Bicycle Mechanics - Destroyed my bike this evening

Driving home from a ride I brain farted and pulled into our carport with my bike on the roof. Freakin funny thing is that I made a mental note while driving down our road but while waiting for our carport gate to open I spaced out. The whole front end of my bike is toast...reynolds ouzo pro fork, k-wing bars, record ergo. My Cannondale frame did not buckle but have not looked too closely at the lip of the headtube where the lower headset bearings are showing due to the gnarly bend the fork now has. I don't know if I want to chance it anyway.

Anyone have a 56cm frame and fork they want to sell?

Anyone know if this frame will accept a campy hiddenset?

http://cgi.ebay.com/Full-Carbon-Fiber-Bike-Bicycle-56cm-Road-Frame-Fork-/270682176128?pt=Road_Bikes&hash=item3f05ea3a80

I have a brand new record hiddenset in the box in my parts bin...then I will only need new bars, stem, a new front derailleur, and ergos....btw anyone with a good shape record 10sp ultrashift front derailleur with a 35mm clamp they want to trade for one with a 32mm clamp (only the front end took the hit so the derailleur is good to go).

-j

there is a beautiful Columbus MAX frame over in the C&V forums. don't feel bad I know a few people who have done that. one was evena bike shop owner. I think there is a Bianchi TSX frame about that size too

What happened to you is the number one argument against roof racks. Bikes have been destroyed going into garages, under commercial awnings, into public parking garages, you name it. And the damage to bikes is only part of the cost, there is often serious damage to the roof of the car and expensive third party claims by those whose property was damaged.

It's the kind of accident that can happen to anybody who's used to driving a car without the need to worry about height clearances. Even experienced truck drivers sometimes get snagged by overpasses when driving a truck taller than what they're used to.

I can't help you with a frame, but you have my condolences.

Yeah, the frame is toast. Al head tubes get compressed from that kind of accident and may just spring back. At first the damage may not show but if you ride, fine lines or cracks in the paint may appear. That means it weakened.

Driving home from a ride I brain farted and pulled into our carport with my bike on the roof. Freakin funny thing is that I made a mental note while driving down our road but while waiting for our carport gate to open I spaced out. The whole front end of my bike is toast...reynolds ouzo pro fork, k-wing bars, record ergo. My Cannondale frame did not buckle but have not looked too closely at the lip of the headtube where the lower headset bearings are showing due to the gnarly bend the fork now has. I don't know if I want to chance it anyway.

Anyone have a 56cm frame and fork they want to sell?

Anyone know if this frame will accept a campy hiddenset?

http://cgi.ebay.com/Full-Carbon-Fiber-Bike-Bicycle-56cm-Road-Frame-Fork-/270682176128?pt=Road_Bikes&hash=item3f05ea3a80

I have a brand new record hiddenset in the box in my parts bin...then I will only need new bars, stem, a new front derailleur, and ergos....btw anyone with a good shape record 10sp ultrashift front derailleur with a 35mm clamp they want to trade for one with a 32mm clamp (only the front end took the hit so the derailleur is good to go).

-j

Your insurance will cover it just have to get through the adjustors!!!!

Your insurance will cover it just have to get through the adjustors!!!!

I am currently living in Morocco so auto insurance wont cover it. Maybe my personal property insurance policy stateside will cover it....will have to see what the deductible is.

-j

Your insurance will cover it just have to get through the adjustors!!!!

Yeah, followed by your premiums increasing.

When I used a roof rack, I would remove the garage door opener from the sun visor and put it in the glove box. That way I couldn't just reach up and push the button out of habit and the change made me remember the bike on the roof.

I would not rush in and buy a "cheap no-name carbon" frame/fork to replace your Cannondale. Carbon frames have come along way in getting cheaper. Your Cannondale frame has also come along way in being a better frame. I will not pass judgement on the no-name carbon frame. I will suggest that you consider what type of a rider you are and how you want your future frame to handle.

I believe Cannondale has a generous crash-replacement and/or trade in policy on their frames. Contact them and describe what happened and you may get a replacement frame at a very attractive price.

When I used a roof rack, I would remove the garage door opener from the sun visor and put it in the glove box. That way I couldn't just reach up and push the button out of habit and the change made me remember the bike on the roof.

You're just FULL of good ideas this evening! :D I was wondering what I would do for such a case and then read your idea. It's simple, effective and brilliant.

Mind you it sure doesn't help someone that decides on their way home from a ride to pull into a parkade to pick up some groceries.... :D

and a reminder tag hung from the rear view mirror ..
maybe take a picture of your damaged bike
:trainwreck:
and laminate it and make a reminder tag with that..

20 years ago I drove a Suzuki Jeep with two roof-mounted Raliegh Record Ace's - mine and my brothers. We decided to try cycling across France and took the car ferry in order to drive to our french starting-point. After waiting in line to drive onto the ferry we were waved on and I raced up the loading ramp. Too bad the ferry's structural beams were low enough to hook under the the two seats of the roof mounted bikes. The bikes were ripped off the roof along with the guttering for my jeep. A true low-point of my life was jumping out of the car and starting to collect all the pieces of our bikes that were now strewn across the boarding ramp - the 300 or so cars and passengers got quite a show. I was young and dumb - I should have sued the ferry, at least for the price om our bikes - I just sheepishly disappeared.

I sympathize! :(

When I have a bike on the car, I put the garage remote in the glove box or the trunk. Whatever it takes to remind me NOT to open the garage door until I get out of the car first and take the bike off.

Oops, I guess HilRider beat me to it.

Pics or it did't happen.

First I've heard of this kind of thing happening in Morocco.

First I've heard of this kind of thing happening in Morocco.

First time for everything I guess. I am active duty Navy living and working over here. I ride often. I had just got back from a great 45km ride along the coast. Turned onto my street and made a mental note about the bike being on the roof. I arrived at my house and hit the button for the security gate to our carport. In the 15 seconds while I waited for the gate to open everything in my brain vaporized. I hit the gas pedal moved forward into the carport which is half covered by a concrete balcony...and crunch. The bike hit the bottom section of the balcony causing my forkes to bend, my ergo levers to twist, and my carbon bars to turn in the stem. The car was undamaged, the rack seems to be undamaged, and my front wheel was luckly attached to a wheel holder on the rear bar of the rack.

-j

When I used a roof rack, I would remove the garage door opener from the sun visor and put it in the glove box. That way I couldn't just reach up and push the button out of habit and the change made me remember the bike on the roof.

That's what I used to do too. Doesn't help away from home though.

I did it too. Now I put the recycle bin in my spot in the garage so I have to move it to get in. That's my wife's idea.

Good idea.:thumb:
I've started using our roof rack again this year and plan to continue it's use so I need to keep on top of Roof Rack Misadventure Avoidance strategies.

So here is the update:

After further inspection of the frame and components, only the fork was damaged beyond use. I was able to pick up a brand new Wilier Triestina carbon fork with a carbon steerer at a mechanic in Casablanca. There are no bike shops here in Morocco like there are in the US and Europe. This guy turned out to be the mechanic for the Moroccan national cycling team as well.

Brand new fork installed, compression plug and new bar tape, had a brand new record hiddenset that I already had installed as well. Complete intsallation and everything readjusted...$135US equivalent in Moroccan monopoly money.

Not an exact color match as my frame is red and the two forks he had were either an orangeish red that did not match or a black/blue/white fork. I chose the latter. For the price, I can live with the color and it is a humble reminder to keep my brain engaged.

I rode the bike today and everything is solid. The only other damage was some light scuffing on the plastic above the carbon blades of the brake levers and some minor scuffing of the top coat of my K-wing bars. We loosend the lever clamps to check for damage to the bars underneath and there was none...I took some advice I read on hear a while back that suggested tightening the lever clamps only tight enough so that in an impact they would move hopefully preventing damage to the levers/bar...well this advice proved very fruitful.

I replaced the headset because 1. I had one lying around and 2. I did not want to chance there being a problem with the one that was installed. 3. some balls had popped out of the retainer afte they became exposed when the bottom of the steertube bent.

I was luck that the headtube did not deform and the frame did not buckle. I may have overestimated how hard the impact was but it was enough to demolish my fork.

I think I will saw off an inch or two of each end of the fork and drill holes and put a chord throug them to hang on my rearview mirror when the bike is on the roof in the future.

My wife sure broke my stones as when ever she drives with the bikes on the roof of the car I analy remind her not to pull in too far.

-j