Linear frame failure

[[email protected]]

(Originally posted to the HPV list, but thought there might be some
here that don't subscribe to that)

My 1996 Linear LWB is out of commission, after developing a large crack
in one of the chainstays. Details at my blog:
http://drumbent.blogspot.com/2006/08/bike-broke.html

Being aluminum it is not repairable (well, I'm not going to trust
anybody's welding on it), but since this is a folding bike the rear
section only attaches via quick-releases, so there are options for
ressurection. Just thought I'd pass this along for any current Linear
owners, especially if the bike has been in service for a while. The
crack happened in a high-stress area under the seat, right after the
curved plate that joins the two stays, so I would highly recommend
keeping an eye on this area.

And while I ponder the Linear's fate, I'd still prefer to have a bent
for my long rides, so my brother Mike has offered me the use of his
Infinity (remember that brand?). He bought it before I got my Linear,
so I did spend some time with it in the past. Mike now has a
Streetmachine, and the Infinity has languished for quite some time.
It'll be interesting to ride this last of the factory-built
cable-steered bents...

Mark

blog: http://drumbent.blogspot.com/
website: http://drumbent.com

 

[Johnny Sunset aka Tom Sherman]

[email protected] wrote:
> (Originally posted to the HPV list, but thought there might be some
> here that don't subscribe to that)
>
> My 1996 Linear LWB is out of commission, after developing a large crack
> in one of the chainstays. Details at my blog:
> http://drumbent.blogspot.com/2006/08/bike-broke.html
>
> Being aluminum it is not repairable (well, I'm not going to trust
> anybody's welding on it), but since this is a folding bike the rear
> section only attaches via quick-releases, so there are options for
> ressurection. Just thought I'd pass this along for any current Linear
> owners, especially if the bike has been in service for a while. The
> crack happened in a high-stress area under the seat, right after the
> curved plate that joins the two stays, so I would highly recommend
> keeping an eye on this area.
>
> And while I ponder the Linear's fate, I'd still prefer to have a bent
> for my long rides, so my brother Mike has offered me the use of his
> Infinity (remember that brand?). He bought it before I got my Linear,
> so I did spend some time with it in the past. Mike now has a
> Streetmachine, and the Infinity has languished for quite some time.
> It'll be interesting to ride this last of the factory-built
> cable-steered bents...

What is next; an Avatar 2000 followed by a Mochet Velocar?

Will the current folding Linear parts fit:
<http://www.linearrecumbent.com/linear_lwb_folding.htm>?

As an aside, late in the last century I stopped at the scenic pullout
[1] in Guttenberg, Iowa. The Guttenberg Chamber of Commerce brochures
available in the tourist info kiosk mentioned that Guttenberg was (at
the time) home to Linear, "The World's Most Comfortable Bicycle".

[1]
<http://terraserver.microsoft.com/image.aspx?T=1&S=12&Z=15&X=818&Y=5925&W=2&qs=%7cguttenberg%7ciowa>.

--
Tom Sherman - Here, not there.

 

[Bill Patterson]

I have a chain stay hanging in the garage. Want It?
[email protected] wrote:
> (Originally posted to the HPV list, but thought there might be some
> here that don't subscribe to that)
>
> My 1996 Linear LWB is out of commission, after developing a large crack
> in one of the chainstays. Details at my blog:
> http://drumbent.blogspot.com/2006/08/bike-broke.html
>
> Being aluminum it is not repairable (well, I'm not going to trust
> anybody's welding on it), but since this is a folding bike the rear
> section only attaches via quick-releases, so there are options for
> ressurection. Just thought I'd pass this along for any current Linear
> owners, especially if the bike has been in service for a while. The
> crack happened in a high-stress area under the seat, right after the
> curved plate that joins the two stays, so I would highly recommend
> keeping an eye on this area.
>
> And while I ponder the Linear's fate, I'd still prefer to have a bent
> for my long rides, so my brother Mike has offered me the use of his
> Infinity (remember that brand?). He bought it before I got my Linear,
> so I did spend some time with it in the past. Mike now has a
> Streetmachine, and the Infinity has languished for quite some time.
> It'll be interesting to ride this last of the factory-built
> cable-steered bents...
>
> Mark
>
> blog: http://drumbent.blogspot.com/
> website: http://drumbent.com
>


--
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http://home.earthlink.net/~wm.patterson/helicopterthoughts/
http://home.earthlink.net/~wm.patterson/helicopterthoughts/id17.html
http://home.earthlink.net/~wm.patterson/helicopterthoughts/id16.html

See bikes and the first human powered helicopter at:
http://www.calpoly.edu/~wpatters/
Single Track controls at:
http://home.earthlink.net/~wm.patterson/

Reply to [email protected]
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[[email protected]]

Bill Patterson wrote:
> I have a chain stay hanging in the garage. Want It?

Hi Bill,

I would be honoured to receive that, since I imagine it's from your
famous Linear test-bed machine! I've acualy been toying with having a
friend make a version of the rear suspension you came up with for the
Linear, but that might take a while. I'll email you off-list...

Thanks,
Mark