Road bikes are weak AF
 

Compared to track bikes; because I used to ride fixed. Road bikes are like fine china that your grandma kept in the dresser that you could never use. Overpriced and fragile. I hope as the price goes up for these groupsets that the durability increases as well because I've bent my derailleur hanger twice now. Once from crashing and once from throwing my bike down bailing. Also, everytime my shifters move. Yeah I get it that they're prone to getting damaged but I'm not used to this level of babying my bike. I've always taken care of my bike and I'm not disrespectful to my bikes but this one is high maintenance. So many little things to adjust and what not.

:popcorn

OP: I've always taken care of my bike and I'm not disrespectful to my bikes

Also OP: throwing my bike down bailing

Me: :foo:

I don't think anyone else in Road Cycling can relate, because we don't ride everywhere pretending to be in a Rad Race. Keeping rubber side down is not what we consider "high maintenance."

Accidents happen so the derailleur hanger is soft by design to absorb the impact that would otherwise damage the more expensive derailleur. It is also cheap to replace if damaged beyond repair compared to a RD. It should not bend if your shifters "move," whatever that means, unless it is in fact damaged beyond repair. I've bent hangers on a number of occasions but have never needed to replace one nor get a new RD, so I would say it does its job just as well as bumpers on cars do.

​​​​​​What kind of babying are you used to?

Car ran me off the road.

sounds like a trek issue...

I've crashed road bikes at high speed a few times and they generally fared better than my body. Most of the time all I needed to do was re-mount.

agreed. recommendation? throw your bike down on the non-drive train side in the future when being run off the road or generally crashing when riding road. riding track has different issues.
if you don't dig the roadie bike, ditch it.
not every bike/discipline is appropriate for every rider.

Maybe it's not the bike, it's your riding skills?

Sounds like user issues to me.

If you live in South Florida you can probably do with a FG/SS anyway. Problem solved!

Can you give us your instagram, YouTube channel and any other socials you're posting all your rad stuff? I'm sure we're all going to want to follow your awesome adventures. In meantime, I'll just keep picturing this when you post...

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...c1a58c6687.png

I think I remember seeing you say you have been hit by cars(or run into cars) many times. Is that correct?
At some point, you should explore other hobbies. Given your history, free climbing mountains sounds less dangerous than how/where you ride a bike.

Good luck learning to ride safely.

I was thinking this:

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...1e9b08fed1.jpg

I mean...I am quite familiar with a few now famous videos of your indestructible track bikes breaking in half with pieces flying about during wrecks. It's more than just a bit disingenuous to complain about damage that occurs to components in an accident. Much akin to complaining about dropping a glass on the floor. It wasn't made to bounce, it was made to drink out of.....(I HOPE you gather what I just put down)

Cheesus...I think every young bike rider has done this to groin or stomach at least one time trying the "sweet jump".

As every Roadie knows: The proper way to crash on your bike is to keep your feet locked to the pedals, your butt on the seat and your hands on the handle bar. This will protect your bike as your legs, shoulders and head will absorb most of the impact saving your $15 hanger from damage.

No need to shift.

Yeah, I guess they're putting artificial intelligence in cars now.

I can relate to the OP b/c I got my start riding fixie bikes in college about 15 years ago.

Ryan, your sentiments are absolutely correct given your perspective. There's no other way around it. Having said that, once you get used to some basic storage and handling type guidelines, it really isn't too bad and you should be able to get by without an excessive amount of damage. You should try also try to crash or "bail" the bike less, not trying to be rude but it just seems to happen more often than I'd expect. Lastly, learning some routine maintenance will help avoid unnecessary expenses and trips to the shop.

Cheers,
Tmonk

I agree with the OP.

And by the way: Hondas are weak AF, too. We were once driving in ours and got rear-ended by a large sedan travelling at about 45mph -- and our Honda wasn't even driveable afterwards! Tsk, tsk.