Opinion needed

[Crandoggler]

Bodged changes, crunched chains, thrown chains off, changed whilst going up hill and over fast bumps, jammed chain in between rings, thrown chain over the top, dropped it off the bottom, thrown bike in my car numerous times, dropped bike on chain rings, forced it in a van and whatever else. Not so much as a bent tooth and I've certainly never snapped a chain. All from a bloke weighing over 100kg.

Either the bike has been damaged, or ultegra is made out of cheese.

 

[bonsaibilly]

What makes you think it is so clear that the chainring is defective? The OP just gave more evidence that has previously botched a shift and popped a chain. For a chainring to be defective so that it bends it would have to have a very clear flaw in the material. I am 100% sure that photographic evidence will not show such a defect.

Chicken/Egg.

Is it not possible that the chainring was already bent before the bike was purchased, ie the defect was not that it *could* get bent but that it already *was*? Then it was a matter of time rather than timing that if (relatedly or un-) the chain came off or apart because of either defective chain or user error, and caused one to examine the bike more closely than it had been at the point when it was purchased, the chainring *might* have been assumed to have got bent as a result of the chain... instead of being assumed to have been already bent.

As has been said, and I've no empirical evidence to the contrary, chainrings don't bend on a ride unless you have a bloody good go at bending them.

BB

 

[bonsaibilly]

Under the conditions described in the OP, the chain ring would not bend like the OP was told it had by the (at least some experience, probably lots) Ribble guy. So a rational person, like yourself, might reasonably judge that the whole story was not told (perhaps because the OP was unaware, or otherwise) and you've seen the analyses others have offered, with reasons. I just think that your jumping to the "it's defective" standpoint is facile.

It was a different bike shop that told the OP the chain ring was bent, and the OP didn't say what evidence the shop had for saying it was the chain breaking that had caused it.

BB

 

[Jody]

What the hell is fishy about this simple question. I raised a perfectly reasonable question and so many people just assume I'm trying it on - sign of the sad society we now live in - guilty until proved innocent!

Because if the chain ring was bent to a point of damaging the chain then you would have noticed way before. It would have to be really bent and even then it's unlikely. If the chain was fitted incorrectly it could fail, but it won't bend the rings at the same time.

For the sake of 20 quid stick a new chain on and get riding. Or take 1 link out for free and get riding. Is it really worth persuing?

 

[bonsaibilly]

But they have helped. They heard a description of what happened when and immediately before the chain broke, they took the trouble to look at the chain and the chainwheel and alerted the OP to his bent chainwheel, and then gave him/her an opinion that it was not a manufacturing defect but the "cause of the failure was misuse of the equipment as [he/she] was in the wrong gear and had put the chain under too much strain."
This may be not what the OP wanted to hear but that's not being 'unhelpful' in the proper sense of the word.

OP:
"when my local bike shop looked at it they said the front large ring had also bent - they had no idea why the circumstances of the chain incident would have caused such a result"

So a) it wasn't Ribble who helpfully alerted the OP to his bent chainwheel as you have suggested; and b) [assuming the local bike shop is bona fide] there is a professional bike mechanic's opinion that there is at most a less than 100% confidence that the chain incident caused the bent chainring problem - that should have been enough for a company such as Ribble to say "okay, it's a new bike; Consumer Rights Act mate; here's a new chainring/chainset; now be more careful in the future". Of course they were never going to do that, but that doesn't mean they shouldn't've.

BB

 

[bonsaibilly]

Because if the chain ring was bent to a point of damaging the chain then you would have noticed way before. It would have to be really bent and even then it's unlikely. If the chain was fitted incorrectly it could fail, but it won't bend the rings at the same time.

For the sake of 20 quid stick a new chain on and get riding. Or take 1 link out for free and get riding. Is it really worth persuing?

But it is possible that the two events are completely unrelated; that the chainring was already bent although a) not to the extent it would damage the chain and/or b) not to the extent that the OP would have noticed it before (which would depend among other things on the extent of the bentness and the experience level and/or OCD of the OP); and that the chain incident occurred because of the way the OP pedalled off in too high a gear.

I haven't seen any post on this thread that grasps this possibility - although to be fair the OP hasn't shown us photos of the bent chainring - although clearly the local bike shop felt that it was unusual that the two problems might be somehow related to each other. Which feeling would make sense if they, actually, weren't.

BB

 

[bonsaibilly]

PS - surely it's going to cost the OP the price of a new chainring or chainset, too?

BB

 

[Jody]

Glad to hear it's sorted OP but a whole new chainset seems a bit excessive. But if it's being replaced you can send the old one and chain to Shimano for inspection under warranty.

 

[2clepto]

its like a detective mystery this thread...i love it, lol.

 

[bonsaibilly]

So taking the advice of the more reasonable posts I decided to 'suck it up' and have purchased a new chainset - had to spend £120 as could find a rim only that could be delivered within the next 2 weeks. Obviously didn't get it from Ribble - sorry to disappoint all you cynics out there, but it was never about the money. Evans provided a very efficient and friendly service. The rim has honestly failed through no fault of mine, in my opinion, and clearly Ribble don't give a shoot and think I'm on the make. I guess I shouldn't be surprised. I have attempted to contact Shimano - but my god they make even that impossible. I can only find a Twitter address - and that just told me to contact Ribble - clearly they don't like to speak to customers direct about real issues but rather prefer to tweet to give the false impression they are accessible and up with the times!

So back on the road. Thanks to all those who provided useful opinion and to those who just assumed I was after something for nothing - get a life!

To be fair to Shimano, your contract is with the retailer not the manufacturer so they were legally obliged to refer you back to Robble, I think.

BB

 

[mjr]

A picture of the chainring would help tremendously......

Are newly registered people allowed to post pictures here?

 

[Spinney]

If he can't he can PM one of us and we'll sort something out.

 

[Seats]

But they have helped. They heard a description of what happened when and immediately before the chain broke, they took the trouble to look at the chain and the chainwheel and alerted the OP to his bent chainwheel, and then gave him/her an opinion that it was not a manufacturing defect but the "cause of the failure was misuse of the equipment as [he/she] was in the wrong gear and had put the chain under too much strain."
This may be not what the OP wanted to hear but that's not being 'unhelpful' in the proper sense of the word.

No they didn't. They asked for a picture - which shows nothing - and said it was misuse. They did not ask to see the item - that was my local bike shop. Rob;e were poor!

 

[Seats]

No much to see I think - but here it is.

 

[Cubist]