Accident due to screw falling out of cleats.

JH1

I recently broke my ankle due to falling off my bike as I was unable to unclip due to a missing screw on my cleats.

I was 1hr and a half into my ride, had unclipped at least 6 times with no issues and nothing to suggest the screws where loose.
I was cycling along a flat/straight bit of road when I heard a 'ding' and assumed I had just cycled over something.
The next time a I needed to unclip, the cleat just twisted on the shoe and I toppled over hitting the ground heel first and fracturing my lateral malleolus. (I did manage to get my right foot unclipped, but I was too far gone to save myself)
Upon inspection the shoe/cleat after falling off I discovered one of the screws missing and so I assume the 'ding' I heard was when it had fallen out.
If I hadn't lost the screw then I wouldn't have fallen off

The shoes/cleats/pedals have had about 3 months use. I admit I don't check the screws before every ride, but about every 4th ride, and the last unclipping prior to loosing the screw the cleats didn't feel loose and unclipped exactly as normal.

Is it worth me going to the supplier/manufacturer and complaining? Am I likely to get anything out of it?

Thanks
.

Daz555

Did the screw fall out - ie stripped/broken?

Or did it simply unscrew and drop out?

If the latter then I can't see anyone is at fault other than the person who tightened the screw.

Brakeless

What did the manufacturer/supplier do wrong?

Troll - First post and a stupid one

slowbike

JH1 wrote:

Is it worth me going to the supplier/manufacturer and complaining? Am I likely to get anything out of it?

Who attached the cleat to the shoe?

What do you want the retailer/manufacturer to do?

I'll guess that the screw hadn't failed - ie you've not got bits of screw thread left in the shoe - that means the screw undid. IME screws only undo when they're not done up tight enough or not fastened by another method.

I assume you attached the cleat to the shoe and you say that you check they're tight every 4th ride - your checks obviously weren't as thorough as you wanted.

Even though you couldn't unclip from your right you don't seemed to have left enough time or had the balance to change and unclip the left instead.

I'm afraid that it seems like (ab)user error to me - nobody to blame but yourself. A bit of bad luck that you broke your ankle as a result mind...

drlodge

Its user error unless you can show something was wrong with the equipment they supplied. Did you use screws that were supplied with the shoes, or those with the cleats for example?

Unless the cleats were provided attached to the shoe by the shop you bought them from, you'll have no case.

JH1

The screws where tight the last time they where checked, all the other screws where fine and still tight after the accident.

I had people suggesting I should sue, I didn't think I had a case so thought I would check on a bike forum rather than take advice from friends who don't cycle.

Sounds like I won't gain anything from a complaint to the manufacturer, but I will end up about £500 out of pocket so thought if there was a chance I could get some of that back then I would take it.

Thanks for your input, much appreciated. Apart from Brakeless - what a lovely person you are.

Colinthecop

I think the answer is one of Geography...

If you live in the USofA then Yes, sue them. You're good for about 10 million dollars or so.

If you live in the UK, DBSFS.... :roll:

Grill

I once masturbated with Deep Heat. The cooling numbed my cash and prizes but the heat did nothing for relaxation. I sent them a letter of complaint as it was clearly not fit for purpose, but nothing came of it.

imposter2.0

Colinthecop wrote:

If you live in the UK, DBSFS.... :roll:

^^^ this x 100

imposter2.0

Grill wrote:

I once masturbated with Deep Heat. The cooling numbed my cash and prizes but the heat did nothing for relaxation. I sent them a letter of complaint as it was clearly not fit for purpose, but nothing came of it.

Ah, but did you first post on a relevant forum asking for advice..??

jonny_trousers

Go for a 3 screw minimum cleat in future.

cougie

Sh*t happens sometimes. Was it not possible to put the other foot down ?

Anonymous

Yup, should have had road shoes/cleats. No problem unclipping if you lose one screw on those

Were they done up tight enough in the first place? 5nm?

Grill

Imposter wrote:

Grill wrote:

I once masturbated with Deep Heat. The cooling numbed my cash and prizes but the heat did nothing for relaxation. I sent them a letter of complaint as it was clearly not fit for purpose, but nothing came of it.

Ah, but did you first post on a relevant forum asking for advice..??

I asked my therapist about it but I think he thought I was joking.

Anonymous

drlodge wrote:

Its user error unless you can show something was wrong with the equipment they supplied. Did you use screws that were supplied with the shoes, or those with the cleats for example?

Unless the cleats were provided attached to the shoe by the shop you bought them from, you'll have no case.

I have never had shoes that come with screws.

Why would the shop be liable for anything after 3 months? Especially as the OP has said he checked them regularly.
Even if he lied (which sounds likely) and said he had not touched them and was not told to check them I can see no claim being reasonable against the shop.

So some guy in the shop kindly puts the cleats on for you and then you stitch him/the shop up 3 months later :?
What a sh1tty world you guys seem to want to live in!

de_sisti

JH1 wrote:

Is it worth me going to the supplier/manufacturer and complaining?
.

You're not serious? Are you? :roll:

jonny_trousers

Can I just add a touch of sympathy to the thread? Sorry about your injury, OP, and I hope you heal quickly. As has been said before, though, this is just one of those very bad luck situations.

simon_masterson

It's happened to me before, but thankfully always on my right foot. I don't, but some use superglue or threadlock on the bolts to stop this happening.

timothyw

Yeah, sympathetic to the OP, I had a couple of slow motion falls thanks to this in my early days and sounds like he was very unlucky to properly injure himself, but unfortunately bad luck (and naivety about how tight you need to do up your cleats - believe me, mine haven't come undone since!) is all this was, nothing to blame on the manufacturers/shop.

drlodge

Simon Masterson wrote:

It's happened to me before, but thankfully always on my right foot. I don't, but some use superglue or threadlock on the bolts to stop this happening.

I use a bit of grease - the last thing I want is the damn screw stuck in there tight with the crappy head shearing off or rounding. If the screws are done up tight enough they really shouldn't come loose, as the plastic cleat will give a bit under compression.

BobbyTrigger

same thing happened to me - only time ive come off my bike too

and at a busy roundabout lol

they're screwed in super tight now - and i check them every ride

Hollow-legs

Think what has happened was just damned bad luck ,out of interest what make shoes and cleats are they?
I changed from 2 bolt spd to 3 bolt spd -sl after a few scares and finding it hard to unclip with spd 2 bolts :shock:

I find the spd-sl a lot safer and easier to unclip quickly with less force and twist motion.
I always check my cleats for tightness after a long ride,makes sense !

Anonymous

I assumed the OP must be using 2 bolt mtb cleats.

With all the anti road shoe/cleat stuff that gets spewed out on here its quite refreshing to hear of so many people admitting to problems with 2 bolt mtb systems.

I use both types and have never had a problem.
I don't check mine that much but they are done up with a torque wrench so are pretty tight.

Guessing a lot of people do not tighten them enough.

Going to go check all mine and my wives now.
Friends wife had an off due to him (well it is mans work) not checking them :shock:

bompington

Carbonator wrote:

IGoing to go check all mine and my wives now.

I hope your shoes and your wives are all fine

Anonymous

Shoes were all fine but a couple of the wives have seen better days and might need replacing with newer models

sloppyschleckonds

Brilliant thread, wouldn't read again. 2/10

Anonymous

Bet you do ;-)

Colinthecop

If the OP posted up some pics of his injuries that would be good for another point.

And perhaps even an admission that the shoes came from Wiggle so they are to blame for his injury has to be worth another point...

All of a sudden 4/10 doesn't seem too bad. 8)

Not sure how we can get it any higher though - sorry. :shock: