Miguel: I know aluminum is good. That’s not an issue. But I was reading the manual and it said that the frame should last at least two years. And yet they give a lifetime guarantee.
Lance: Probably just covering themselves from legal action. Maybe serious racers put more stress on the frames.
Miguel: But does lifetime guarantee cover accidents?
Lance: Not accidents. Faulty workmanship, yes. But if they see truck tire marks over a crushed frame they won’t give you a free new one.
Miguel: So then I asked about fatigue, metal fatigue, and there was some humming and hawing.
Lance: Yeah?
Miguel: And they said under fair use, fatigue wouldn’t set in for many years.
Lance: Avoiding the issue, eh? Anyway, the only way to check for fatigue is to cut up the frame, dye the metal and examine under a microscope. Best thing is, you should do a regular visual check on the frame, especially around the bottom bracket and the steering head.
Miguel: Steering head? I was talking about sunglass frames.
__________
Voiceover
Misunderstandings can arise when two people assume what they are talking about is the same as what the other person is talking about. A conversation can continue for some time until the common ground disappears, and the anomalies become so serious as to demand clarification.
