Ouch! FIrst crash.
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Hackney

Original Poster:

7,396 posts

234 months

Friday 17th May 2013
quotequote all
Begrudgingly I admit this is my fault.

I was following a car, an Astra - I'd only just set off from a standing start after a police car had gone past - when someone pulled out in front of the Astra. The Astra did an emergency stop. I didn't. Or couldn't in time and hit the back.

Somehow I stayed upright but my chin hit the back window, the bike hit the bumper and my shin hit the pedal. Not too badly hurt but the jaw is sore.

The bike on the other hand is fooked. Ribble Evo Pro Carbon and there is considerable damage where the headtube meets the top tube. So I'm thinking the frame is a write off.

However, the components look undamaged. The front wheel needs a closer look and the back wheel bearing was on its way out so I'm thinking I might see if I can get a Ribble R872 frame and forks, some new wheels on the cycle to work scheme and transfer the other components over.

So the silver lining to a learned-a-valuable-lesson cloud could be a shiny new bike. Fingers crossed.

JEA1K

2,710 posts

249 months

Friday 17th May 2013
quotequote all
Hackney said:
Begrudgingly I admit this is my fault.

I was following a car, an Astra - I'd only just set off from a standing start after a police car had gone past - when someone pulled out in front of the Astra. The Astra did an emergency stop. I didn't. Or couldn't in time and hit the back.

Somehow I stayed upright but my chin hit the back window, the bike hit the bumper and my shin hit the pedal. Not too badly hurt but the jaw is sore.

The bike on the other hand is fooked. Ribble Evo Pro Carbon and there is considerable damage where the headtube meets the top tube. So I'm thinking the frame is a write off.

However, the components look undamaged. The front wheel needs a closer look and the back wheel bearing was on its way out so I'm thinking I might see if I can get a Ribble R872 frame and forks, some new wheels on the cycle to work scheme and transfer the other components over.

So the silver lining to a learned-a-valuable-lesson cloud could be a shiny new bike. Fingers crossed.
Ouch, not good but at least your not more seriously injured. As you say, new bike time is the silver lining.smile

Benrad

655 posts

175 months

Saturday 18th May 2013
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Glad you're ok, any damage to the car and are you third party insured?

Hackney

Original Poster:

7,396 posts

234 months

Sunday 19th May 2013
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I have third party cover through British Cycling but I don't think it will be needed.
There didn't appear to be any damage to the car but I can't be certain as, after a few seconds, he drove off. I didn't get his reg and he certainly didn't get my details.

Called my insurance co (home contents not British Cycling) and claimed for the bike, however they told me a company called Wheelies would contact me. They did, by text. So I called them and sat on hold for over an hour. Their "press 0 to leave a message" didn't work. When I called back I got a different message saying they closed at 1pm on Saturday - I'd called just before 1pm - which was a bit annoying.

So I'll call them tomorrow to find out what's what. Frame / fork and front wheel certainly need replacing but it will depend whether they pay for complete bike (and gloves as they got ripped) or just the specific parts that were broken.

Anyone dealt with this Wheelies before?

Hackney

Original Poster:

7,396 posts

234 months

Sunday 19th May 2013
quotequote all
Potentially the most annoying thing about this is the call I'd made the evening before.
I bought the bike in March 2012 partly using some money my gran had given me for my birthday / Christmas.

Having had a good ride at the weekend and a thoroughly enjoyable commute home - I do love putting a lot of effort in when I'm nearly home - I decided to give my gran a call. I thanked her again for the money and how I really loved the bike she'd helped me to buy etc etc.

10 minutes after the call my mum sent me a text saying she'd spoken to my gran and she'd been really surprised by the call and it made her day.

Then, 12 hours later I smash it up.

bangheadbangheadbangheadbangheadbangheadbanghead

Jon999

400 posts

174 months

Sunday 19th May 2013
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anonymous said:
[redacted]
Maybe he wasn't aware?

A while ago a scooter crashed into the back of us in a 4x4 when we had to slow in a similar situation. Noise sounded like a suitcase fell over. Dad thought nothing of it til we pulled away and saw the scooter / young lad on the floor in the mirrors.

Was a lesson for the lad as it was for the OP. Good job it was a 4x4 we were in as he hit the spare wheel on the back rather than smashing his head through the rear screen.

Hackney

Original Poster:

7,396 posts

234 months

Sunday 19th May 2013
quotequote all
I'm pretty sure he was aware - it was quite a whack - and he did stop for a few seconds. There was nothing in front of him so it wasn't like he was held up from moving straight away.

I hadn't thought about his responsibility to stop, technically I was injured. Yesterday morning was when the pain really set in though. Pain in my back, presumably where the seat hit me; jaw aches on the right where it hit the window and on the left due to the sharp whack.
And my right shoulder which I think took quite a whack.

Nothing broken or worthy of a hospital visit though. Although at the time if there'd been an A&E I'd have probably gone in for a once over.

AyBee

11,257 posts

228 months

Monday 20th May 2013
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anonymous said:
[redacted]
Although he technically committed an offence, the OP has admitted it was his fault so short of checking whether the OP was ok, I'm not sure he did anything wrong. He won't be able to claim for any damage from the OP because he didn't stop to get his details but that's his problem.

AyBee

11,257 posts

228 months

Monday 20th May 2013
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anonymous said:
[redacted]
I understand that and if there was a dispute about who was at fault, I'd be fully with you, but as far as I can see, the only thing the car has done is waived his rights to claiming anything from the OP (which is quite possibly in the OP's interest) so if I was the OP, I wouldn't be too peeved about the car not stopping.

Hackney

Original Poster:

7,396 posts

234 months

Monday 20th May 2013
quotequote all
Only peeved with myself.

And peeved at having no bike for however long it takes to sort out.

Took photos today for insurer. Frame definitely broken.
Wheel seems ok frown
Handlebars very bent, didn't even notice that until today (although I haven't seen the bike since Friday)
A few scratches on the forks and some movement inside the headset.

Hoping frame / forks and now bars are definitely replaced (or cash to choose different frame)

AyBee

11,257 posts

228 months

Tuesday 21st May 2013
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Hackney said:
Only peeved with myself.

And peeved at having no bike for however long it takes to sort out.

Took photos today for insurer. Frame definitely broken.
Wheel seems ok frown
Handlebars very bent, didn't even notice that until today (although I haven't seen the bike since Friday)
A few scratches on the forks and some movement inside the headset.

Hoping frame / forks and now bars are definitely replaced (or cash to choose different frame)
Definitely worth sending it to your LBS (if they're any good) for a check up. You don't want to not claim for a wheel only to find you missed the bent axle or something.

Hackney

Original Poster:

7,396 posts

234 months

Tuesday 21st May 2013
quotequote all
Taken in today.

Although the guy at the shop couldn't believe I got a full carbon framed bike for £850 (it's a Ribble)

Rather usefully he's going to write up a list of parts required and also quote me for building a bike (ie moving parts which are usable to the new bike) £150. Pick it up tomorrow.

No word from insurance co. yet.

Soop Dogg

411 posts

261 months

Wednesday 22nd May 2013
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AyBee said:
as far as I can see, the only thing the car has done is waived his rights to claiming anything from the OP (which is quite possibly in the OP's interest) so if I was the OP, I wouldn't be too peeved about the car not stopping.
As a point of law (rather than a point of opinion - which incidentally is what a court would use in making a ruling on the matter), the driver of the car, whether at fault or not, committed the offence of failing to stop at the scene of a road traffic collision. Even in a damage-only collision, all parties are required to exchange names and addresses. (Insurance details only being required in the case of an injury)

Even if we exclude the moral 'obligations' of the driver, he did in fact do something wrong in the eyes of the law.

AyBee

11,257 posts

228 months

Wednesday 22nd May 2013
quotequote all
Soop Dogg said:
AyBee said:
as far as I can see, the only thing the car has done is waived his rights to claiming anything from the OP (which is quite possibly in the OP's interest) so if I was the OP, I wouldn't be too peeved about the car not stopping.
As a point of law (rather than a point of opinion - which incidentally is what a court would use in making a ruling on the matter), the driver of the car, whether at fault or not, committed the offence of failing to stop at the scene of a road traffic collision. Even in a damage-only collision, all parties are required to exchange names and addresses. (Insurance details only being required in the case of an injury)

Even if we exclude the moral 'obligations' of the driver, he did in fact do something wrong in the eyes of the law.
I fully understand that, I'm just saying that as the OP, I wouldn't have worried myself about whether he was hanging around or not if I was ok and it was my fault. There is absolutely nothing that's going to happen differently in this case if the OP has the driver's details.

Johnnytheboy

24,499 posts

212 months

Wednesday 22nd May 2013
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On the other hand, as the driver didn't get out and see if his car was damaged, the OP has had a lucky escape, as I assume he'd be considered liable?

AyBee

11,257 posts

228 months

Wednesday 22nd May 2013
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anonymous said:
[redacted]
I haven't missed it, you're assuming the driver knew he'd been hit (I suspect it didn't because I doubt there are many people who would drive off from a bike hitting them without at least checking the car for damage). I'm merely stating that the OP is actually lucky he's not being pursued by the car driver for damage to the car and therefore shouldn't be annoyed that it drove off.

Hackney

Original Poster:

7,396 posts

234 months

Thursday 23rd May 2013
quotequote all
Phew.

The driver stopped - I believe for long enough to at least wonder what had happened. He probably saw me in his rear view mirror (still standing) and looking stunned / embarassed and thought the loud bang was nothing to worry about.

However, he didn't get out of the car to inspect the damage or check on me. Neither of those things bother me to be honest. Nothing he could do about my injuries, he couldn't even give me a lift anywhere if he'd wanted to. He could have inspected the car for damage though. I didn't look in detail, but given the state of the bike I'd expect some paint damage at least.

My first call was to British Cycling - as a member I have insurance. I wanted to check if bike damage is covered (it isn't) but it also gave me peace of mind regarding any claim he may have had.
Firstly, without my details he'd have a hell of a job making a claim.
Secondly, if he did, I'm covered.
Thirdly, short of issuing an APB I did enough to check I'd done nothing wrong in the eyes of the law. If he'd stopped I could have given my details and I would also have taken photos.

At the time I didn't get his reg no. as I was getting my self together.

MrChips

3,299 posts

236 months

Thursday 23rd May 2013
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I claimed on home insurance for my stolen bike and details sent to Wheelies.... And it was actually really good service. They gave the insurance co a big discount so I got around 20% off the bike, plus a lifetime discount on parts and accessories.
Bike arrived well packaged and I checked it over and it had been built up fairly well.
They can supply most makes/brands even if they're not on their site (although you might lose the discounted rate)

Hackney

Original Poster:

7,396 posts

234 months

Saturday 25th May 2013
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Experience of Wheelies has not been good.

Phoned on Saturday: on hold for an hour. "press 0 to leave a message" didn't work.
Hung up and called back to get the "our office is now closed" message.

Spoke to someone on Monday and gave details, he requested photos.
Monday PM emailed photos and details of what happened.

Thursday morning: called, on hold for a while before going to reception. Told they'll email handlers to call me. Called again Thursday afternoon, same process.

Friday morning: called, spoke to a receptionist after going through same process. I told her that no-one had called me back since yesterday and that it was difficult for me to take calls hence me calling them....at *my* convenience, however I could probably answer between 11:00 and 11:30. No call.
Friday afternoon: called again. No answer from handlers so diverted to reception. Told her to tell her superiors they need more handlers.

anonymous-user

80 months

Sunday 26th May 2013
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Hackney said:
Taken in today.
Although the guy at the shop couldn't believe I got a full carbon framed bike for £850 (it's a Ribble)
Strange, 9 out of 10 cyclists know about the low priced Ribble etc etc bikes, but a guy in a shop who makes his living out of bikes, didn't know?!!