Last summer my wife and I went for a three week bicycle tour. A few weeks my wife brought her bicycle to the workshop for maintenance. A bit later she called: “There is a fatigue crack in my bike!” and asked me to come over. Obviously I was curious and went to the workshop.
It appeared that the bottom bracket shell in the frame around the crankshaft did crack. The shell was split to allow for an eccentric bottom bracket.
The manufacturer gives a lifetime warranty on the frame and was willing to replace the frame. But they weren’t able to do so before our holidays. So what to do now?
With my background in fatigue I should be able to make a decision. Going on holiday with a cracked bike or blow it off?
I decided that the probability of fracture would be very low, so we went for it.
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