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Perspective
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Currie Tech
Technical and Customer Service: +1 800-377-4532
Appendix - Lifespan indd
The lifespan of your bike and its components
Perspective
Fatigue Is Not A Perfectly Predictable
Science
Fatigue is not a perfectly predictable sci-
ence, but here are some general factors to
help you and your dealer determine how
often your bicycle should be inspected.
The more you fit the “shorten product life”
profile, the more frequent your need to
inspect. The more you fit the “lengthen
product life” profile, the less frequent your
need to inspect.
Factors that shorten product life:
Hard, harsh riding style
“Hits”, crashes, jumps, other “shots” to
the bike
Towing a trailer
High mileage
Riding near the bike’s maximum weight
capacity (combined weight of rider, bike,
and luggage)
Stronger, more fit, more aggressive rider
Corrosive environment (wet, salt air, win
-
ter road salt, accumulated sweat)
Presence of abrasive mud, dirt, sand,
soil in riding environment
Factors that lengthen product life:
Smooth, fluid riding style
No “hits”, crashes, jumps, other “shots”
to the bike
Low mileage
Lower body weight
Less aggressive rider
Non-corrosive environment (dry, salt-
free air)
Clean riding environment
Do not ride a bicycle or component with
any crack, bulge or dent, even a small
one. Riding a cracked frame, fork or
component could lead to complete fail-
ure, with risk of serious injury or death.
Understanding components
It is often necessary to remove and dis
-
assemble components in order to properly
and carefully inspect them. This is a job for a
professional bicycle mechanic with the spe
-
cial tools, skills and experience to inspect
and service today’s high-tech high-per-
formance bicycles and their components.
Aftermarket “Super Light”
components
Think carefully about your rider profile
as outlined above. The more you fit the
“shorten product life” profile, the more you
must question the use of super light com
-
ponents. The more you fit the “lengthen
product life” profile, the more likely it is that
lighter components may be suitable for you.
Discuss your needs and your profile very
honestly with your dealer.
Take these choices seriously and under-
stand that you are responsible for the
changes.
A useful slogan to discuss with your
dealer if you contemplate changing com-
ponents is “Strong, Light, Cheap –pick two.”
Original Equipment components
Bicycle and component manufacturers
tests the fatigue life of the components
that are original equipment on your bike.
This means that they have met test criteria
