Islabike-Broken part

[The Dwaff Family]

Last week I discovered a broken part on my son's Cnoc 16. Emailed them some picture's and apparently it's called a headset cup. They are sending out the new part and I can then take it along to my LBS to have fitted and then Islabikes will re-imburse the monies.

First of all, I have no idea how he could have broken this at the back, has not had any crash, there is no other damage in that area, or even a scratch. How on earth would a part like that just break off? Is this a part that's easy to damage? Or could it possibly be that it was maybe a faulty part that had already taken some stress before being fitted? I ask now as I am maybe a little worried that if it's the latter, then what else perhap's crept through on QC inspection and thinking I should get the whole bike serviced if that's the case.

Also, what would be the result of this breaking off entirely when cycling?

 

[lukesdad]

Ive never seen anything like that, I would say that has been struck by something. Have you left it somewhere
unattended could it be an act of vandlelism ?

The cup is there to seat the bearings and is pressed in place, the portion that is fractured does not in normal use suffer great stress. I dont think it could break off completly as the cap has quite a lengthy insert into the head tube. Biggest worry there is crap getting into the bearings causing accelerated wear IMO.

 

[The Dwaff Family]

It has NEVER been left anywhere, never unattended and is alway's housed indoors. He goes to cycling club from 2-30pm on a Saturday and then is straight back in the house. PLUS, I am alway's there watching at bike club, has taken no knocks or big crashes and there is no other damage anywhere near it, not even a tiny scratch, which is why I am now worried that this must have been a manufacturing/qc issue.

Am thinking I should perhap's insist they pay for a full service to be made by my LBS shop as well, just to be sure, particularly when it's a child's bike, dread to think of him flying down a big grass hill at bike club and the bike just falling apart!!

 

[rich p]

I suspect that it's had an un-noticed knock. It doesn't look like a manufacturing fault.

Kids eh! At least they're sorting it out for you.

 

[TobyM]

My brother worked at Isla Bikes over the summer, and that's not the kind of thing that would go unnoticed. Each bike is built by people who have a passion for cycling, so much so that many of them commute 30 miles each day - it's highly unlikely that something like that could have happened during the manufacturing process! I think they're being very kind and helpful in the way they're sorting it out to be perfectly honest, but I'm probably slightly biased...

 

[The Dwaff Family]

You can tell I know absolutely nothing about bikes other than how to keep it clean If peeps are telling me it's a part that can be easily broken off then that will atleast put my mind at rest about the safety of the rest of it, just bizarre that there is no sign of any other damage in that area whatsoever?? I am very keen to keep it all in good working order and in good conditon as cycling really is his life, lives for cycling club from Saturday to Saturday! We only bought it in June but Santa is bringing him the 20" for Xmas, but will still have the odd race and training each week from now until then.

 

[The Dwaff Family]

My brother worked at Isla Bikes over the summer, and that's not the kind of thing that would go unnoticed. Each bike is built by people who have a passion for cycling, so much so that many of them commute 30 miles each day - it's highly unlikely that something like that could have happened during the manufacturing process! I think they're being very kind and helpful in the way they're sorting it out to be perfectly honest, but I'm probably slightly biased...

I would hate for people to think I am knocking Islabikes in anyway as that is certainly not the case at all. I only seek help on here through knowing nothing about bikes and just seeking assurance that it can be easily done from a knock from somewhere. I have alway's had good service from Islabikes and so happy with them that we ordered this Cnoc in June, then went on to purchase a Luath 26 in July and then last week putting in an order for a 20" small and a 20" large kitted out with mudguards and names

My youngest son would not be as good a cyclist and be able to enjoy it as much without them and my 12yr old now finally enjoys cycling and my DD has dyspraxia and can't wait to see the excitement at xmas being on a bike which will make it all soo much easier, so, I have alot to thank Islabikes for

 

[TobyM]

I would hate for people to think I am knocking Islabikes in anyway as that is certainly not the case at all. I only seek help on here through knowing nothing about bikes and just seeking assurance that it can be easily done from a knock from somewhere. I have alway's had good service from Islabikes and so happy with them that we ordered this Cnoc in June, then went on to purchase a Luath 26 in July and then last week putting in an order for a 20" small and a 20" large kitted out with mudguards and names

My youngest son would not be as good a cyclist and be able to enjoy it as much without them and my 12yr old now finally enjoys cycling and my DD has dyspraxia and can't wait to see the excitement at xmas being on a bike which will make it all soo much easier, so, I have alot to thank Islabikes for

I didn't mean that you were knocking Islabikes, I just wanted to say how great I think the company is! I don't think I'll ever know where on earth they get names like Cnoc and Luath from though.. And wow, that's a lot of bikes

you're children are very lucky! I think my first bike came from a car boot sale

 

[Theseus]

It has NEVER been left anywhere, never unattended and is alway's housed indoors.

Not a place one would expect a knock when riding. How is it stored at home? On it's wheels? Hanging from a hook? Alone? With other stuff?

 

[xpc316e]

Islabikes are doing the right thing in sending out a new part and offering to pay for its replacement, especially when I doubt that it happened on their watch. I do not think you ought to push for a full service at their expense. A simple check, done by yourself, should reveal any further problems.

 

[The Dwaff Family]

Touche-It is stored in our utility room by itself, upright against the side.


Xpc-I hadn't even thought anything other than relief that they were replacing the part until OH said "no way does a part like that just break off without a major knock, or stress on that joint during manufacturing", but you guys have calmed me somewhat so thanks

 

[beastie]

I didn't mean that you were knocking Islabikes, I just wanted to say how great I think the company is! I don't think I'll ever know where on earth they get names like Cnoc and Luath from though.. And wow, that's a lot of bikes

you're children are very lucky! I think my first bike came from a car boot sale

You must be a Sassenach.

An Cnoc is small hill in Gaelic.

Luath was a dog in Celtic folklore and also the name of Burns's favourite dog.

 

[rualexander]

I didn't mean that you were knocking Islabikes, I just wanted to say how great I think the company is! I don't think I'll ever know where on earth they get names like Cnoc and Luath from though.. And wow, that's a lot of bikes

you're children are very lucky! I think my first bike came from a car boot sale

Cnoc and Luath are Gaelic words as is Beinn and the names of their other bikes. Cnoc is a hill, and Luath means fast.

 

[Globalti]

It's an alloy shield, looks as if it's designed to protect the bottom race from muck. From the way it has broken I would say someone has clouted it - maybe one of your son's pals dropped the bike or crashed on a test ride. These things happen; your lad is probably pooping himself. You can't blame Islabikes for that, some alloys are very brittle and will snap easily and that part wasn't manufactured by Islabikes. We have a Bheinn and it has been very robust over three years of knocks and abuse.

 

[fossyant]

They are replacing the part - good customer service.

TBH it's a 'cheap' part so don't get too worried. As folk have said, it just holds the bearings and provides a seal against dirt. Easy to swap out.