I had my first bike crash, I didn’t hit anything but the road when I was riding at about 48Km/h. I was too close to the side of the road and a very strong and impulsive wind tossed me a few inches to the side, enough for going off-road and losing control. My bike and I traveled a good 6 meter on the pavement together (Horizontally this time!). I am so glad I was wearing arm and knee armor, they were the heroes of the day as they totally sacrificed themselves for saving me a lot of skin!!. (I still have a pretty big wound on my hip and my calf).
I need advice about my bike. It is a pretty new bike (Cervelo Dual). It looks to be fine except a deep but small scratch on the aerobar. If by any chance I figured out that some parts are not the same as before, what is the procedure of asking Cervelo for replacement ?
Can anybody suggest me any bike daignosis routine , so I can make sure that everything is tuned and in order without shelling out 40$ to the LBS?
The biggest loss is my favorite Shorts and Jersey. They are no where as snazzy as they were and specially the jersey is torn on some places
PS: I really wish I had shaved those legs! I am gonna do that religiosly from now on.
PS PS: I didn’t have cell phone or credit card, I think I would have used them and now I think I am glad I didn’t because I was more paniced than anything esle.
PS PS PS: If I had been driving on that road out of nowhere and I had seen a cyclist on the side of the road in a condition similar to mine (torn clothes, …) I would have botthered to stop for a sec and offer some help (at least some water to wash off the wounds, I only had gatorade ).
If you don’t know what you’re looking for in terms of damage head to the LBS, they should at least look at it for free. Otherwise, check wheels are true, derailleur hanger straight, shifting works, brakes work, check every bit of frame for cracks, bars and saddle straight. And check your helmet.
Welcome to the world of being a cyclist, because you know there are two kinds of cyclist, one who have crashed and one that are going to crash.
*Now to you bike. *
*That should be pretty easy if the wheels still go around and pass through your brakes they should be fine( I take it you rode home) *
*If the bike still rides strait with no hands the frame should be fine. *
But you can take the wheels off the bike and squeeze the fork just a bit at the drop out’s and look for any cracks, do the same with the rear of the bike and look for cracks at the bottom bracket and seat/top tube junction.
*You said you and your bike slid together so that would tell me that you did not slam down to hard. And since you did not run right in to something you should be fine. *
A bike is a very strong item and it takes a lot to break of even bend the frame.
So just do a really good once over and give it a test ride.
