Cycling manufacturer Shimano issues global review of its cranksets after widespread reports of malfunction and injury

By Jade Toomey

A man in a bike repair workshop holds a part in his latex gloved hand.

Canberra bike mechanic Stuart Carling says, given the number of reports of malfunctioned cranksets, the faulty equipment should have been recognised earlier.(ABC News: Jade Toomey)

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Cycling manufacturer Shimano has issued a global review of one of its most prolific bike parts after widespread reports of malfunction and injury.

Key points:

    • Bicycle part manufacturer Shimano has issued a global review of its cranksets

    • There have been long-running complaints about the crank arm splitting from the body of the bike, causing crash risks

    • The review was only launched after an investigation in the United States found the fault potentially contributed to a serious accident

At least 2.8 million cranksets globally are set to be the subject of an inspection and review program launched this week by Shimano, the largest manufacturer of bicycle components in the world.

It follows investigations by product safety agencies in the United States and the European Union after more than 4,500 complaints were made in just over a decade about the cranksets failing riders.

The crankset, or ‘crank’, is the part that connects a bike’s chain to the arm of its pedal.

But Shimano’s Hollowtech II model has become notorious for problems with its adhesion corroding over time, forcing the crank arm to split when pressure is applied to the pedal.

A man in a white polo shirt holds a bicycle part.

Since learning of the widespread problem, cyclist Henry Strong noticed his Shimao crankset was among those that had started splitting.(ABC News: Jade Toomey)

Canberra cyclist Henry Strong owns two sets of the affected cranks, and said it was frightening to be using potentially faulty equipment while cycling at high speeds.

“The feeling that you might have faulty equipment when you’re doing 75 or 80 kilometres [per hour], that’s quite terrifying,” he said.

“When you’re cycling, something going wrong could, of course, be fatal.”

The issue has been the subject of long-running online forums and dedicated social media pages.

Canberra bike mechanic Stuart Carling said the faulty equipment should have been recognised earlier.

“I don’t think I’ve seen [a recall] like this in this industry, it’s huge, it affects potentially thousands and thousands of people,” he said.

“This is something that should have been recognised years ago.”

Mr Carling counted eight bikes affected by the problem in his small bike workshop in Canberra, even though they were originally being repaired for different issues.

Shimano said it had not been able to determine the cause of the issue, but had now acted on the complaints after a US Product Safety Commission investigation found the fault could have contributed to a serious accident involving an American rider.

“We are deeply sorry that any riders have been affected by this issue,” a Shimano spokesperson said.

Shimano’s Australian branch declined to reveal how many complaints it had received about the issue, and how many units it anticipated were affected in Australia.

The company said it would launch an app in October to facilitate its replacements.

“But it’s too little too late, if you ask me,” Mr Strong said.

“You’ve already had thousands of people that have had incidents, many broken bones, some people hospitalised.

“It appears as though they’ve finally come to the point where they have to acknowledge it, but I think they should have done it a lot sooner.”

A broken crankset on a Shimano bike.

There have been long-running complaints of the Shimano crankset arm splitting from the body of the bike.(Instagram: thanksshimano)

Mr Strong, who competes in triathlons, will not be able to use his bike without a replacement before the first race of the upcoming season in two weeks.

“I don’t feel particularly safe using this equipment,” he said.

“We trust that the equipment we buy and invest in will support us, and will be reliable and meet a certain standard.

“I think Shimano has failed to meet that standard by continuing to manufacture and sell faulty equipment for close to 11 years.”

Riders are directed to get their bike inspected at a Shimano dealer, who will decide if it needs to be replaced.

Mr Carling said he was bracing for an influx, but questions about who would pay to fix the issue remained.

“I don’t believe that should be the customer, it is probably going to have to fall back on Shimano, but how are they going to do that?” Mr Carling asked.

A spokesperson for the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC) said it was aware of the recall in the US and EU, and that Shimano Australia had commenced an inspection and replacement program for affected cranksets.

“If a supplier becomes aware of a death or serious injury/illness caused by a product they supply, the supplier must make a mandatory report through the Product Safety Australia website,” the spokesperson said.

Shoalhaven Bicycle User Group 25th Anniversary Silver Celebration

Members and friends of the Shoalhaven Bicycle User Group (BUG) came together at the Worrigee Sports Club on the 28th of September to celebrate 25 years of cycling memories. Special guests included Mayor Amanda Findlay and the CEO of Bicycle NSW, Peter McLean.

The evening’s speeches and presentations covered the amazing evolution of the BUG and highlighted the many benefits that cycling and clubs bring to all communities. ‘It was fantastic to join Shoalhaven BUG in their 25 years of celebration.  They are an amazing bicycle group who keep people fit, healthy and active, they build long lasting social connections, protect people’s mental health and inspire many others to do the same.  Shoalhaven BUG is leaving a long lasting legacy for all bicycle users, the community and the environment,’ said Peter McLean, CEO of Bicycle NSW.

“Peter McLean gave a speech on Bicycle New South Wales (the BUG’s parent organisation) and what they’re trying to achieve, and the relationship between BUGs and Bicycle NSW,” said Foundation member, Jim Florence. 

Anne Cornish, the Master of Ceremonies introduced the ‘BUG’ President, Peter Cassar, and the Guests of Honour. Mr Cassar then made a speech and introduced the Guests to the Committee and Ride Leaders.

Guests of honour at the function were:

Shoalhaven City Council Mayor Amanda Findley,

Councillor Evan Christen,

Bicycle NSW CEO Peter McLean.

Mr Florence also spoke about the incredible history of the BUG since its inception over a quarter of a century ago, using research from the minutes and other records.

Several presentations were made during the evening’s proceedings, including certificates of Appreciation to Jim Florence and Chris Langmaid for their dedication to the formation of the original Shoalhaven BUG as foundation members of the BUG.

Foundation members Chris Langmaid and Roz Langmaid. (Picture supplied).

Foundation members Chris Langmaid and Roz Langmaid. (Picture supplied).

One of the evenings other highlights was Wayne Beckenham’s acceptance of his Life Membership Award for “his contribution to the BUG above and beyond what would normally be expected, over twenty-five years,” Mr Florence said.

Shoalhaven BUG Secretary John Wooster (centre) presents Wayne Beckenham (Left) with Life Membership

Shoalhaven BUG Secretary John Wooster presents Wayne Beckenham (Left) with Life Membership

Attendees were asked to wear something silver in recognition of the anniversary, with Monica Palczewski taking first prize for best dressed and second place going to Steve Perry.

Members reminisced over the photographic slide show Wayne Beckenham organised capturing BUG riders throughout the past 25 years.

After the dinner and formalities ended members of the Shoalhaven BUG made more happy memories together with music and dancing organised by Vice President Mel Gillott.

L to R Mayor Amanda Findley, CEO of Bicycle NSW Peter McLean, BUG President Peter Cassar and Trish Cassar

L to R Mayor Amanda Findley, CEO of Bicycle NSW Peter McLean, BUG President Peter Cassar and Trish Cassar

 

15% Discount on Bicycle NSW Membership

All members of a Bicycle NSW affiliated BUGs, including Shoalhaven BUG, are eligible for the BUG Membership discount on joining or renewing membership. To receive the discount a discount code is required when purchasing membership on the BNSW website. The discount code for Shoalhaven BUG can be obtained by contacting the Shoalhaven BUG Membership Secretary. BUG members can join online here and when they enter the discount code on the checkout page, the discount will be applied automatically. Alternatively call Bicycle NSW on 02 9704 0800 for more information about their Memberships and to join over the phone. 

Tips for Group Riding from Bicycle NSW

HOME / BICYCLE NSW NEWS • COMMUNITY • SAFETY GUIDES 


Riding in a group is an exciting experience and can lead to some amazing adventures! St George BUG has come up with some helpful hints to ensure everyone remains safe and has a fun time.

Bike riders cycling together

Equipment 

  • Your bicycle should be in good working order, with tyres pumped and chain oiled. 
  • Do not ride if your brakes are defective.
  • You must wear a helmet – it’s the law.
  • Take a full drink bottle of water and be sure to drink regularly. 
  • Wear suitable clothing – a brightly coloured top is advisable. 
  • Carry a spare tube which is the correct fit for your tyre, a pump and tyre levers. 
  • If the ride is in the early morning or evening, make sure you have front and rear lights. 
  •  A mirror on your handlebar or wrist is an advantage. 
  • A bell is very necessary when riding on shared cycle paths. 
  • Use sunscreen when appropriate – you’ll probably be out in the sun for a few hours.

Riding Etiquette

  • If you haven’t ridden with a group before, let the group know, so they don’t ride too close to you. 
  • Listen carefully to the ride leader’s instructions at the start of the ride. 
  • Watch for hand signals from riders in front of you, e.g. left and right hand turns, slowing or stopping, debris or potholes on the road. The ride leader will show you the signals. 
  • Pass on the signals to the riders behind you, or call them out if you are unable to do them. 
  • Call out “bollard” when approaching one as you might block it from the vision of riders behind you. 
  • Keep to the left when riding, so others can pass you if necessary. 
  • If you pass a rider or walker, call out “passing”.
  • When riding on a road single file is preferred. If the sweep calls out “car back”, it means a car needs to pass, so make sure you keep to the left in single file. 
  • When approaching a roundabout, check behind to see if the road is clear, then take the middle of the lane to go into the roundabout so you don’t get nudged to the side if a car tries to pass. 
  • Always stop for red lights even if the riders ahead have gone through. They will wait for you. 
  • Don’t shout abuse at pedestrians, cyclists or motorists or use rude gestures. 
  • Remember that pedestrians have right of way on most shared paths. 
  • If the group has stopped to wait for you, don’t ride up to the front of the group, but join the back of the group.

Avoiding Accidents

  • Always move yourself and your bike to the left edge of the path when you stop. Not only does this avoid riders colliding with you, it also stops others who use the path from getting annoyed. 
  • Don’t swerve in and out of the group. 
  • Bollards come in all shapes and sizes. Watch out for them on shared paths, slow down and call out to riders behind you to alert them. 
  • When riding up onto a footpath or across a gutter, always approach at a right angle. If you approach side-on, your tyre might not get over the lip and your bike will stop suddenly. 
  • Look out for potholes and tree roots and always be on the alert for changes in the path or road surface. Concentrate on the path ahead. 
  • Watch out for bushes, tree branches or vines that encroach on cycle paths. 
  • Occasionally there are off-leash dogs on paths. Slow down and be prepared to stop as they are often unpredictable and can cause you to fall over.
  •  Ring your bell to let walkers with dogs on leashes know you’re going to pass so they can pull their dog to the side. 
  • Small children enjoy riding as much as we do but many of them zig zag across the path, so be patient, slow down and give them a wide berth.
  • Sometimes soft sand blows onto cycle paths. Avoid sudden braking in soft sand. If unsure, get off and push your bike through. 
  • Loose or stony gravel can also be a hazard, depending on its depth, looseness and on the type of your tyres. Try to ride through evenly and not brake suddenly. 
  • Avoid riding parallel to train and light rail tracks in case your tyre gets caught in them. Don’t brake on wet steel tracks or metal drains as this causes your tyres to slide. 
  • Wooden boardwalks also become slippery when wet. 
  • Don’t attempt tight turns when riding in a group, unless you are confident of following through. 
  • Before riding through any intersection, always check that it is safe to do so – don’t just follow the rider in front. 
  • Don’t ride too close to the rider in front of you in case your wheel clips theirs. 
  • Don’t stop suddenly if you can help it. Shout “stopping” or “slowing” when you’re going to stop. 
  • Look out for approaching hills so you can change your gears before you start the climb.

L’e Tape Australia

NOTE THIS EVENT HAS BEEN POSTPONED DUE TO EXTREME WEATHER

L’Étape Australia is the only official Tour de France event in Australia. It is open to riders of all abilities and provides cyclist with the closest experience to riding in the Tour de France an amateur can have.

At the front of the main peloton, there is an official Elite Wave sanctioned by NSW – AusCycling. The best cyclists in the country will come to Kiama, the Shoalhaven and the Southern Highlands to compete in L’Étape Australia.

L’Étape Australia by Tour de France will take place on Friday 19 and Saturday 20 March 2021. On Friday 19 March, only the Event Village will operate. The Event Village is located in Coronation Park (Kiama). Saturday 20 March is the race day and both the Event Village and the Route will welcome riders and their supporters. The detailed route for The Race can be seen here. The detailed route for The Ride can be found here.

Christmas Party 2019

SBUG CHRISTMAS PARTY – Thursday 28th November, starting at 6:00pm.

All members, partners and friends are welcome to attend the 2019 SBUG Christmas Party which will be held at the Cambewarra Estate Winery Restaurant, 520 Illaroo Road, Bangalee, just 230m west of Hockeys Lane.

The meal will include pre-dinner nibbles, mains, desserts and surprises for only $39 for members and $49 for non-members.

Please make payment into our SBUG Social Account;

Bendigo Bank: BSB 633000,
Account Name: Shoalhaven Bicycle User Group Inc.,
Account No: 156 821 456
Don’t forget to add your name in the payment reference box of the Electronic Funds Transfer so we know who has paid.

For further details contact Anne Cornish on 0413 389 376 or Les 0477 902 590

Week away at Myrtleford Victoria

WEEK AWAY AT MYRTLEFORD VICTORIA
This year’s October away ride for SBUG members is to Myrtleford, Victoria from 28th October to 1st November staying at Myrtleford Holiday Park 8 Lewis Ave Myrtleford ph 03 5752 1598. All rides are on sealed trail trails or roads, suitable for Road or Mountain bikes. 
We have powered sites and Bluegum, Wattle and Snowgum Cabins on hold. When booking quote SBUG or Cornish to find booking. We need to book by end of September. If you are looking to share a cabin, ring Les 0477 902 590 or Anne 0413 389 376. To ensure a spot the sooner you let us know the better. 
Remember Top Parks members get 10% discount. Please contact Les to register your attendance

Christmas in July Dinner

Those interested in attending the Christmas in July dinner on 27th July, 6:00pm, at the ‘Butter Factory’ restaurant, please note we need names , money and choice of food by 13th July.  If you would like to bring friends and make a party all are welcome, come along and have some fun. Remember to dress for Christmas.

Contact Anne at  mailto:cornish460@gmail.com or phone Anne 0413 389 376, or Les 0477 902 590 for more details.

SBUG Trip away in Canberra – 29th October, 2018

Last years midweek rides in the Canberra area were so popular we are doing it again! Some changes in the rides but essentially same arrangements as last time. Dates are Monday 29th of October to Friday 2nd of November, Arrive anytime Monday, for those who would like a possible short ride to the lake and back in the afternoon . Tuesday is a ride around Lake Burley Griffin. Wednesday is a ride to Queanbeyan Thursday is riding to Lake Ginninderra or Lake Burley Griffin As last year, we are staying at Alivio Tourist Park, 20 Kunzea Street, O’Connor, ACT 2602, phone 02 6247 5466. Become a member for free and book online and get 10% Discount .aliviogroup.com.au Best to book right now as this place is central and very popular For those who would like, bring BBQ supplies for one night . For further details ring Les Cornish on 0477 902 590 or Anne on 0413 389 376 Hope to see you there .

L’E TAPE ASTRALIA

L’Étape Australia is the only official Tour de France event in Australia. It is open to riders of all abilities and provides cyclist with the closest experience to riding in the Tour de France an amateur can have.

At the front of the main peloton, there is an official Elite Wave sanctioned by NSW – AusCycling. The best cyclists in the country will come to Kiama, the Shoalhaven and the Southern Highlands to compete in L’Étape Australia.

Cycling manufacturer Shimano issues global review of its cranksets after widespread reports of malfunction and injury

A man in a bike repair workshop holds a part in his latex gloved hand.
Canberra bike mechanic Stuart Carling says, given the number of reports of malfunctioned cranksets, the faulty equipment should have been recognised earlier.()

Cycling manufacturer Shimano has issued a global review of one of its most prolific bike parts after widespread reports of malfunction and injury.

At least 2.8 million cranksets globally are set to be the subject of an inspection and review program launched this week by Shimano, the largest manufacturer of bicycle components in the world.

It follows investigations by product safety agencies in the United States and the European Union after more than 4,500 complaints were made in just over a decade about the cranksets failing riders.

The crankset, or ‘crank’, is the part that connects a bike’s chain to the arm of its pedal.

But Shimano’s Hollowtech II model has become notorious for problems with its adhesion corroding over time, forcing the crank arm to split when pressure is applied to the pedal.

A man in a white polo shirt holds a bicycle part.

Since learning of the widespread problem, cyclist Henry Strong noticed his Shimao crankset was among those that had started splitting.(ABC News: Jade Toomey)

Canberra cyclist Henry Strong owns two sets of the affected cranks, and said it was frightening to be using potentially faulty equipment while cycling at high speeds.

“The feeling that you might have faulty equipment when you’re doing 75 or 80 kilometres [per hour], that’s quite terrifying,” he said.

“When you’re cycling, something going wrong could, of course, be fatal.”

The issue has been the subject of long-running online forums and dedicated social media pages.

“I don’t think I’ve seen [a recall] like this in this industry, it’s huge, it affects potentially thousands and thousands of people,” he said.

“This is something that should have been recognised years ago.”

Mr Carling counted eight bikes affected by the problem in his small bike workshop in Canberra, even though they were originally being repaired for different issues.

Shimano said it had not been able to determine the cause of the issue, but had now acted on the complaints after a US Product Safety Commission investigation found the fault could have contributed to a serious accident involving an American rider.

“We are deeply sorry that any riders have been affected by this issue,” a Shimano spokesperson said.

Shimano’s Australian branch declined to reveal how many complaints it had received about the issue, and how many units it anticipated were affected in Australia.

The company said it would launch an app in October to facilitate its replacements.

“But it’s too little too late, if you ask me,” Mr Strong said.

“You’ve already had thousands of people that have had incidents, many broken bones, some people hospitalised.

“It appears as though they’ve finally come to the point where they have to acknowledge it, but I think they should have done it a lot sooner.”

A broken crankset on a Shimano bike.

There have been long-running complaints of the Shimano crankset arm splitting from the body of the bike.(Instagram: thanksshimano)

Mr Strong, who competes in triathlons, will not be able to use his bike without a replacement before the first race of the upcoming season in two weeks.

“I don’t feel particularly safe using this equipment,” he said.

“We trust that the equipment we buy and invest in will support us, and will be reliable and meet a certain standard.

“I think Shimano has failed to meet that standard by continuing to manufacture and sell faulty equipment for close to 11 years.”

Riders are directed to get their bike inspected at a Shimano dealer, who will decide if it needs to be replaced.

Mr Carling said he was bracing for an influx, but questions about who would pay to fix the issue remained.

“I don’t believe that should be the customer, it is probably going to have to fall back on Shimano, but how are they going to do that?” Mr Carling asked.

A spokesperson for the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC) said it was aware of the recall in the US and EU, and that Shimano Australia had commenced an inspection and replacement program for affected cranksets.

“If a supplier becomes aware of a death or serious injury/illness caused by a product they supply, the supplier must make a mandatory report through the Product Safety Australia website,” the spokesperson said.