Checking a crashed bike?

TommyG58
TommyG58 Posts: 4
edited March 2014 in Workshop
Had a fairly major crash (c.40km/h) on a greasy road, upright one minute, next thing I knew I was on the ground etc.

So five months and one broken hip later I'm keen to get back out riding...I've done a few short rides on the bike but have nagging concerns about whether I have damaged my frameset. The bike is an Eddy Merckx EMX-1 (full carbon).

I've done a very thorough check over the bike, and it seems to ride fine. Only damage appears to be limited - scuffed shifter/rear mech and slightly bent handlebars.

It's going in for a service this weekend, but is there anything more I can do than get the shop to check as well? Worth getting the frame full stripped to check?

Comments

  • herzog
    herzog Posts: 197
    If I were in your situation, I would strip the bike fully, inspect and re-build.
  • rolf_f
    rolf_f Posts: 16,015
    If you slipped sideways off your bike and mashed your hip up then chances are you took the impact and not the bike.

    If the bars are physically bent then I'd worry that they hadn't impacted the top tube and I might be tapping at the frame to try to hear if it sounded off there but otherwise I wouldn't lose any sleep over it.

    I'm not sure you'd need to strip it to inspect it - if there is damage under a component then I guess you'd expect to see damage on that component. New mech hangar might be worth buying.
    Faster than a tent.......
  • mitchgixer6
    mitchgixer6 Posts: 729
    I had a similar fall yesterday, 35mph went down when I hit diesel on a small roundabout.

    I too took the worst of the impact, thankfully I didn't break anything. Sent the bike to the LBS for a once over and as suggested only needed a new mech hanger. Why not send it to the experts to check?
  • Terrytibbs
    Terrytibbs Posts: 76
    Stripping most of the bike lets you check everything is straight. Most crashes need new hangers, bar tape, rear mechs, spokes/wheel trues then change anything that looks obviously bent. If you ride it you'd be able to tell if your cranks or bars feel bent or if the stem isn't straight. But it's difficult to know if there's damage to the frame and forks but most bike will be pretty tough, alu or carbon, to hold up to most crashes.
  • damocles10
    damocles10 Posts: 340
    I think the carbon would fail catastrophically if it was damaged. If you are worried have you LBS look over it.

    Sounds like a bad crash, I hope your hip is getting better.
  • slowbike
    slowbike Posts: 8,498
    damocles10 wrote:
    I think the carbon would fail catastrophically if it was damaged. If you are worried have you LBS look over it.

    Sounds like a bad crash, I hope your hip is getting better.

    Or it might just crack below the surface leaving a weaker section.
  • mitchgixer6
    mitchgixer6 Posts: 729
    I've just got my bike from the LBS after they gave it the once over. Luckily it only needed a new hanger, but they put it on the frame jig just to double check. I would say it would be worthwhile going through this process if you're worried in any way, which you must be if you asked the question! :-)

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