Zaxatron

Hi All,
I am currently in an italian hospital with a bad gash over my right eye, fractured right cheek bone, cant feel my top right lip and right cheek.

This is how it happened:

I bought a brand new bike from Decathlon Italy 10 days ago.

The bike is a BTWIN Rockrider 5.0 and it cost me 129 euros.
I bought this just to use during my holiday here. I live in Australia.

The bike mechanic adjusted the bike, the gears and I started riding for fun.

Last Saturday I was riding in Corso Mazzini Ascoli Piceno, then I had to brake with my rear break to slow down to make a left end turn, then what happened, as soon as I applied the brake I noticed the handle bar started to twist on itself counter clockwise therefore pulling the front wheel brake, locked my front wheel. I was then catapulted forward and landed violently on my face.
The pain was unbearable, I am lucky to be alive.

Has anyone heard of this type of accident where the handle bar becomes loose?

It should be tight, shouldn't it?

Is this the bike mechanic fault or a manufacturers fault?

I had used the bike flawlessly for days, braking and stopping without any problems.

My only fault that day was that i did not wear a helmet, therefore stupidity on my behalf, but the bike should not let you down like this? If I had worn a helmet, would this have protected my cheek bone which is well below the helmet line?


Any comments appreciated

Thanks

Regards

Zaxatron

Essex

Sorry that you are injured on holiday. And that you are in pain. Hard to diagnose what occurred from both a mechanical, mechanic-related build error, or riding perspective. A helmet might have helped, but one never knows with a direct face plant. From own experience I am alive today because of a helmet.

If anything - I would make sure to preserve the evidence. If the bike, or mechanic are at fault - perhaps there is some small legal recourse. However, you are in a foreign country where the law may be different than AUSSIE law.

skye

I'm not altogether clear on how wearing a helmet would have prevented a fractured cheek bone. Must be that magical force field they're putting in the beer cooler styrofoam these days.

And since everyone is already going to say I'm a putz for making the above comment, I might as well say the other thing that no one else will: It's your own fault. You should always inspect your equipment before your ride. Since the bike was performing normally previously to your crash, I doubt that you can lay blame on the mechanic or the manufacturer. You should have checked your bike over better before you got on it.

KonAaron Snake 

It's absolutely impossible to lay blame for the incident from what the OP posted. I will say that, generally speaking, continental Euro countries (and Italy in particular) have a more lax approach towards negligence and liability (and insurance coverage). Rewards are lower, the courts are less accessible and it can be harder to establish fault than in the US. I have no idea what Australia is like, but given common ancestry, I'd imagine you folks are closer to our approach.

genec

I am not going to call you a putz for the helmet comment, but I do question you telling the guy to check over the bike... a normal "check over" just verifies stuff like brakes working, QR not loose, and air in the tires... Now maybe you MTB guys take a wrench to every bolt on the bike and I am wrong... but frankly that is what it would take to find a problem with handlebars that are probably only slightly loose under duress. This sounds like something was tight, but not tight enough.

So how many MTBers here use a torque wrench every third day to verify tightness on bolts?

rydabent

Since was a brand new bike, and undoubtably had to be assembled by the bike shop, they have some responsibility, pure and simple.

sudo bike

Honestly, this is just as inappropriate in this scenario as unsolicited helmet criticism.

KonAaron Snake 

I agree with Gene in the sense of it's sort of silly to expect anyone to do that, but I'm not sure what the Italian legal approach would be to that question...it's different over there. And, while I agree with Gene, I also think that when you buy a department store price bike, you are taking on more risk of parts failure. Bikes like this aren't meant to be used at speed.

You need to speak to an Italian liability person...not guys on the internet in a different country (I don't mean this rudely, it's just that everyone is an expert on the internet, and you need to talk to actual experts). I have no idea what the Italian courts are like, but I think you should worry about recovery first...there's a good bet that legal action will take some time. Keep in mind - the court system is Italian...you're Australian...how do you propose pursuing this from Australia? My gut reaction is that bicycling has risks, including mechanical failure...and you take your licks and try to recover.

Rydabent's comment should be ignored as he has no idea what the Italian approach to liability is (and neither do I), or what rewards are like there. I don't know either...I just know it's different (and harder to collect). I also know that their insurance rules and culture are different (far more lax). Talk to someone who does know.

Zaxatron

In my message I am more interested to know if anyone has heard or has had this type of accident with handle bar going loose and twisting inwards.

Also since the bike was brand new I have trusted the bike mechanic to adjust, tighten the frame and handle bars properly, otherwise what is the point to rely on a specialist?

I have had several mountain bikes in Australia which I tightended bolts twice a year and never had this problem.

I was using this new bike as a road bike, used on roads, no off road stuff with lots of vibrations.

When I had the accident I would have been travelling around 16km per hour, which is not very fast for me.

As I said earlier I performed this manouvre of braking at that spot many times before during the 10 days I have been riding the bike without problems.

I am sure the bike is a chinese made bike like 99% of them. I dont know what brand is a BTWIN RockRider.

Ciao

Zaxatron

KonAaron Snake 

That's not fast...

I've had bars move on me while riding because I didn't tighten sufficiently...fortunately never causing an accident. I've gotten bikes back from shops with things lose and not done properly many times - it happens. I lost a rear brake and was nearly killed because I didn't have the rear cable tightened down enough (whoops!). I've had seatposts drop. I don't think any of this is that uncommon...which isn't to say it's right, or that they weren't wrong - but it happens. I'd say that I'm more likely to make an error than a shop.

Additionally, without seeing the part, it's impossible to really say for sure if it was a mechanical failure or a manufacturing error...or both. I assembled a department store Mongoose BMX for a neighbor and was amazed at some of the poorly designed equipment...I actually do remember thinking that the bars on that bike would be prone to slippage and didn't fit the stem perfectly. If I recall, I shimmed it.

My personal view is that when you're buying a bike for under $200, you assume that it's going to be a corner cutter and you have to go over it yourself, including some parts replacement. I'm not laying blame, I just have heard so many horror stories. I think calling the kid who assembled it an expert might also be a stretch.

Essex

If you are seeking compensation for your injury in Italy, or from the bike manufacturer - won't be an easy task. And probably a non-starter unless you were/are gravely injured. You can always weigh your chances by finding a solicitor in Italy who might be able to provide some advice.

As someone who has spent time in hospital due to gross operator negligence etc - uphill climb. Not to mention suing a Chinese bike manf.

volosong

It happens. Happened to me several times in my youth. Thankfully did not result in accidents. Always the result of the quill stem not being tightened properly.

One of my first thoughts is that at €129, it couldn't be that great of a bike. Also, most bicycle mechanics do not have to be certified or licensed. As in most of life, there are good mechanics and there are not-so-good mechanics. It could have been a manufacturing defect which the mechanic should have caught. Assigning blame? As stated, going to be difficult.

I wondered why you just didn't rent a bike for your holiday. If you are near Rome, look into renting a bike from TopBikeRental.com at Via dei Quattro Cantoni, 40. Their main business is bike tours in Rome, but they do rent at reasonable rates. They'll let you keep the bike for as long as you need, and there are not any geographical limits to where you can take/ride the bike. You just need to pay for the time you keep the bike. (disclaimer: I have rented from TopBike Rentals and Tours before and am a very satisfied customer. Next time I visit Rome, I will rent from them again. They do not provide any compensation to me of any type for giving them a good recommendation.)

Heal quickly and heal well.

FBinNY 

There's no sense speculating about whether the bar was loose or not. That's tested easily enough on the bike. It's possible that the bar was adequately tight, and the rider experienced oversteer and lost control. As for the front brake, it would only be applied mechanically if a canti cable were routed through the stem.

I feel bad for the rider, and regardless of fault, he has my sympathy. But I feel strongly that we need to reserve any judgment as to cause until the evidence is in.

KonAaron Snake 

+1 - exactly. Additionally, before offering advice...ask yourself, what do I know about the Italian court system and their approach to product liability and/or insurance. I'm willing to wager I know more than 95% here...and I know next to nothing. I know just enough to know that I don't know.

genec

Wow I totally missed the $200 part (129 Euros). Um, frankly I would not trust the build or the assembly of such a bike at all, much beyond that as an easy ride beach cruiser.

I would not do stunts jumps, fast descents or anything that would rely on the strength of the bike. $200 bikes have their place, but it isn't as a true MTB.

Several years ago an office I worked for bought two bikes for visiting engineers.... and they mentioned that the brakes seemed to be a bit sloppy. Knowing me as a cyclist (I did after all, bike commute) they asked me to look at the bikes. Well folks they were crap. Plain and simple. I do 95% of my own wrenching... so I am not lost around bike parts and adjustments. I did fix a few things with the bikes, but I could not make the crap stamped out brakes work well at all. The brake arms were just a stamped piece of steel without even a reinforcement bend or crimp. It was just a flat bar. When the brake levers were squeezed, the brake arms would start in the right direction and apply the brakes, but any pressure greater than moderate would cause the levers to flex off and the brake pads would slip away from the rims. Totally unsat in my mind. I told the Facilities manager and suggested better bikes... They just set them aside and forgot the whole thing.

Yes, cheap bikes tend to be cheap for a reason.

The flip side however doesn't always hold true though... as the most expensive bikes tend to over priced based on name, and lightness of component, vice actual use requirements... very few of us are Cat 1 racers that may require the lightest, most expensive bikes out there.

DX-MAN

OK, genec, as a MTB'er AND wrench, I'll tackle this one. A "normal check over" DOES include giving the bar a twist to see if the stem's loose. During initial assembly, every bolt IS checked, due to MTB's being subjected to more rough use/abuse.

Your quick diagnosis is likely correct, BTW; a stem 'not quite tight enough'. And while a lot of shops use torque wrenches, I've never felt the need, and damn few of the bikes I "once over" come back for more attention.

Properly, the bike should have been 100% correctly assembled and tightened. A quick check after the first "rough ride", say on a rocky trail. Another after a month, for cable adjustments, etc. After that, regular 'lookie look' by the rider for cracks, broken parts, etc., are sufficient.

Zaxatron

Above my injuries.

Here is the link to the bike in question:


https://www.decathlon.it/rockrider-50...d_8202062.html

I only used it for road riding no downhill or off road. The handle bar felt tight when I left before the accident.

It became loose when I applied the brake.

Above is a photo of what I look like soon after the accident.

howsteepisit

Stem could have been improperly tightened or the fork/steerer may have broke or other... nobody here can tell. The bike needs to be inspected by a qualified mechanic, and the liability needs to be assessed by an expert in Italian law. likely nobody here can help. But to your actual question, yes, I have seen handlebar stems slip and I have seen forks/steerers break. Not seen breakage on a new bike though.

Zaxatron

Here is an UK link in english of the same bike, so you guys can read the specs.


https://www.decathlon.co.uk/rockrider...d_8238214.html

I still believe even though a bike is cheaper it should live up to the task of riding normally on a road. It was only 10 days of age and it was adjusted in the shop.

I was not riding it in a rough manner.


Official BTWIN website:
https://www.btwin.com/en/home

They offer lifetime warranty on frame and handle bar.

bike details:
https://www.btwin.com/en/leisure-mtb/...er-50-men.html

Jamesw2

Yes I have had handlebars move while riding. They moved because i was hit by a pickup truck mirror and when they were not tightened properly. That being said, when you get better try and move the handle bars by standing in front of your bike (facing towards the back of the bike) and stabilizing the front wheel between your legs. If you can move the bars they were not tightened sufficiently, the bearing failed, the stem failed or sufficient force was applied while breaking to move a tightened bar. (I am assuming it was a quill type)

DX-MAN

ng the
I'll say it again -- the thing wasn't PROPERLY TIGHTENED; it worked loose duriing the ride. That's what I see, since the bike isn't right in front of me to evaluate.

Lifetime warranty. . . REALLY? In America, ROADMASTER, one of the worst brands in existence, also offers a lifetime frame warranty; SO WHAT? THAT'S a warranty AGAINST DESIGN FLAWS! Goodgod, man, you look old enough to know better.

You bought a cheap POS bike, it was adjusted poorly by a likely marginally trained person, and you crashed. Not saying it's your fault, but for you to expect more than what you got is, to be nice, unrealistic.

Sorry you crashed and got hurt, seriously; that sucks. But don't EVER believe that a bike built from hi-ten steel, with bottom-feeder 7-speed parts, and "36-hole aluminum rims to save weight" is anything but a boat anchor -- they're called "BSO" 's (Bike Shaped Objects) for a reason.

FBinNY 

As you say, the bike isn't right in front of you, so all you're doing is speculating. Putting blind speculation into FULL CAPS doesn't make it any truer.

It's fully possible that the bike is 100% correct, and this is a case of rider error and nothing else. I'm not saying that this is the case, just that it's equally plausible to the loose stem theory. IMO, the comment that the bar loosened when the front brake was applied is suspicious on it's face, since one is mechanically unrelated to the other, though itis possible that this is only when the rider noticed it.

The ONLY way of know if the bike is at fault is to examine the bike itself and see how loose or tight the stem is. Note that even if the bar is turned with respect to the fork, that alone is meaningless, since bars often (usually) get turned during crashes.

In fact, the actual steering forces are very low, so it would take a very loose stem for loss of steering control to have caused this accident.

As I said in my first post, we shouldn't fan flames after an accident. Adjudication of fault must lie with those who have access to the evidence, and can make a rational determination, not based on a one sided report, reinforced by wild unsupported speculation.

Popeyecahn

Dude you're in Italy, just attack the mech's abilities and his sense of honor in front of his boss and before long his face will look like yours and your medical bills paid.



* the above is purely in humor (humour for the OP) and not to be taken seriously, though I suspect one could appeal to the mechanic's sense of honor within the right context if in fact the build was at fault. I suggest discussing the matter with the Australian consulate and an Italian lawyer to determine your rights of redress if you decide on a course of action.

buzzman

+1

As a former mechanic and shop manager we had a system of checks and balances in place to prevent these kinds of accidents. All bikes were checked after a build, not necessarily with torque wrenches (though not unheard of), all new bikes were test ridden and no new bike went out the door without visual and a "shakedown" check over by the sales person. We did not sell sub-standard bikes so the quality of the bikes was high enough to take some abuse beyond normal wear and tear.

In one of the shops I managed we did a brisk rental business (it was a tourist town) and those bikes were checked before and after each ride. Loose bars and stems were something we always looked for on our bikes.

If the bars were loose and caused the crash the brunt of the responsibility falls on the shop, IMO.

How many of you check lug nut tightness on your car's wheels after you've had your tires replaced or your brakes done?

If your wheel went flying off because they didn't tighten them properly would you blame the auto's owner or the shop that did the repair?

jon c. 

Adjudication of fault must lie with those who have access to the evidence, and can make a rational determination,

And in reality, such determinations are all that matter

not based on a one sided report, reinforced by wild unsupported speculation.

But this being the internet, people are free to engage in wild speculation or practice rationed restraint as they choose. Neither has any impact on reality.