Opinions on this damage - trustworthy to ride?

Dizeee

Hello all;

Following on from a lengthy thread elsewhere, I am now after opinions on the below pic. Having got my crashed bike back from the shop, I have cleaned it down to find everything on it in shop floor condition other than this which is a zoomed in picture of the back of the left fork. (Front wheel took total impact and is ruined so is being replaced).

I have been steered towards a total loss / write off by my LBS but they have not been very helpful towards me and vague, and I think they have done this as they know this will likely be an insurance payout from a car driver. However, the legal arguments have only just begun and it will be a very long, very protracted argument. All I want is my bike back.

To my mind this "nick" is nothing too major to worry about. This has been seconded by two other LBS's. I also need a new left shifter but that is a simple repair.

Advice appreciated. I am lucky that I have minor injuries only plus a second bike to ride, but I have found it all very frustrating due to my bike no longer being available plus what I now believe is a conflict of interest with my usual LBS who are being vague and never bothered to properly inspect my bike, telling me things that were clearly not the case.

Dizeee

ride_whenever

can you do a photo in focus???

Looks like cosmetic paint damage, but there could well be a crack

Dizeee

That was in focus or I tried my best to do so? Def no crack, just a few small shards of metal apparent on a small scratch to the outer laquer.

ride_whenever

If you're convinced it's a scratch then run with it. However they're ramping down production on the merak because of the new idol. So personally I'd grab a spare set of forks just in case.

Monty Dog

Superficial IMO - your LBS may be simply being cautious because they can't be 100% certain as to the integrity of the fork. Was the bike actually in collision with the vehicle?

Dizeee

The bike seemingly is untouched. The only damage was front wheel as pictured from the scene :






The shifter on the left also suffered a knock - but, amazingly, nothing else. My helmet unmarked, my gloves un ripped, frame not touched other than the slight mark on fork. The original LBS are stating front wheel damage = full write off. But, they say this in addition to saying my groupset is a full write off. The groupset is fine and functions well. The cable even retracts the rear brake nicely. I have swopped over components to my other bike hence the pic.

I understand the stance of what the original LBS is saying, but they have written it all off, bars, stem, everything. This to me and everyone else seems not to be the case.

mr_evil

After a front wheel impact, I would remove the fork and inspect the steerer very closely.

Matthewfalle

difficult to tell from a piccie on a screen - if uncertain for the sake of a few quid in the sales I'd replace it with an ultralight carbon fork much like the one I picked up from CRC (down from £199 to £50) 280 Grammes uncut..

Get it resprayed and Bob's your uncle - no risks, minimal outlay, claim back full De Rosa cost on insurance and spend the rest on framed easy to wipe clean pictures of Nina from Nina and the Neurons.

Don't forget to set fire to the old ones.

cesco

Not sure if this helps, but I had a very similar accident with very similar results: wheel completely ruined, callipers/tape scratched and a tiny scratch on the carbon fork. My LBS advised me to have the fork replaced when I went in for an insurance quote.

on-yer-bike

you left the fridge open

Matthewfalle

You could always send it to the De Rosa guys to have a look at - a set of my old carbon forks went back to the Trek Uk guys who inspected them, issued a letter saying that they were fine and returned them within two weeks.


The shop lent me a spare pair of forks to keep me on the road while mine were away - everyone as happy as someone who wakes up next to Nina from Nina and the Neurons each day: is very, very.

t4tomo

Matthewfalle wrote:

- everyone as happy as someone who wakes up next to Nina from Nina and the Neurons each day: is very, very.

Modern day version of Clare Grogan. Are they related?

Matthewfalle

Not that I aware of - Nina from Nina and the Neurons is a neurologist whereas Claire Grogan I believe played the part of a female footballerist.

Perhaps you could post a piccie of Ms Grogan in the wee Sottish Lassies' thread and we can compare? If you have with Ms Grogan's norks that would be grand.

t4tomo

Neurologist? Hate to burst your bubble but they are / were both actresses, although Ms Grogan did have a brief career in popular music.
Both have appeared in Taggart.

Dizeee

I have ordered the last remaining Merak fork from the supplier, in the correct colour. £400, but pease of mind I guess.

That plus new shifters, new front wheel, new cables, new saddle and labour see's me a bike back on the road in shop floor condition.

Matthewfalle

t4tomo wrote:

Neurologist? Hate to burst your bubble but they are / were both actresses, although Ms Grogan did have a brief career in popular music.
Both have appeared in Taggart.

Utter tosh. She is a neurologist/scientist. They wouldn't let her present her programme otherwise.

Just because she is utterly at home on the small screen doesn't mean that she is an "actress" .

If you believe that then I am sorry but you are very, very, very, very silly. Shame on you.

davidof

t4tomo wrote:

Neurologist? Hate to burst your bubble but they are / were both actresses, although Ms Grogan did have a brief career in popular music.
Both have appeared in Taggart.

Nina has done some, ahem, adult work too.

Dizeee

In light of that I presume my bike is safe has houses.

Gift for you both:

Matthewfalle

davidof wrote:

t4tomo wrote:

Neurologist? Hate to burst your bubble but they are / were both actresses, although Ms Grogan did have a brief career in popular music.
Both have appeared in Taggart.

Nina has done some, ahem, adult work too.

Serioulsy? Nah. She's a neurologist - she don't do that. Links needed to prove this slander on her good name.