RFC

Well, I ate it today. I haven't done that for a while.

Perfect day in Scottsdale, 15 miles into my ride, warmed up and ready to fly.

I'm taking a downhill corner at about 25 mph when I grind the inside pedal, pedal pops off, wooble wooble, not going to make it, tuck and roll.

After I pull myself and my bike out of the intersection, I surveyed the damage:

Me: Should have partial movement back in my elbow in a year or two.

Cell phone: Dead, need a new one anyway.

Sunglasses: Dead, had survived many midlife crisis crashes, on borrowed time.

Now, the important stuff: The Pinarello:

All in all, came out reasonably well, but in need of repair.

The old Cinelli bars took the majority of the impact just below the outward center of the drops, causing the end to flare out slightly, but significantly. Are these bars toast or is there a way to squeeze or pound them back into shape?

The next point of impact (that is bike, not body) was on the Suntour RD. It must have bounced at that point, but didn't skid. As a result both the DR and the DR hanger have enough of a bend inward to make the DR inoperable.

I'm sure this kind of thing can be fixed. Is this something I can do myself or do I need to seek out a professional?

Many Thanks

RFC

Mike552

Hahaha!!! I love it!!!

Anyhow, as far as the bars go you've probaly already figured out that the best route is to get a new set off ebay or somrthing. Aluminum is bendable, but it must be done SLOWLY in order to not cause fatigue. Your call on whether it is fixable or not. Pictures would do wonders.

As for the RD, I'd be more concerned about the derailleur hanger. I don't know much about Pinarellos, so I am not sure if it has a replaceable hanger or not.

Anyhow, glad to see you're alive...

divineAndbright

Theres a specific tool that threads into the derailleur hanger threads at which point you can bend it back.. find a shop to do it if you cant find the tool.. no idea what its called!

Steve530

Sorry about your accident.

I think I'd take the frame to a good shop to have the derailleur hanger alignment checked. That probably needs to be pretty close.

Reynolds 

Glad you didn't suffer major injuries.
My opinion on the damages:
Bars: they can be straightened maybe, but I'd feel safer with new ones.
RD: check it and replace if necessary - no big deal.
RD hanger: your frame is steel, right? If so, better to take it to a shop to get it aligned. You can do it too with the special tool or a large crescent wrench or even in roadside situations, by threading a rear axle into it and use it as a lever. If the bend is not extreme, it should align OK. Check it with the special tool or visually by threading a long 10 x 1 mm screw in it and comparing with the wheel axle, from the top and from the rear of the frame, they should be paralell.

ollo_ollo

Good that you weren't seriously hurt. I would get another pedal set, replace the bar & also the rear derailleur, then take the frame to a good shop or frame builder & have the DR hanger straightened and probably have the rear triangle & dropouts checked for alignment along with aligning the forkblades & dropouts. Put it back together and it will ride better than ever! Don

well biked

In regard to the bike: Take it to the LBS and have them use a derailleur hanger alignment gauge on the frame to straighten the derailleur hanger. Shop ebay for a derailleur and Cinelli handlebars-

RFC

Thanks everyone. All is good. Shop says no problem realigning RD hanger.

Charles Wahl

Have you gotten any medical attention? If your elbow's hurting, seriously, then you should see to it, in case something can be done to prevent chronic pain or disability. I'm just a concerned citizen, not a flack for the medical professions.

And how's that white Turbo saddle doing?

RFC

I am fine, thanks, and so is the Turbo. My hip protected it.

bmaxwell

all I can say is OOOUUUUCCCHHHHHH!!!!!!

my son and I were driving in the car a few days ago and there was a pack of cyclists going REALY fast down a steep hill and I was so excited by that.... my son could only see them hitting a rock and biffing it.... YIKES that would just suck.... but they were going so fast and having such a great time... I could feel the adreniline from inside my car... my son thought I was nuts....perhaps I am

dbakl

I'd get new bars. Aluminum doesn't like being bent more than once...