Bicycle Mechanics - Opinions on crashed Columbus Frame (Razesa)

Hello,

I had the opportunity last month to be a crash test dummy, and attempted to meld my Razesa racing bike with a right fender of car at roughly 20-25 MPH (40-45 kmh).

The damage is fairly obvious, helmet lossage, and a potato-chipped front wheel. Paint is been freed from a number of places (mainly frame joints, e.g. seat tube-bb) and the Campy rear dropout hanger has been sprung (never had seen that in 8 years of wrenching!) Also, the cranks can't be rotated through 360 degrees without hitting the left chain stay.

To cut to the chase here, I feel that the frame is no longer viable, and needs to be replaced. Does anyone here have any experiences with this kind of damage? As I was not the guilty party, I need to know whether or not to ask for frame repair/painting costs or simply for a new bicycle.

What's worse, is that the bike was equipped with a Superbe Pro gruppo, which is no longer being made.

What is the cost of a replacement bike going to be?

Thanks in advance,
Tom

P.S. Clavicles apparently heal, but they seem to take their own sweet time to do so!

For insurance purposes, its a write-off.
My policy is always to go for maximum damages. They hurt your clavicle, you hurt their wallet. Even if it was "accidental", they will not forget a $2000 payout next time they see a rider.

$2000 sounds low to me, having recovered $2700 twenty-six years ago for a broken clavicle, concussion, and bent Reynolds 531 frame.

Why not buy a new or used replacement frameset and transfer the Superb groupo to it?

New bike! I was hit several years ago (it was the drivers fault) and let the insurance company off easy. A few months later, a hairline crack appeared through the paint where the turd had hit me. If you want the frame, offer to buy it from the insurance company .. I had a friend who got a new lightspeed and bought his old frame for very little.

Paint is been freed from a number of places. . .
rear dropout hanger has been sprung . . .cranks can't be rotated through 360 degrees
Tom, sorry but your frame is toast.
ask yourself, would you take this frame, repaired, on a long
descent? Would you ever be comfortable with it?
I had a run in with a driver, repaired the frame (because I was
a "nice" guy) instead of replacing, and NEVER felt completely
comfortable on it again.
Yes the Superbe group was nice, check e-bay for NOS, its
out there and EXPENSIVE, figure your medical expenses,
the cost of replacement NOS gruppo, wheels, etc. and
a Serotta Ottrot frame ($4300) ok, only kidding on the Serotta,
but figure a Good frame (litespeed, Colnago etc.) and present
that to the insurance company. Then get yourself a good lawyer
for when they balk at the prices.
Don't settle for less than you really think a replacement and medical is worth.
No, I'm not saying sue the driver for millions,
just make sure you get your moneys worth.
Just my $.02

Marty

$200 of my settlement was for my bent-back 1960 Capo frame, which I had restraightened at my local bike shop. Four years later, the front end of the downtube began to rupture where it had been bent and restraightened. (The worst part was that I had to let a kid on a Varsity pass me on a moderate climb, as I gingerly backed off on the pedal pressure to nurse my broken frame home.) You definitely need a new frame!

Thanks!

I tell you, I shouldn't be preaching to the choir, but this is EXACTLY the thing that I've been thinking.

I've had frame lossage before, but never due to accident, but metal fatigue (BB, Right rear dropout etc.)

Thanks for all the comments. I think I've finally managed to find a pro-geek shop here in Switzerland...can't wait to check it out.

Cheers,
tt