General Cycling Discussion - Kid smacks my rear wheel- Easton SLX 90

So on the end of a 50 mile ride this morning I'm cruising through my neighborhood and I see a kid-probably 5- riding his bike and weaving all over the place. I yell watch out and like a magnet this kid came right @ me. His BMX wheel bars (whatever they are called) clipped my rear wheel- Easton SLX90. I spoke with the Dad who seemed to care less what happened. Told him I'm going to have the bike checjked out and that I may contact him. Only proof I was there is that I had my GPS on. I'm off to the bike shop for an eval. This is a slight dimple in the rim now.

Upon my inspection the wheel appears to be true still- no wobbles.

It could have been worse. Meaning he could have rammed some of the carbon.


brian

What is it with people? He should A. Watch where the frigging kid is riding so he doesn't end up as street pizza, under the wheels of a garbage truck and B. Take responsibility. Grrr.

I know. We never ever let our kids wander in the middle of the street with their bikes. Just had the wheel inspected and no crack...just a dimple. It was out of true and the shop took care of that for free. The funny deal here is that I have plans to send it to Easton in about a week since earlier this month some shares of metal came out of the wheel. Easton wants to check the integrity of the wheel. Now I have to explain to them the wheel got smacked by a kid. I got a cursed rear wheel. Blasaaaated.

BL

I know. We never ever let our kids wander in the middle of the street with their bikes. Just had the wheel inspected and no crack...just a dimple. It was out of true and the shop took care of that for free. The funny deal here is that I have plans to send it to Easton in about a week since earlier this month some shares of metal came out of the wheel. Easton wants to check the integrity of the wheel. Now I have to explain to them the wheel got smacked by a kid. I got a cursed rear wheel. Blasaaaated.

BL
I meant shards of metal..... edit from phone

I actually read it as "shards of metal" whoa.

Beware of kids! They cannot ride in a straight line or avoid hitting something that they've fixed their beady little eyes on. He sees you, he'll run into you.

The kid was five. You are the adult. Your job is to avoid him. Don't matter who's right or wrong, stay out of the wobbler's way.

The father should own up to his son's mistake. However, most 5 year old kids do not ride in a straight line. So +1 to Flying Merkel.

Hell he could have been 6 for all I know. Still if my kid did something I'd step up. Integrity is low these days in society.

Give the inexperienced wobbly riders who are just learning to a ride a wide berth. As the adult rider here, you clearly saw a pretty straight forward situation and still managed to get hit.

Just for his attitude, I'd file a lawsuit on the guy. You might not win, as you said, your word against his. But at least you have the satisfaction for dragging his sorry behind down t the court room. Should only cost you about $10 and your time.

He is really setting a bad example for his son.

You know - you have to pass a test to get a driver's license. You have to show you sort-of have a brain to graduate from public school. In many places you need to pass a safety course to carry a gun.....

But you don't have to do 'squat' to be a parent.

Beware of kids! They cannot ride in a straight line or avoid hitting something that they've fixed their beady little eyes on. He sees you, he'll run into you.

The kid was five. You are the adult. Your job is to avoid him. Don't matter who's right or wrong, stay out of the wobbler's way.

Right. Sure, there's some parential responsibility, but like Merkel says, "You are the adult", and if you don't know how unpredictable kids on bikes are, you should.

No point in filing a lawsuit, as someone suggested. The bike shopped fixed it for free, so what would you allege as damages. You do have to show damages.

Give the inexperienced wobbly riders who are just learning to a ride a wide berth. As the adult rider here, you clearly saw a pretty straight forward situation and still managed to get hit.

Look it's not like I had 1/4 mile or even an 1/8 of a mile visibility before I came across this little fellow. I turned and there he was on the opposite side of the street pedaling against traffic. If I was a car he's he seriously hurt... perhaps I taught the kid and maybe (God Please) the Dad about letting children ride randomly in the roadway. BTW, I have encountered kids before you know and have successfully navigated around them without having to stop my bike and wait.

Anyways I'm over it so enough with the "your an adult you should know better" comments. The facts are:
1) Kid riding around the road who isn't ready for this. BTW there is a 5 acre park with paths 2 blocks away from this home
2) Dad didn't care about the kid. Dad witnessed the accident but kept on washing is old 70's dilapidated Jaguar. I had to go to the Dad and discuss the situation. Then and only then did he ask his kid if he was ok.

With regards to a law suit I'm not going to bother. What make the 5-6 year come to court as my eye witness? I'm not that kind of guy that would do that to a kid.

If it cracks I'll get a new one or get a new rim + rebuild.....mind you a new wheel costs $400-$500 a piece. Can you see why I'm irritated now? This isn't a cheap wheel.

I just did another 20 to came down but this isn't working.

b

When you're riding and you see a 5 year old kid, you are 100% responsible for making sure that you don't run into him and he doesn't run into you. Sorry, but this is your fault.

I'm done with this post. adios

.

It could have been worse. Meaning he could have rammed some of the carbon.



Or he could have (God forbid) hit a car. Fine parenting, isn't it.

I've often thought of a midnight-installation number on some people's property - with an electric-fence. On a positive note - I just watched my idiot neighbor get arrested for DWI. About time, too.

Just for his attitude, I'd file a lawsuit on the guy. You might not win, as you said, your word against his. But at least you have the satisfaction for dragging his sorry behind down t the court room. Should only cost you about $10 and your time.

He is really setting a bad example for his son.

Filing a lawsuit, just because the guy had a bad attitude, is not a good idea.

Just for his attitude, I'd file a lawsuit on the guy. You won't win, as you have no grounds to sue and the parent may counter sue for harrassing him with baseless lawsuits. But at least you have the satisfaction for dragging his sorry behind down t the court room. Should only cost you about $10 and your time.

He is really setting a bad example for his son.

Fixed that quote.



Yeah, because this country needs more frivolous lawsuits.:innocent:

The court system isn't your personal baby sitter.

Pay closer attention to what your doing. If i was the parent I might be contacting YOU for running down a kid with your precious bike.

every time something happens, at least one party is at fault. sometimes, both are. it isn't wrong to say the kid may have been at fault. as i understand, parents are legally responsible for the actions of their children. of course, we'd need more detail from the op to judge. but just saying the adult should have avoided the kid is bs; it sounds like it happened pretty quickly.

To those who say it is the adult's job to stay out of the way: you sound like ignorant drivers who yell at cyclists to get off the road, or get angry when they break laws and end up in a car/bike confrontation. is it the job of bikes to stay out the way of cars? of course not, as long as you're riding legally. if the kid can't control his vehicle, he doesn't belong on the road.

then again, some people think children can't do anything wrong. "Oh, he doesn't understand, don't be so hard on him...blah blah blah." There's a difference between being reasonable and being a useless parent. It's hard being a parent, and I'm glad people seem to care how children are raised. It does take a village. Then again, some kids are raised in villages of idiots, which isn't any better.

I'm done with this post. adiosYup. I hate it when I post about something pisses me off on some newsgroup or forum somewhere, and people don't all agree with me too.

But if my wife tells me about how somebody wronged her, I'd better agree that she was in the right, at least on the outside!

Fixed that quote.



Yeah, because this country needs more frivolous lawsuits.:innocent:

The court system isn't your personal baby sitter.

Since when is it frivolous to recover damages done to you? The OP could easily be out $200. I'm taking the OP's word for it but the guy sounded like a bigger child than his son. Treat him like the baby he is.

Folks please calm down. Yeah I'm back. I've sent the wheel off for repair. I'm not pursuing any litigation with the Dad, son, etc. I've thought about it and this was a freak accident with really no time to think. If it were a teen or adult that hit me this would be a different story and I presume I would have less controversy here. BTW, it's more than just damage to my bike here. I have been building up for the Tour de Cure charity ride for the last several weeks and I didn't need this to happen. Swapping out parts a week before a century ride bugs me. The damage worst case is about $200 for a rim & rebuild. Am I happy with this? No. I don't have any other decision but to move on.

You should've pulled out your pump and Cinzanoed the kid.

that's what you get for havin' an expensive unobtanium bike. no sympathy here.

We'd all be angry at the owner that let his dog wander around in the street.
Why is a kid - an even bigger responsibility for the "owner" - not treated the same way?

We'd all be angry at the owner that let his dog wander around in the street.
Why is a kid - an even bigger responsibility for the "owner" - not treated the same way?

Yeah we should put all our kids on leashes or lock them in the back yards. They should'nt be allowed to learn to ride a bike or even play outside untill they can stay out of the way of the adults.

i don't think that's what he meant. i see plenty of little kids with training wheels wobblin' all over the road where I live. However, I do see the mom or dad within calling distance tellin' 'em to pull over to the side of the road whenever i roll by in my truck, or roll by in my alien outfit.

never had a problem. i always smile at the parents.

All parents ar'nt good parents and kids usually ar'nt aware of whats going on around them so when in a neighborhood we should drive or ride with caution.

Give the kid a loaded revolver. See how long it takes for 'Daddy' to notice.

that's what you get for havin' an expensive unobtanium bike. no sympathy here.

:rolleyes:

if you can, sue and make an example of parents that don't care and, of course, buy their kids cheapie, Mao*Mart sinobtanium pieces of steely trash (i'm sure someone got that easy neologistic joke...:p)