger can’t be replaced because it’s riveted to the frame.
The “best” option I can think of at this point is to bring it to a local welder and hope he can weld the hanger back together. I know that putting a welding torch that close to my carbon frame is risky, but the only other real option I can think of is to put the chain in the big ring and not use the small ring for the race. That idea sucks.
I am planning on bringing my bike to the welder at 7am local time. Please let me know if anyone has any other suggestions.
I don’t know how to add pictures to an ST post, but if you’re curious, there’s a picture of the broken hanger on my blog here.
Thanks Pete! I put a call into them and also PM’d the Guru rep who posts on ST. They’re on the east coast so they were already closed this afternoon, but I’m going to try them first thing in the AM.
It sounds silly but could you re-enforce the hangar with something aside from a weld? I am thinking of a super strong epoxy or something of that ilk. Even perhaps another metal piece sandwiched around it and then a longer screw?
Just a thought if the welding option didn’t work out. Good luck and a total suck. It’s a shame that these super high end frames all have the derailler hangars built in like that (I am thinking of the transition too). Also why not wait to go to the welder until you have spoken to Guru?
I would imagine you could fix that with a mig or tig in like 2 seconds, or just put it in the small ring and take it off
just look for an automotive body shop or something, they are probably so slow with work they would look forward to fixing that for you - just bring some donuts. I wouldn’t use any epoxy at the risk of it breaking mid race - better off just not using it if you can’t weld it
Thanks. The weld is where i’m leaning now, but i am a little worried about it screwing up the frame. The welder I met today was confident he could do it - he said the paint might get screwed up - but I’d love to figure out an alternative.
I am trying to get in touch with Guru to see if they have any ideas, but it’s a little late in the game for most other suggestions.
A riveted part is easy to replace by a competent mechanic, it would require drilling out the existing hanger rivets and mounting a replacement with pop rivets. I would focus on finding a shop that has these parts in stock, or knows how to do it and order it overnight. I honestly do not believe the welding solution will work, at best it will just crack again in the middle of your ride and at worst you could damage the tube. Otherwise if I were you I would get a 44t small ring and just leave it there. Good Luck! Think of it this way, it could be worse, I have a HIM on Sat and I am currently in the can every 10-15 min with the most horrible case of diarrhea I have ever had.
Jill has got a 48 on that Orbea cross bike that’s gathering dust in her garage. Go borrow that (Jordan may even fit it for you) , it’ll get you over Richters and upto the lake, there’s nothing on that course that you’d need the small ring for anyway, smash the granny off the big ring, your legs will thank you for it come the run.
Sorry to hear not what you need a few days before the race.
I would check with Guru before having a welder touch my bike as you might screw yourself out of the warranty by doing so.
I would check with one of the companies that is offering demo rides at the race. I had a problem in LP a few years ago and Cervelo offered me a bike to use if I couldn’t get mine fixed in time. Guru might even have a local dealer that might be able to help out.
Regardless good luck with the bike and with the race.
The hanger can’t be replaced because it’s riveted to the frame.
I’ve never worked on bike rivets but I have worked with rivets in other applications and they are replaceble as others have suggested. That being said, you need a new hanger and time wise, that is probably going to be impossible to get unless there happens to be one in town somewhere. My welding experience is limited to one rather pathic stab at it but I have watched pros at work and I checked out your pic and the part looks like it could be welded fairly easily. (Actually some other techincal term like brasing or something is probably more accurate but a pro will know what to do).
On another note, so as not to wreck your race, start doing some mental training. First off, of all the things that you could get stuck with, this is really a lucky break. Your bike may be fixable and even if it isnt, its still ridable. It may not feel like it now, but you are a lucky man.
Just to get your through the next few hours, come up with a plan for dealing with a worst case senario. Once you have a plan, you can stay calm and get on with business. If the part cant be fixed, or it breaks again during the race, in the grand scheme of things, its not that time consuming to stop and move the chain. You might only have to do it a couple times in the whole race so we’re only talking a minute or two total.
STP gives great advice. You should be prepared mentally for something going wrong with this again on Sunday. If it breaks again, know how to do an emergency fix (have the Bike Barn guys show you). Don’t let it kill your race. Know the fix. If it breaks, fix it and move on.
white vinegar will help you get rid of diarrhea. a large spoonful followed by a few sips of water. its hard to get down but will work. too much will make you constipated.
Bad timing, and I can imagine the anxiety you’re dealing with right now…
As others have said, the preferred remedy would be to source a new part and have it installed/adjusted A Bike Barn. Given the timing, that might not be an option. If it was my bike, this is what I would do:
Drill out the derailleur bracket rivets (looks like four of them in your picture)
Prep the metal for welding ( filing, acetone, etc.)
TIG the failed part
re-rivet the part back on the frame
adjust as necessary
Test, test, test
It looks like the bracket is originally installed on the bike before paint. Take a razor blade, or sharp utility knife and scope the paint where the bracket meets the frame (you don’t want to peel any paint off the frame when removing the bracket). I’m suggesting you remove it from the frame before welding to eliminate the likelyhood that your frame paint will be damaged (it almost certainly would). Once the part has been welded, remove the damaged paint from the bracket with a stainless steel brush (all welders have these), and re-install.
Welded properly, there is no reason to be concerned that the part isn’t as as strong as it originally was (many times the exact opposite is true).
If I was out there I’d be happy to take care of this for you, but any competent welder/machinist should be able to repair this to a perfectly serviceable condition. If you feel like going for a bit of a drive today (to Sicamous), I’ll call in a favour and have one of the very best welder/fabricators in the Okanagan fix this for you N/C.
I PM’d you my cell number; give me a call if you want.
I would imagine you could fix that with a mig or tig in like 2 seconds, or just put it in the small ring and take it off
just look for an automotive body shop or something, they are probably so slow with work they would look forward to fixing that for you - just bring some donuts. I wouldn’t use any epoxy at the risk of it breaking mid race - better off just not using it if you can’t weld it
This gentleman is right - easy fix, nothing to even worry about - just cold/wet wrap the frame carefully around the hanger to minimize heat transfer to the carbon and you’ll be fine.
Thank you and everyone else for their advice. It looks like I’m headed to the welder in a few minutes to see what they can do. If they can’t fix it, then I’ll go to option 2 or 3 or whatever.
The mental prep advice is pretty huge as well. I am feeling pretty discombobulated right about now, but if I can get this “fixed” and get a little riding in this evevning and tomorrow morning before bike check and get comfortable with dealing with it in case of another emergency, I’ll feel good.
I’ll keep everyone posted on how it goes. thanks to all!