New Bike, just crashed it into a car

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05-03-2005, 09:03 AM
Platinum Pete

New Bike, just crashed it into a car

Four years ago I worked at a bike shop and spent every day lusting after OCLV bikes. Sure, there are a ton of other amazing bikes and everybody has their tastes, but to me the Trek 5500 was exactly what I wanted. My body type fits perfect, my riding style matches, but I could never afford $3600.
My brother still works at that shop and a few months back he bought an ultegra kit from a guy who had roof-racked his bike and cashed in his insurance check for a whole new bike. I had a cheap kit. Last week a customer he talked a guy into buying a custom Serrotta came in to have his Postal frame stripped and Serrotta built up. "What are you going to do with the frameset?" - - I finally can afford the roadie I've dreamt of for years.
We built it up right away, with all the little touches I have been conjuring in my imagination of one day owning such a ride. King headset, deda bars, thompson post & stem. It rode so well. I took it to the Southern Oregon coast for some of the most beautious riding in the US of A last weekend and she performed like a champ.
This morning I woke up knowing the day would suck. The shower ran intermittently too hot or too cold, no milk for cereal, roommate left out a mess; but at least I was going to ride my new bike for an hour to work.
Rolling downhill, a beater old Plymoth tries to swerve around a bus, then stops short because he doesn't have room. I slam my breaks and feel the rear tire grease out. To my right is a man eater storm drain, to my left is certain death traffic, so I clench thhe brakes harder and endo into the trunk of the Plymoth.
I am not sure what all I did to her. I think the bars are bent, the levers are all tweaked out, and the breaks are rubbing. I know how poorly front end damage and carbon fiber mix. Shit.
05-03-2005, 09:15 AM
SkiingBear

Amazing and terrible story all at once.

Congratulations and my condolances. About how fast were you going when you tagged the car? You didn't comment on any injuries to yourself, and if that's the case, maybe the bike made it...fingers crossed for you.
05-03-2005, 10:03 AM
Big E

Oh, that sucks, hope both of you are no worse for wear.
05-03-2005, 09:26 PM
Tap

sux dude. go have a drink and try not to look at her.

drop her off at ER and go have another drink. wait for the call.
05-03-2005, 10:56 PM
Viva

Pete, we need to talk. Beer's on me.
05-04-2005, 07:09 AM
snow_slider

I imagine you already did this, but check the forks and tubes out for any signs of stress cracks or even deep gouges. If you don't see anything, I wouldn't worry too much.
05-04-2005, 02:59 PM
seatpostclamp

Quote:

My body type fits perfect, my riding style matches

If it'll make you feel better, that stuff is just in your head!!!!!!
The difference between frames is a negligable few degrees mm and gms
Contact points are bars and pedals (some seat). Does a king feel better than a $10 taiwan one? Why am I talking like this???????????
05-04-2005, 03:04 PM
Viva

Quote:

Originally Posted by seatpostclamp

If it'll make you feel better, that stuff is just in your head!!!!!!
The difference between frames is a negligable few degrees mm and gms

Do you actually like RIDING?????????????????????

Yeah, frame geometry is meaningless. Have you actually ridden?

By "ridden" I mean a bike, not your pet goat.
05-04-2005, 03:08 PM
seatpostclamp

Sorry that was harsh, I changed it.

Seriously though, I feel bad for the guy yearning for years for something that if he rode blindfolded, he maybe couldn't distinguish from a 500 fuji!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
05-04-2005, 08:34 PM
Platinum Pete

Quote:

Originally Posted by seatpostclamp

If it'll make you feel better, that stuff is just in your head!!!!!!
The difference between frames is a negligable few degrees mm and gms

Do you actually like RIDING?????????????????????

:rolleyes:

Quote:

Originally Posted by seatpostclamp

Sorry that was harsh, I changed it.

Seriously though, I feel bad for the guy yearning for years for something that if he rode blindfolded, he maybe couldn't distinguish from a 500 fuji!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A $500 Fuji. :fuckyou:

Quote:

Originally Posted by viva

Pete, we need to talk. Beer's on me.

We need to talk about your Mammoth Mini trip. Knowing you, there is much to hear about.

Quote:

Originally Posted by tap

drop her off at ER and go have another drink. wait for the call.

The good folks at the bike shop fixed her up nice. No frame/fork damage. A little tweakage to the levers and bars, bent rim. I jammed my thumb, bruised my hip, totally mashed up my ego and made me feel like I hurt a loved one.
05-05-2005, 12:50 PM
Darkside

Quote:

Originally Posted by seatpostclamp

Sorry that was harsh, I changed it.

Seriously though, I feel bad for the guy yearning for years for something that if he rode blindfolded, he maybe couldn't distinguish from a 500 fuji!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Shut the fuck up, stupid JONG.
05-05-2005, 12:52 PM
Darkside

Quote:

Originally Posted by Platinum Pete

Four years ago I worked at a bike shop and spent every day lusting after OCLV bikes. Sure, there are a ton of other amazing bikes and everybody has their tastes, but to me the Trek 5500 was exactly what I wanted. My body type fits perfect, my riding style matches, but I could never afford $3600.
My brother still works at that shop and a few months back he bought an ultegra kit from a guy who had roof-racked his bike and cashed in his insurance check for a whole new bike. I had a cheap kit. Last week a customer he talked a guy into buying a custom Serrotta came in to have his Postal frame stripped and Serrotta built up. "What are you going to do with the frameset?" - - I finally can afford the roadie I've dreamt of for years.
We built it up right away, with all the little touches I have been conjuring in my imagination of one day owning such a ride. King headset, deda bars, thompson post & stem. It rode so well. I took it to the Southern Oregon coast for some of the most beautious riding in the US of A last weekend and she performed like a champ.
This morning I woke up knowing the day would suck. The shower ran intermittently too hot or too cold, no milk for cereal, roommate left out a mess; but at least I was going to ride my new bike for an hour to work.
Rolling downhill, a beater old Plymoth tries to swerve around a bus, then stops short because he doesn't have room. I slam my breaks and feel the rear tire grease out. To my right is a man eater storm drain, to my left is certain death traffic, so I clench thhe brakes harder and endo into the trunk of the Plymoth.
I am not sure what all I did to her. I think the bars are bent, the levers are all tweaked out, and the breaks are rubbing. I know how poorly front end damage and carbon fiber mix. Shit.

Did you get the driver's insurance info? Generally you don't even need to file a police report. Sounds like they were driving like a fuckhead, not your fault. After a front end crash, you should ideally scrap the frame, wheels and bars, and his insurance company should pay to replace them.
05-05-2005, 06:50 PM
Platinum Pete

Quote:

Originally Posted by Darkside

Did you get the driver's insurance info? Generally you don't even need to file a police report. Sounds like they were driving like a fuckhead, not your fault. After a front end crash, you should ideally scrap the frame, wheels and bars, and his insurance company should pay to replace them.

He was driving like a fuckhead. The car was a beater, worth less than an insurance premium. He drove off after I stood up. I really trust my bike shop and they say she's good to ride after the small repairs, so I'm going with their judgement.
05-07-2005, 12:13 AM
Darkside

Quote:

Originally Posted by Platinum Pete

He was driving like a fuckhead. The car was a beater, worth less than an insurance premium. He drove off after I stood up. I really trust my bike shop and they say she's good to ride after the small repairs, so I'm going with their judgement.

That sucks, living in a city and working at shops for a while, I saw so many cases where people were hit by cars and were too dazed or whatever to get the asshole's info. Just be careful, I'm sure your peeps know their stuff, but you can't always see stress cracks in carbon...
05-07-2005, 08:24 AM
Pedro

I threw some slicks on my hardtail and went for a test ride yesterday, some beotch pulls out of a school parking lot in GMC almost took me out, I knew she wouldnt hit me, but it scared the shit out of her.