...happening again? While I was riding my bicycle today, I went over a (very) slight bump and the rear axle snapped clean in two. Aside from the inconvenience, I'm very worried that this could happen again, as if it had happened at the wrong moment it could be dangerous. What would have caused this to happen? I suppose age could have something to do with it - the bicycle is more than thirty years old - but I thought steel was normally reliable? Does anyone have any recommendations for the future? I'm going to get a new axle later today, but I want to avoid this happening again.
On a side note, when the axle snapped it bent the rear dropout. As this is a steel-framed bicycle, is it safe to simply bend it back with a spanner or something?
Thanks for your help,
It's a fairly typical 1970's ten speed, almost entirely steel apart from the hubs and handlebars. The hubs are ordinary cast aluminium ones.
Here's a picture if it helps:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/liamch/2586243123/
On a side note, when the axle snapped it bent the rear dropout. As this is a steel-framed bicycle, is it safe to simply bend it back with a spanner or something?
Thanks for your help,
It's a fairly typical 1970's ten speed, almost entirely steel apart from the hubs and handlebars. The hubs are ordinary cast aluminium ones.
Here's a picture if it helps:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/liamch/2586243123/