What to check after a big crash?

superkenners

Hi,

Had quite a big crash recently, I was knocked out so not exactly sure what happened with the (formerly) trust bike but wondering what I should watch out for?

At first glance rear derailleur is damaged, there are some scratches on the frame and the right STI shifter has been bent round and scraped quite a bit (looks a bit of a mess), bar tape is also knackered. Have not had chance to ride it as yet as shoulder broken in a few places but everything else looks ok at first glance.

Given high impact speed (30ish) wondering about carbon forks specifically?

Any thoughts much appreciated.

Nick

Yossie

Start at the front and work your way back checking straightness, wobbliness and if it generally loooks ok - anything you are not too sure of get a second opinion from someone you trust.

If it was a head on job, depending on how fast and how you feel, it may be worth getting the frame checked for straightness.

Don't just take it to a shop and tell them to sort it - you could end up with a huge bill for things that don't need changing - get a couple of qotes and see what happens.

Judging by the post, and no offence, it looks like you may be a starter at this mechanicing lark: if you get on with your LBS ask them if they can check it out while you sit there and see what they do.

Re carbon forks: to be 100% you'd have to x-ray them - this expense is up to you. Same for carbon 'bars/stem etc, so maybe worth chucking these into next door's garden and getting new if you're not 100% sure?

Anyway, it's a good excuse to stick it on a workstand over the winter and strip down & rebuild - get to know your bike, replace what needs replacing and make sure its all ok.

HTH

Y

superkenners

Thanks Yossie, yep, my mechanical skills are a little 'limited', perhaps trip to LBS the best idea, at least to get a quote to get things working smoothly and safely. I'm hoping insurance covers it,I got through about £500 worth of clothes too!

gezebo

The first think I check after any crash is if anyone saw me!

Likely damage will depend on the type of crash.

Going head long into a wall will be more likely to damage frame/forks than if the front wheel washed out on a bend.
If the wheels still spin ok and there are no serious scuffs on fork then you should be ok.

Get well soon.

bobgfish

Make sure you pull the forks off the bike and check the steerer on the forks. I had my bike checked after a similar crash (Without the knocked out bit) and took it to a bike store. It was only the levers and front wheel they said with no problems elsewhere. After finally getting back on a month afterwards the bike was making odd noises. I popped the forks as a precation and found a cracked steerer. It then took another month to source new bits. The bike shop should have checked but the front wheel was only a small buckle so I assume they thought it should be fine. I was very annoyed to say the least. Lost two months when it should have only been one due to Injury. I'm glad I checked becuase it could have been another fall when the steerer finally gave up.

Monty Dog

Carbon forks aren't likey to be damaged unless it was a head-on impact - you sound as though you went down on your side and therefore you tok the brunt of the impact?
If you came down on the side of the rear mech, check that the mounting hanger on the drop-out isn't bent - your LBS should have the tool to check.
Another cause of damage is the bars swinging around and striking the toptube - thorough visual check for damage.
You handlebars may also be damaged - given the speed, replacement might be worthwhile

bobgfish

I agree that the front on impact will more likely cause an issue with fork steerers. But for the two minute job that takes to pull the handlebars off I think it's worth checking. I wasn't knocked out but still had no idea what happened to me and the bike. Worth checking for peace of mind.

superkenners

Thanks for thoughts, last thing I want to do is crash again due to some failure or other. I think there was some stress at the front as little gear adjuster widget on the frame is gouged so will get forks and steerer are checked, also frame alignment.

Bad news is I had £500 limit on my house insurance cover and insurer seems to think this includes accessories which they are also trying to class as bike stuff i was wearing! Turning out to be painful, inconvenient and very expensive!

esspeebee

About the best you can do for carbon parts without an X-ray machine is to tap them all over with a coin and check the sound. If it's delaminated, you'll usually hear the difference immediately even if it's not visible from outside.

lmrt

+1 to most of the previous. If you had carbon bars (and maybe even stem), then I'd definitely bin them to be on the safe side. One guy around here had his carbon bars snap following a crash many months previously. Thankfully he wasn't badly hurt in either incident.

keef66

Testicles. That's what I'd check first.