I’m writing an article for a website and need a couple of pictures of broken bikes. I’m looking for drivetrain problems; knackered mech-hangers, mechs at jaunty angles, snapped chains, and ideally one with a rear mech through a rear wheel. For obvious reasons I am loath to attempt to create these at home and photograph it myself.
No fee will be paid I’m afraid, although I’m happy to get you a pint if I ever meet you out there at a race in the real world.
If you have something you are happy for me to use please post them below, or email to me if you prefer (address in profile) and if you would like me to include a credit and/or link with it this too.
Many thanks.

although I’m happy to get you a pint if I ever meet you out there at a race in the real world.

I’ve got some pics of my broken forks and mech destroyed rear wheel.

You can have them if you pop one of these in the post:

Oooh, Shepherd Neame do some very nice stuff and I do like an IPA but I’ve not tried that one yet.
But it is drivetrain pics I’m after I’m afraid.

It’s really good. Having one now.

XTR-Shadow Jam-bo? That looks expensive!

Work away with these, If you want me to take one of the mech on a table etc so you can see it clearer just say.

SLX or XT I think. Was a long walk/coast home…

Pic

Damascus, seized BB bearing(s)?

Piece of stick spacing out the mech to act as tensioner with its one remaining jockey wheel. Mech in spokes = snapped spokes and snapped mech spring

Standard shorten chain to go singlespeed after snapped hanger

Rode a standard mech into a big log. Bought a shadow mech, gone from destroying 3 mechs in the space of a year to none for years, apart from wearing the bushes out so they go too sloppy to shift properly

Spotted after a ride, couldn’t tell while riding

seemingly sram mechs are sprung suh that they can spring into the wheel under hard landings (mates conclusion) as this has happened two or three times. Stripped mech hanger threads, tie-wraps holding mech to hanger. Managed to get from dixons hollow, round most of the black and finish the red at dalby alright

Not compatible with freshly fluffed up hay

Not drivetrain related but this has happened at least 3 times now. after the first time having been loctited (with stronger Loctite each time) in, it just wants to break free

I’ve a couple of pics of smashed up bashrings, sort of drivetrain related. On going back through my pics, I was reminded of a lot more inner tubes bursting out of tyres (and not puncturing) than I remember. A particular problem with mavic rims and panaracer folding tyres it seems

I guess you’re going to try and conclude that exposed mechs/tensioners/chain/sprocket tyre drivetrains aren’t suited to MTB use
I think most (all?) of mine have been related to not good enough setup, excess slop in the bushes and/or bent mech hangers, bent mech lower cages and dropped chains behind the cassette coupled with not knowing how/when to back of the power when these kind of issues raise their ugly head make for death to mechs ime
Read those shimano instructions properly and back of the power at the slightest hint of a problem and imo it’ll cut the risk of killing your mech/etc

Enjoy my pain- a beautiful steel voodoo that needed some serious LBS tlc on the mech hanger after this foul up in mid Wales…

Thanks very much guys.
Not quite James, I was going for a ‘how to’ trail-side bodging guide, although it doesn’t look like you need any advice if you managed to get those home! Not seen a mech zip tied to a hanger before.

Finally finished.
http://www.andrewhowett.blogspot.co.uk/ and http://www.xcracer.com/beginners-guide-to-trailside-bodging–drivetrain-.html
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Many thanks to all who helped, especially Euan, Evil Joe, James and Mackem, who’s pics I used. If you see me at a race come and say hello and I’ll get you that pint (I’m the bearded one in the XCRacer team kit)
Cheers guys.

Sorry I couldn’t help.

That’s the problem with singlespeeds – no problems… 🙂

Andrew – nice article, well done.

How did you break those Damascus?

I didn’t use Damascus’s picture, not really sure what I would have done with those!
I suppose if you had an 8mm allen key you could poke it through from the drive side and then try to zip tie something to the non-drive side to stop it going back through, would at least give you something to stand on when freewheeling, pretty sure it’s going to be unpeddalable. (spell checker doesn’t like that…)
How did you get home Dam?
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With hollow axle square tapers I’ve seen a skewer pushed through to replace lost crank bolts, works surprisingly well (just keep the wheels on the ground!) Wonder if it would work in this case? Depends how much axle is left attached I suppose.