Bent Handlebars

[Hip Priest]

I'm sorry if this is a daft question.

I had a little low-speed spill yesterday and managed to bend the right drop inwards. I gave it a couple of bangs with my fist and managed to bend it back into place, and all feels normal.

My question is whether this simple fix is fine, or whether the integrity of the metal has been compromised and could possibly lead to failure? I'm willing to replace the bars if necessary.

 

[Rob3rt]

Loads of people are going to tell you to replace them... they may have a point. Not sure what I would do, as it would depend on the severity. I wouldn't try to bend them back out though.

 

[Hip Priest]

Loads of people are going to tell you to replace them... they may have a point. Not sure what I would do, as it would depend on the severity. I wouldn't try to bend them back out though.

Yeah, I tend to act first and think later where bike mechanicals are concerned! I bent it back at the scene, then spent the rest of the ride worrying that the bar might snap on me. I seem to have damaged the rear mech as well. I think a trip to the LBS is in order...

 

[Cycling Dan]

The more you bend it the more it become weak naturally. How far did you have to bend it back into place. If it was only a few degrees I would say its probably not lost much structural integrity. If it was more 35+ degrees I would replace it. Prob best to take it to be checked out first. I'm sure they can put it through a stress test.

 

[Born2die]

Best get it checked at the least strip off the tape and look properly though it's not always visible damage IMHO replace for safetysafety

 

[TissoT]

New bars .... You do nt know if it has cracked on inside ... May look ok on the outside ?

 

[fossala]

I got in a crash last year that bent my handlebars, LBS wrote them off (so much was written off on the bike the whole bike ended up being written off) they where only bent a few degrees (ritchey classic). I still have them, going to make a bike stand/hanger from it (and the broken stem).

 

[mcshroom]

If you have lost confidence in them then it's probably better to get some new bars.

 

[Hip Priest]

Cheers for the all the responses. Will take it down the LBS this week and ask them to assess it and fit new bars if necessary. I'm glad I asked, because I was tempted to ignore it and carry on, so you may have all saved me a massive unplanned dismount!

 

[ufkacbln]

Yeah, I tend to act first and think later where bike mechanicals are concerned! I bent it back at the scene, then spent the rest of the ride worrying that the bar might snap on me. I seem to have damaged the rear mech as well. I think a trip to the LBS is in order...

Therein lies your answer......

Whether they will in fact break or not is now irrelevant - you are concerned that they might

You will never feel fully comfortable until they are replaced

 

[Shut Up Legs]

Therein lies your answer......

Whether they will in fact break or not is now irrelevant - you are concerned that they might

You will never feel fully comfortable until they are replaced

You will never feel fully comfortable until you buy N+1 .
You know you want to... resistance is futile...

 

[Fab Foodie]

Replace

 

[gbb]

I got in a crash last year that bent my handlebars, LBS wrote them off (so much was written off on the bike the whole bike ended up being written off) they where only bent a few degrees (ritchey classic). I still have them, going to make a bike stand/hanger from it (and the broken stem).

Logically, the ONLY thing a LBS will do is recommend replacement of bent components. They're not metallurgists and could never guarantee the component against failure...so if in doubt, replace. (IMO.) What is there for them to gain by doing anything 3lse, except leaving themselves open to lagal action for wrong advice if they did go in the future.

 

[Hip Priest]

After looking at the bike this morning, I'm starting to doubt that I bent the bars at all. I think I just moved the brake hood round and that was why I was able to bang it back into position. I'm not sure I'd be able to bend a handlebar back by banging it with the flat of my hand.

Ah well, I'm popping to the LBS tomorrow so I'll see what they say.

 

[PpPete]

I had an older (30 y.o.) aluminium handlebar that got bent - will never know how. When I replaced it I tried to bend the old one back - couldn't do it, and I'm no weakling. Modern bars may be made of thinner wall tubing though.