Traumatic Trail Adjustment
#1
Traumatic Trail Adjustment
Funny story: Had a moderately bad crash on my steel single speed commuter. Trued my wheel, buffed out the scratches, healed up, and got back on the bike. Was noticing a weird unsteadiness, a shimmying feeling at mid-speeds, and noticed my feet kept contacting the wheel when I was turning. Rode it a while more and then took a look at my wife's bike from the same maker... and realized that I had hit the fork hard enough (and straight on) to reduce the rake by probably 1.5 inches! Instant conversion into twitchy crit bike at low cost!
Before:

After:
Before:

After:
#2
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 33,657
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From: Pittsburgh, PA
Bikes: '96 Litespeed Catalyst, '05 Litespeed Firenze, '06 Litespeed Tuscany, '20 Surly Midnight Special, All are 3x10. It is hilly around here!
That must have been some crash. It was hard enough to reverse all the decals!
#4
And shift the drive train to the left side of the bike. I'm assuming that was the "after" photo.
#6
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 2,589
Likes: 8
You can easily bend it back.
Just turn the fork backwards, then crash again in the same place.
Really though, easy to fix, lay a big ladder on the floor, hook the fork legs between the rungs, stand on the end of the ladder and push using the frame as leverage.
When the fork tubing reaches its original shape, resistance will increase, so stop then.
Just turn the fork backwards, then crash again in the same place.
Really though, easy to fix, lay a big ladder on the floor, hook the fork legs between the rungs, stand on the end of the ladder and push using the frame as leverage.
When the fork tubing reaches its original shape, resistance will increase, so stop then.
#8
#9
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 3,135
Likes: 108
From: Middle of the road, NJ
#10
- Soli Deo Gloria -
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 14,779
Likes: 743
From: Northwest Georgia
Bikes: 2018 Rodriguez Custom Fixed Gear, 2017 Niner RLT 9 RDO, 2015 Bianchi Pista, 2002 Fuji Robaix
I thought so too. Definitely bent.
That's probably a $450 bike. Looks like it has some upgrades though. I'd strip the parts and look for a used Soma Rush frame or something like that.
I rode with a guy who had a Tribe Knox. Looked nice in terms of style and workmanship. He also crashed his on a ride but didn't bend it.
Glad the OP wasn't hurt. That's the main thing.
-Tim-
#11
Senior Member

Joined: May 2003
Posts: 4,056
Likes: 166
From: Mountain Brook. AL
Best you take the fork out for an exam of the fork/steerer junction. If this is bent, a replacement might in part
solve your problem. OTOH if the frame buckling is the explanation then the bike is toasty.
solve your problem. OTOH if the frame buckling is the explanation then the bike is toasty.
#12
The Infractionator
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 2,201
Likes: 3
From: Rochester, NY
Bikes: Classic road bikes: 1986 Cannondale, 1978 Trek
The frame is bent, and the steerer has been bent and is no longer safe to ride. Start stripping components, and look for a new frame and fork....
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