Serotta-S2K

Last weekend I was on ride with two riders, at about the 30 mile mark one of the riders caused myself and him to both crash.

The other rider was looking to see if a oncoming truck was yielding to us as the three of us were making a left turn. He was not paying attention to his line and came right across my front wheel causing us both to go over the bars. We both got up, I left with a bunch of bruises and sore body for a week. The other rider thought he may have broken his collar bone, but luckily sustained no injury.

I dropped the bike off at the shop for repairs, immediately I knew the right shifter would have to be replaced but figured all was OK. Today the shop called and said my carbon fork has a crack in it on the steerer tube. Repairs for the right Ultegra shifter, new fork , cables , bar tape and labor now total over $400 .

My question is do I inform the other rider of the costs and ask for money for the damages.

Not trying to start a flame war just looking for some friendly advice, as this is my first crash.

Thanks in Advance.

dekalbSTEEL

How well do you know him? Were you riding side by side going through a turn? Or single file? What's the deductible on your homeowner's policy?

rcyclist68

Is this rider a friend? He might not be any longer if you bring it up. Accidents happen, just be thankful everyone is okay.

Serotta-S2K

First ride with him. I was behind him on the turn. $500 deductible

cmcenroe

Uhhh, if someone cut me off and caused me to crash my car resulting in damages that cost me monye, I would hold them financially responsible. In the same regard, if someone hit me while on my bike and cost me bucks, I would make them pay for it.

Grasschopper

Is this a friend of yours? Regular riding buddy? Do you want the person to stay that way? I wouldn't expect the other person to pay for it but that is just me. Sure it was his fault (the way you describe it) but in reality it is only $400 vs a friendship. If it were me I might rib the guy a bit about it on our next ride...fit it in some how...."yea I just got the new fork because the other one cracked when we went down the other week. Can you believe I had to pay $400...yadda yadda yadda." Maybe the guy offers to pay for it maybe not.

Sprocket Man

If he accepts responsibility, ask to be reimbursed. If not, eat the costs. What kind of bicycle damages did the other guy sustain?

fastbub

s**t happens man, we chose to participate in this sport, and ride inchs fom each other at 30 mph, it happens sometimes, I would never dream of expecting another rider to pay for my junk, if someone claimed fault and wanted to help me out......cool, but I would feel like a tool asking for money

Serotta-S2K

I rode with his friend before but never with the guy who caused the crash.


He did offer to pay right after the crash, but I was more concerned with any possible injuries.

rcyclist68

Well, if he offered to pay, just bring him the receipt.

C4Byke

I would say it's a sad situation all around, first I would see about a warrantee on that fork. Unfortunately your probably going to have to pick up the tab yourself, now if I were the other guy I would have said I'm paying for the damages even before I got up off the ground if it was my fault. These things happen, thats just the price of riding with others, but lest you forget you weren't paying good enough attn either or you wouldn't have allowed him to cross your wheel. My best friend totaled both of our cars back in HS, it was his fault but I didn't make him pay me for it because he had a totaled car to deal with as well. You'll forget about the price of repairs sooner than later and you'll still have a riding buddy. I say, use it as a learning experiance and don't put yourself in a compromising situation with a poor bike handler next time. Hope all works out

Sprocket Man

You should have stated that in your original post. Go get your money!

Grasschopper

Did you tell him not to worry about it? If not then take him up on the offer if you are concerned. I probably wouldn't bother unless the guy did something really stupid or intentional.

fholt

I would think that if I take crash damage in a group ride, that I'd eat the cost, unless there was some blatant negligence that caused the mishap. If it was an accident, then that's what it was.

However, I can't help but wonder in your description of the incident, that you said that the other rider was looking to see if a truck was yielding as you were all turning. What is it that you were looking at? The truck? The other rider? How is it that you're feeling completely blame-free? There are usually several chances to avoid an accident. Were they all on the other guy?

roadfix

I wouldn't expect for him to pay in the first place but if he offered to pay, show him your repair costs and offer him to split the cost with you......that's what I would do....

aham23

i was thinking the same thing about "looking." why were you not keeping a proper lookout for traffic? anyway, i think its a risk of group riding and unless sever negligence occurs i would eat the cost. later.

C4Byke

I thought there was some unwritten rule that once you join a group ride, its at your own peril. If the cyclist pulling the train fails to spot a piece of glass and somebody flats, does he pay for the persons new tube? does he have to change the tube for the other rider? Nobodies perfect, he's just unlucky because he made a mistake when there were people around him. All I'm saying is that if it was obviously my fault I would pay you just because I wouldn't be able to look you in the eye otherwise, but it's far from expected behavior for you to expect him to pay because you percieve that it was his fault. If you were directly behind him, there would have been no possibility of crossed wheels, if you were riding three abreast while atempting to turn it's all three of your faults. If your front tire was next to his rear tire before they crossed, it's probably your fault. see what I mean?

Skuda25

It is your fault. Basic and obvious rule about racing, pace lines or pack rinding - do not overlap wheels. If your front wheel was not overlapping his back wheel, you would not have fallen.

Mariner Fan

I would pay for my own repairs unless he offers. It's true that **** happens and I'm sure he didn't mean to wreck you.

popeye

Suck it up, stuff happens. He can't see you behind him, if you overlap bad things can
happen. I wear the scars myself.

RoboCheme

I would factor in the ability of this guy to pay for your repairs. If he's a starving student or if he's got five kids and works at Kmart, then forget about it. He may have offered to pay just to be polite, but he didn't factor in that it could be hundreds of bucks.

blonduathlongrl

To me it depends on what etiquette you put on a friendship.. you know of the risqs you take when you ride and you know of the ones you also take when you ride in groups.. would i make my friend buy me new running shoes and shorts because she tripped me by accident while running a marathon that I decided to experience with her? To me, the answer is no..

MacMan

Which part of "He was not paying attention to his line and came right across my front wheel causing us both to go over the bars" didn't you understand?

Louis

Whenever I ride in tight with a group I know I'm taking a risk and I'm willing to suck it up, if need be. This kind of stuff is going to happen...it's the nature of the beast.

These days I'm very discerning about whom I ride elbow to elbow with. I've learned to spot a "squirrel" early in the ride and stay out of the danger zone.

I wouldn't pursue the matter. If he crams $400 in your pocket...well thats different; be sure to buy him a beer.

Glad neither of you was seriously injured.

LowCel 

I had a similar situation a few months ago. Two riders in front of me managed to lock handlebars which resulted in me going down as well. It sucked, four of us suffered damages to our bikes and a few minor injuries. However we all understood that we were responsible for our own bikes. To me unless someone deliberately takes me down I am responsible for my expenses. It's like someone else said above, kind of an unwritten rule of group riding.

Also, to me it is the rider in the rears responsibility to keep his wheel from overlapping the front riders. When I am in the front I have no control over where the rider behind me is, same as in a car.