Re: Catastrophic Failure

Corvus Corvax said:

S o r n i said:

On my old Subaru beater-wagon, I had four trays up top, so one of the
outside ones was facing backwards. I finished a ride and loaded my
Fisher Paragon on the rack, and started down the freeway. Suddenly,
BOOM! I too had neglected to strap down the rear wheel, so the bike
swung around and crashed into the rear of the car, hanging by its
fork dropouts

Precisely the failure mode here. I had the trays on the Honda
backwards so that I could open the hatchback with bikes in the
mounts. Looks like once I got going fast enough, the wind just picked
up the rear wheel and pulled the bike right off the car. Unlike in
your case, it appears to have simply shattered the fork mount and
pulled the bike away clean: there wasn't a single mark on the car.

I know I've forgotten to strap down the rear wheel at least once on a
/forward/-facing tray, and the bike stayed put. Still don't recommend it,
though! 🙂

Sounds (and looks) like your mount had a fatigue failure well underway, and
this just completed the job! (Note to self: inspect my 8-year-old Thule
gear carefully, especially the fork mounts. Hate the way they work, anyway.
The new ones with the "press-down" clamps seem pretty trick.)

Bill "a Klein paintjob is a terrible thing to tumble" S.

S o r n i said:

Corvus Corvax said:

S o r n i said:

On my old Subaru beater-wagon, I had four trays up top, so one of
the outside ones was facing backwards. I finished a ride and
loaded my Fisher Paragon on the rack, and started down the freeway.
Suddenly, BOOM! I too had neglected to strap down the rear wheel,
so the bike swung around and crashed into the rear of the car,
hanging by its fork dropouts

Precisely the failure mode here. I had the trays on the Honda
backwards so that I could open the hatchback with bikes in the
mounts. Looks like once I got going fast enough, the wind just picked
up the rear wheel and pulled the bike right off the car. Unlike in
your case, it appears to have simply shattered the fork mount and
pulled the bike away clean: there wasn't a single mark on the car.

I know I've forgotten to strap down the rear wheel at least once on a
/forward/-facing tray, and the bike stayed put. Still don't
recommend it, though! 🙂

Sounds (and looks) like your mount had a fatigue failure well
underway, and this just completed the job! (Note to self: inspect
my 8-year-old Thule gear carefully, especially the fork mounts. Hate
the way they work, anyway. The new ones with the "press-down" clamps
seem pretty trick.)

Bill "a Klein paintjob is a terrible thing to tumble" S.

I've got the kind of trays that you leave both wheels on. I have it mounted
for rear facing also, same thing, so I can open the back door.

Hint, I've since discovered that you can adjust the positioning of the racks
for the rear door but anyway...

As long as everything is fastened properly, I should be ok, right?

Penny

pas said:

I've got the kind of trays that you leave both wheels on. I have it
mounted for rear facing also, same thing, so I can open the back door.

Hint, I've since discovered that you can adjust the positioning of
the racks for the rear door but anyway...

As long as everything is fastened properly, I should be ok, right?

Yup. In fact I /prefer/ rear-facing rack trays, especially on long trips,
as fork stanchions and shifters don't get all buggered up as much. (Might
even be more areodynamic?)

Bill "just strap down those wheels, ladies and germs" S.

S o r n i said:

pas said:

I've got the kind of trays that you leave both wheels on. I have it
mounted for rear facing also, same thing, so I can open the back door.

Hint, I've since discovered that you can adjust the positioning of
the racks for the rear door but anyway...

As long as everything is fastened properly, I should be ok, right?

Yup. In fact I /prefer/ rear-facing rack trays, especially on long trips,
as fork stanchions and shifters don't get all buggered up as much. (Might
even be more areodynamic?)

Bill "just strap down those wheels, ladies and germs" S.

Aerodynamic? Nope. I have one of those silly looking roadie bras I put
on my bike to keep the bugs off. They claim it adds aerodynamics when
used with a faring, but I have not seen a difference in gas mileage.

--
o-o-o-o Ride-A-Lot o-o-o-o
www.schnauzers.ws

Ride-A-Lot said:

S o r n i said:

pas said:

I've got the kind of trays that you leave both wheels on. I have it
mounted for rear facing also, same thing, so I can open the back door.

Hint, I've since discovered that you can adjust the positioning of
the racks for the rear door but anyway...

As long as everything is fastened properly, I should be ok, right?

Yup. In fact I /prefer/ rear-facing rack trays, especially on long
trips,
as fork stanchions and shifters don't get all buggered up as much.
(Might
even be more areodynamic?)

Bill "just strap down those wheels, ladies and germs" S.

Aerodynamic? Nope. I have one of those silly looking roadie bras I put
on my bike to keep the bugs off.

Figures. Gay roadie [censored].

Greg
--
Destroy your safe and happy lives
Before it is too late
The battles we fought were long and hard
Just not to be consumed by rock'n'roll