Monday, February 01, 2010

Fuentes vs. The Rock - 2007

Fuentes never told me about this, but he's been riding this bike for more than 3 years this way now (including onto the pro podium for the MSC series). Yes, it's 2 inches long, an inch wide, and has completely flattened the tube. Yes, the bike is still (as far as anyone can tell) safe to ride. Can't imagine doing that to anything but a steel bike and riding away - he says the rock was the size of his head, and bloodied both shins as it bounced off the downtube.

Crazy.

10 comments:

Sabrosa Cycles said...

that is the very reason that I get nervous about carpet fiber mountain bicycles. impact loadings and carpet fiber don't mingle well.

Anonymous said...

Steel is real

Anonymous said...

steel is real

steve garro said...

i see that one allot, too {all though, credit where credit is due, That's a good one!!} never seen a steel bike bust from a dent. chainsuck, yes. dents, no. and to agree with JR, that's a non-warrenty carpet fiber death warrent, there.....Viva acero! - Garro.

Dan O said...

I'd agree - only a steel bike can take that kind of abuse and be rideable.

For some scary "carpet fiber" bike scenarios, check out bustedcarbon.com

kw said...

wow! Fuentes must have a big head.

Anonymous said...

WoW!! I want to see Fuentes's scars. IF the tube would have failed, would it have been more likely at the weld or beginning of the dent?

Nowork said...

I once saw fuentes crash and hit his head on a rock.

The rock stood no chance.......

What was left, Walt crushed with his bear hands....

Speedway said...

Ti would weather that storm no problem, probably even better, but have to appreciate steel over aluminum. I had a good friend borrow a bike from a Cannondale dealer this summer (can't stand them BTW) and he caved in the down tube in the same mannor. Caved it in. Cannondales are probably the worst abomination of a bike I have ever seen, particularly their full sus. Garbage.

Speedway said...

Ti would have handled that no problem. Aluminunm, probably not. I had a good friend borrow a Cannondale for a race this summer and completely caved in the down tube. Absolute junk, and ugly to boot. Never have liked the C dales from day one.