fixing bike after accident

bossman13

Came down pretty hard this morning on black ice and body ok but sore although bike not so well ... right handlebar must have taken most the force and is now bent a good 45 degree inwards making it more of an aero bar position! Managed to limp into work ok and brakes/gears seem to work but will take to LBS for them to look at.

Now not sure whether to risk the ride home tonight. Does this sound ok to ride on and a reasonably easy/cheap fix? Also, as a matter of course after a biggish accident, would you normally get the bike looked over by a pro (or at least someone who knows wat they are doing)

Felt pretty shaken up for the rest of the 'journey' (had to walk some) and hoping that the paranoia of that sliding feeling from beneath me will not last too long.

Bike is an SCR by the way

Thanks

BentMikey

Bent handlebars? I wouldn't use it, just imagine they snapped on you at speed on a descent.

Glad you're OK mate, here's a hot cuppa.

ChrisLS

...get it checked, just, for your own peace of mind if nothing else...and also, more importantly, how are you? Do you need checking? Take it steady and get your confidance back...

DavidTQ

handle bars shouldnt be too expensive to replace as long as shifters and brakes are fine.

If it were my bike I would be taking a good look at the bars before riding it even short distances. I would probably consider removing the bar tape to get a good look at the metal. Having dealt with plenty of bent metal on cars I would probably be able to see whats useable short term and what isnt. If you havent got experience with bent metal its probably far more sensible to get it straight to a bike shop without riding it, handlebar failure could very easily be fatal.

bossman13

Thanks for the support guys.

I am ok thanks. Immediately I went down I jumped up and threw myself over to the left hand side towards the pavement as it is a pretty busy road and the adrenaline/instinct took over. One car swerved around my bike and the next stopped to check I was ok. Amazingly no real damage to me although I am starting to stiffen up a bit this afternoon.

I walked about 200yds down the road and there was a couple of policemen waving down traffic as it was so icey. The road was also closed further down. Nightmare.

Reading your comments makes me think I would be stupid to risk riding home so will have to drive in over the weekend and pick up to take to LBS.

Mrs Boss was not happy and me thinks I may struggle to convince that winter commuting is still safe. I suppose a few weeks lay-off untill (hopefully) the icey snap ends wouldn’t be too bad :shock:

Gambatte

bossman13 wrote:

I suppose a few weeks lay-off untill (hopefully) the icey snap ends wouldn’t be too bad :shock:

Gardeners are advised not to put plants out till May, 'cos the frost can last till then..... :?

bossman13

thanks for that :roll: !

Just been for a closer inspection and it actuallly looks like it is just the hood (rubbery bit with the brake gear attached ?) is the bit that is bent inwards and not the handlebars themselves.

the impact has torn through the bar tape though and looks like may have dented the bars so would probably be just as well taking it in.

fossyant

If you are not 100% confident with what you are doing, then take it in to the local lbs. Give everything a good check over.

Don't back out of commuting - I won't ride when it's really frosty, but today was obviously one of those freak days - wet, relatively warm, but some cold icy areas - a day like that caught me out some years back.

OK in Manchester though - just chucking it down....

tardington

I had my first proper wipeout the other day (okay except sore arm) and it was a pretty horrible feeling getting back in the saddle afterwards... :shock: After acouple of days I was fine though!

MrGrumpy

bossman13 wrote:

Came down pretty hard this morning on black ice and body ok but sore although bike not so well ... right handlebar must have taken most the force and is now bent a good 45 degree inwards making it more of an aero bar position! Managed to limp into work ok and brakes/gears seem to work but will take to LBS for them to look at.

Now not sure whether to risk the ride home tonight. Does this sound ok to ride on and a reasonably easy/cheap fix? Also, as a matter of course after a biggish accident, would you normally get the bike looked over by a pro (or at least someone who knows wat they are doing)

Felt pretty shaken up for the rest of the 'journey' (had to walk some) and hoping that the paranoia of that sliding feeling from beneath me will not last too long.

Bike is an SCR by the way

Thanks

Your now an official cycling commuter 8) you aint one till you wipe out. BTW PM waiting for you as muggins here wiped out this morning also :shock:

DavidTQ

MrGrumpy wrote:

bossman13 wrote:

Came down pretty hard this morning on black ice and body ok but sore although bike not so well ... right handlebar must have taken most the force and is now bent a good 45 degree inwards making it more of an aero bar position! Managed to limp into work ok and brakes/gears seem to work but will take to LBS for them to look at.

Now not sure whether to risk the ride home tonight. Does this sound ok to ride on and a reasonably easy/cheap fix? Also, as a matter of course after a biggish accident, would you normally get the bike looked over by a pro (or at least someone who knows wat they are doing)

Felt pretty shaken up for the rest of the 'journey' (had to walk some) and hoping that the paranoia of that sliding feeling from beneath me will not last too long.

Bike is an SCR by the way

Thanks

Your now an official cycling commuter 8) you aint one till you wipe out. BTW PM waiting for you as muggins here wiped out this morning also :shock:

Im really hoping to put off becoming a proper commuter for a while...

have had a couple of contacts with cars though

goo_mason

All of this ice and frost makes for very nerve-wracking commuting these days

dudi

Yep, if you commute regularly you have to accept that one day, you will come off!

Hopefully my "coming off" tab has been paid up for a while as the last time I came off was in April, and I ended up with a broken collar bone and 6 weeks off the bike... but that was my fault for not seeing the truck and rugby-tackling the tailgate at 20mph...

Glad you're OK, I would take the bik to LBS just for a checkover, sound slike you ought to be OK though if it's jus the lever twisted round on the bars.

Let us know how you got on!

Gambatte

dudi wrote:

Yep, if you commute regularly you have to accept that one day, you will come off!

Hopefully my "coming off" tab has been paid up for a while as the last time I came off was in April, and I ended up with a broken collar bone and 6 weeks off the bike... but that was my fault for not seeing the truck and rugby-tackling the tailgate at 20mph...

Glad you're OK, I would take the bik to LBS just for a checkover, sound slike you ought to be OK though if it's jus the lever twisted round on the bars.

Let us know how you got on!

You SMIDSYd a truck?

BentMikey

It's not that surprising. I've seen a driver smidsy a bus.

el_presidente

Gambatte wrote:

dudi wrote:

Yep, if you commute regularly you have to accept that one day, you will come off!

Hopefully my "coming off" tab has been paid up for a while as the last time I came off was in April, and I ended up with a broken collar bone and 6 weeks off the bike... but that was my fault for not seeing the truck and rugby-tackling the tailgate at 20mph...

Glad you're OK, I would take the bik to LBS just for a checkover, sound slike you ought to be OK though if it's jus the lever twisted round on the bars.

Let us know how you got on!

You SMIDSYd a truck?

I did that the other day :oops:

went through a green light, queue of traffic withing to turn right in the RH filter lane. They were letting through a truck that was turning right across my lane & I did not see him until I shot across his bows. Couldn't quite work out how!

Gambatte

BentMikey wrote:

It's not that surprising. I've seen a driver smidsy a bus.

Was it decked out with Hi-Viz?