Mountain Biking - Calling all BF quality/breakage inspectors - need your keen eye

As many of you know I augered in on a 18' drop (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?155748-Daily-ride-reports&p=10317788&viewfull=1#post10317788)nose first on my 2009 Bighit 3. After the crash a few guys looked at my bike and said i either bent the head tube, fork steer tube, or fork stanchions.

I didn't think anything was bent. There was no binding when I turned the bars and I could not see a bend. Fork travel felt fine. Today I pulled the fork - inspected the steer tube and the head tube. Ran a feeler gauge around the headset cups, all gaps were equal. So far the only issue I could find is the totally bent rear dérailleur hanger.

Take a look at pics below and tell me what you think:

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_haCltcUpKTI/S2I88p1e40I/AAAAAAAAAVs/TAz-WCJKSvU/s720/DSC_0032.JPG
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_haCltcUpKTI/S2I89Q0XyoI/AAAAAAAAAVw/kibRHyoJ5YQ/s720/DSC_0033.JPG
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_haCltcUpKTI/S2I8-T0q9QI/AAAAAAAAAV0/hhuxKt3IsYU/s720/DSC_0034.JPG
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_haCltcUpKTI/S2I8_JkoufI/AAAAAAAAAV4/rs5oaONnE0E/s720/DSC_0035.JPG
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_haCltcUpKTI/S2I8_7WYDzI/AAAAAAAAAV8/XqBBgaVStMI/s720/DSC_0036.JPG
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_haCltcUpKTI/S2I9Ay277AI/AAAAAAAAAWA/87D74A-lDKc/s720/DSC_0037.JPG
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_haCltcUpKTI/S2I9BanvRuI/AAAAAAAAAWE/ti3RUCkqyz0/s720/DSC_0038.JPG
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_haCltcUpKTI/S2I9B5OyYMI/AAAAAAAAAWI/bo4y8vjsqCY/s720/DSC_0039.JPG
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_haCltcUpKTI/S2I9C8M8SOI/AAAAAAAAAWM/OhSpCwO_35Y/s720/DSC_0040.JPG

Steerer looks ok, check the stanchions.

its fine.. just ride it

Steerer looks ok, check the stanchions.

I just ran to the garage and put a straight edge on four sides of each stanchion - they are good. Time to put the bike back together (heal a bit more) and ride.

I always thought that 1.5 head tube - when it came up a few years ago - was a bunch of crap. I think I see it's purpose now.

Not all damage is visible, either. Does look good in photos. Did they see a bunch of flex during your crash or did they only see the bike afterwards and saw something in particular?

^^ Most of us were above looking down - - it all happened pretty fast.

ss, the one thing I wonder, and cannot determine from the available pics, is if you ran a straightedge or line on the centerline of the stanchions/lowers and then did the same with the steerer (dead-flat side view), are they parallel to each other? That's the only way you're going to know if that steerer or crown got tweaked.

You sent an eighteen footer on a single crown fork? And I catch crap around here for manualing without a helmet. wtf.

need better pictures

Those pictures are no good... you need a square to at least give us some clues about angles... Obviously it's not horribly bent though, but was probably one hell of an elastic collision.

You probably trashed the headset bearings with that impact, are they cartridge? Any rocking when u apply the front brake and push?

No binding or rocking.

I have a dial indicator and a granite slab I can use this weekend. I doubt there is a problem at this point, but It was a hard hit - but I will still verify.

I was looking at that pic........is that 18' in pinkbike feet?

I was looking at that pic........is that 18' in pinkbike feet?

I agree (based on pic) - I'm going by what others said - but I will tell you this - Pics don't do it justice. I did a 12' (measured with a tape - many years ago) and this is waaaaayyyyyy bigger. I will leave numbers out, but I will not do a bigger drop than this.

I was looking at that pic........is that 18' in pinkbike feet?This has been discussed before. That was my estimation to the rear wheel landing spot in the tranny - - most likelly exaggerated by me by a couple feet. The drop IS big. Come out 66 and I'll follow you off it.

This has been discussed before. That was my estimation to the rear wheel landing spot in the tranny - - most likelly exaggerated by me by a couple feet. The drop IS big. Come out 66 and I'll follow you off it.

Well crap, don't you know I sold my Bullit sooooooooooo...................i really don't have anything to ride.

I'll come out too and you can use the V10 to follow Doug! ;)

How did you get into this?

I would be happy to survey the drop and answer the question once and for all. Someone send me a plane ticket.

^^ C'mon folks, let's make this happen. Since I couldn't get Cheap Trick to do a benefit concert for this, I'll start it off myself. I'll pay for the in-flight beverage service. There - - who's with me?

I'll pay for the in-flight beverage service.

Thanks! That'll likely end up costing more than the ticket btw.

So where are the pics of the drop?

Well crap, don't you know I sold my Bullit sooooooooooo...................i really don't have anything to ride.I'll sell you a medium Blindside frame reasonable :D.


So where are the pics of the drop?Daily Ride reports thread, last pages; although there are others. Google image search for Beacon / Spokane / Girthmore. There are a few particularly of a kid named Skye sending it.

It's bigger than it looks; and, of course it looks bigger than it is when you're up top looking down ;).

How did you get into this?

The TGMBG is in everything...you should know that!

I would be happy to survey the drop and answer the question once and for all. Someone send me a plane ticket.

Just hop in the Bimmer with 66 and do a road trip.

The TGMBG is in everything...you should know that!

This is true. Come to think of it you're a much bigger guy than me so the V10 wont work.......but there's a Stinky hanging out somewhere around the house if I can get it away from the girlscout/A.K.A. microwave.
My trails are under about 8" of snow againg soooooo.....roadtrip!

Shaweet!!! A BF chain off Girthmore. I get to lead.

BTW - fork and all are good - bike is tuned and ready to ride.

This is true. Come to think of it you're a much bigger guy than me so the V10 wont work.......but there's a Stinky hanging out somewhere around the house if I can get it away from the girlscout/A.K.A. microwave.
My trails are under about 8" of snow againg soooooo.....roadtrip!

The V10's a medium so you should be fine - I have it set up pretty short. But if you can scam the Kona, that's even better!

Shaweet!!! A BF chain off Girthmore. I get to lead.

BTW - fork and all are good - bike is tuned and ready to ride.

But are you?

But are you?

I would say I'm about 90%. I ran 9 miles yesterday and 2400 vertical feet (trails were too sloppy to ride) - without too much grief. Still hurts to cough or sneeze - but by the end of the week I should be tip top. I will try my normal swim workout on Wed - see how that goes.