The Thin Man 

It truly breaks my heart to have to post this thread and if anyone knows the pain I'm going through mourning for my bike, it's you good folks.

As some quick background, I purchased a gorgeous, well equipped 1991 Schwinn Voyageur roughly 7 months ago as my daily commuter for my 22 mile round trip to work and light weekend touring. I've spent nearly that entire amount of time upgrading and dialing the bike in to my body, my style of riding and my typical terrain. I was about 98% there.

Then, last week, on a dry but cold night, I was struck by a 2005 Nissan Sentra while I was on my bike. I was cut up pretty bad, my left shoulder is sore with soft tissue damage from hitting the car hood then the the asphalt, my left shin (inside and out) is swollen and bruised from the impact and I have some really cool crank marks cut into my right calf, but, I physically walked away from the accident. No broken bones, no separated shoulder, etc. I am very, very lucky.
I was also well lit, wearing a helmet and had just legally stopped and signaled at a stop sign. I made my turn and while in the middle of the intersection struck by a 73 year old woman (!) that later told me that she just didn't see me. She was at the same intersection, turning (toward me) and gunned it as I was in the middle of the intersection, hitting me at full force, without touching the brakes at below 15mph. It doesn't sound bad but the torque from the initial acceleration of the vehicle was pretty significant.

However, my bike was not so lucky. It gave up its steel frame for the greater good of my body by taking the brunt of the impact. For that, I thank it for the sacrifice.

Below, you will see images of the bike, just as it came off the asphalt. Pay special attention, as if it isn't glaringly obvious, to the frame, near the bottom bracket. Note the buckling of the frame and splintering of the paint. Also take note of the bow of the top tube. The crank is also a major impact area with it being bent so far that it doesn't even clear the rear chain stays. What a shame, but again, I am lucky to be here typing about it.

Obviously, my Voyageur is now wall art (which is what I plan to keep it for) but the bigger problem is now that I'm once again on the hunt for a solid touring rig that will fit my C&V mold/desires. So, if anyone out there has any leads on a well priced 57/58cm rig, please let me know.

horatio 

There's an '87 Voyageur, 58cm, posted in the C&V for sale sub forum.

Glad you're o.k.

wrk101

First, glad you are OK.

As an avid motorcyclist, and a motorcycle safety trainer, I am really sick and tired of the "I did not see you" excuse. Guess what, almost everyone that pulls in front of a freekin train says: "I didn't see it", ditto 18 wheelers, or whatever. Its like that excuse gives them a free pass to run over bicyclists, motorcyclists, pedestrians, or whatever.

I was rear ended on my motorcycle a couple of years ago, stopped at a red light, in the left turn only lane. This soccer mom on her cell phone, in her Chevy Suburban, pulls in directly behind me, and stops. So far, so good, right? Twenty seconds later, she slams into the back of my motorcycle (light was still red). Guess what was her excuse? " I didn't see you." I was livid. First thing I said was: "you saw me just fine, when you pulled in behind me and stopped twenty seconds ago". Her reply: "Oh yeah, I saw you THAT time...."

mazdaspeed

People are pretty worthless sometimes. Glad you're ok that's what really matters.

jr59

The bike in the sales forum looks like just what the Dr ordered!

I also am glad you are ok!

Rabid Koala

Glad you are OK, that is the most important thing!

mparker326

Glad you survived. I'm impressed with how well the bike took the hit. I was expecting worse. Score one for steel. Minus one for old ladies in Sentra's. Did she have insurance? I'm thinking an upgrade to a Rivendell is in order.

bikamper

Glad you are OK.

I hope you've been to the Doc. If you haven't been, go anyway. I didn't have a choice when I got whacked but even though my injuries were all minor(tissue damage and gobs o' stitches), it took a good 3 years before I was a 100%.

Been there, done that, got the t-shirt. I'd rather still have my old Mercier.

SteveSGP

It sucks getting hit for sure, I got hit this last summer but got away with just a bruised knee and a tacoed front wheel.

At least you're allright, the bike can be replaced.

Oregon Southpaw

Make that two voyageurs I'll be keeping my eye out for.

I wanted to post a thread similar to this the other day. I was riding downtown with traffic on a one-way street. As I approached an intersection where I had the right of way (not a four-way stop) a car pulled directly out in front of me (as if I did have a stop sign) and I did all I could to avoid a collision but plowed directly into his car. Tweaked the front fork and wheel, went flying into the side of the car, and up and over onto the hood/ceiling.

I'm still waiting to see what the settlement will be. No fun at all. I'm glad you're OK. The bikes can be replaced.

ColonelJLloyd 

+1 A buddy of mine got hit last year. He has major tinnitus now and his Lotus was trashed, but at least he got a brand new, custom Mercian Vincitore out of it.

Noah Scape

I've got this exact bike I picked up in 1992 on clearance from a shop and it is essentially NOS. It has less than 50 miles on it (probably less than 20!). If you're interested, pm me.

The Thin Man 

Thanks for the kind replies everyone. I knew I'd have a shoulder to cry on here, although my wife knows exactly what this bike means to me so she hears my gripes and understands (to an extent - haha!) too.

The woman who hit me is an employee with the County (not driving a county car though) and her insurance is loaded to the hilt. Lucky me!!
I went to the emergency room that evening although I didn't feel like I needed to go. I really only went to have the accident documented and in case anything else came up, I could go back to the doctor and be her insurance (although I also have insurance, but it wasn't my fault).

The bike shop I took my frame to for an insurance estimated quoted me $600~ to replace the frame and scavenge the remaining parts. Who knows what figure the insurance company will come back with. I have been revisiting my list of touring candidates that I tossed aside after I picked up the Voyageur months ago and although a Riv would be nice, it's probably not realistic for my budget however, Noah, I certainly will be PM'ing you on your Voyageur!
Also, Oregon Southpaw, my condolences on your accident. Two Oregon Voyageurs in one week? Sad, sad, sad...

swen0171 

Seems to me it's a total loss and the only comparable new bike is a surly LHT. I'd try another bike store.

Chris_in_Miami

+1, that's a low number to replace it with a comparable touring rig. Condolences on your loss, but glad you came out relatively ok.

sonatageek

I had someone turn in front of me and after the head on crash totaled my Cannondale T1. She had insurance and I think they were just glad that I was not injured and asking for a big settlement. I held firm and they came through with near new retail for the bike so I could replace it with the same bike.

I would be looking for a dollar amount that would cover a LHT or similar. Really that is what needs to happen to make you whole again, which is what she and her insurance owes you.

JunkYardBike

Ouch! Glad you're okay.

That's gotta be the cleanest commuter I've ever seen. I'm only a weekend warrior and ride a small rotation of bikes, and most of them are dirtier than yours!

Orrery

I'm glad you're OK, if not a little worse for the wear. Good luck with the insurance process and healing up. I was hit by a car this summer and it is a real pain in the ass! (and shoulders, etc).

The Thin Man 

The more I keep hearing asking for a figure that would cover a LHT, the more I'm glad I haven't spoken to the insurance company and given them the estimate I received. I think it's a good idea to at least start there.

I work for a really small company and have the luxury of storing my bike in a nice, warm server closet when I get to work. Then, at lunch, I typically read/nap in the same room. Or use my paired down cleaning supplies/tools to adjust and clean her up for the ride home. That bike certainly had the good life!

blaise_f

People suck. Glad you're okay.


Start high, ALWAYS. Every insurance company and adjuster is around to screw you as hard as possible. Even a fully speced C&V touring bike can be *well* above an LHT in replacement cost. Don't screw yourself. If you say $600, you'll never get more - they'll only go down from there if anything. I know if one of my two French tourers got totaled, the chainguards alone would be 1/5 a stock LHT to replace.

mapleleafs-13 

that totally sucks thin man..... that frame looked NOS...

I almost got hit on my second day out with my celeste bianchi that i had shipped in from california, cause of a guy that didn't see me in broad daylight. i just missed him. I would have probably strangled the mofo if i got hit and was able to get up and walk.

I feel your pain, the one thing that is good and bad about Classic road bike is that fact that to own a really nice one is such a joy, but replacing one is even harder. If i got hit while i was on a generic carbon bike with super record 11 or so, that could easily be replaced, but what are the chances of me finding another mint almost NOS celeste with C-record and deltas and blah blah blah it would just take too much time and you wouldn't know when it would be replaced, cause it would all depend on finding your sizing and whatnot.

well at least you still have your pinarello's to get around on imagine if you got hit on that, i know you probably love that schwinn but maybe it was probably not the worst bike you could have done it on?

anyways glad you're gravy and good to go...new bike searching time...

The Thin Man 

Ha, very true! I told my buddy that I got hit on my bike and he started groaning, "Awwwww man!! Not that red Italian bike of yours!!". He was happy to hear it's still sitting, covered, in the stable. However, as irony would have it, it's the only bike I have that is actually listed on my home insurance policy. If that thing goes, it's payday.

Mr IGH

That could have been really bad, glad you came out "OK"! Get a lawyer....

treebound 

Good to hear that you are functionally okay. I've still got discomfort from soft tissue damage below my rib cage from a wreck over 8 years ago when I was rear-ended by a pickup while on a motorcycle. I've got a full-on rant about the insurance company that I will spare you all from, just suffice it to say that the insurance adjuster will be looking at your bike as a 20+ year old Schwinn and will price it like a step-through Continental instead of true replacement value, just be ready for a battle. Documented medical injuries and pain and suffering is where your bikes true value will be found, that and in the fact of your obeying the traffic laws while cycling (be ready for that angle of attack from the adjuster's attorney as well) ((oops, a bit of the rant slipped in there, sorry)) .

Sorry about the bike though, looks like it was a nice one.

lml999

Friend of a friend was killed waiting at a red light. Stopped in the lane. Guy came up behind, never even slowed for the red light.

I heard about this 7 years ago, still think about it every time I stop at an intersection...plan my bike placement accordingly.

Oh, and I use a helmet mounted mirror to keep an eye on overtaking traffic.

Stay safe out there!

Lee