Damage from hitting a height restriction barrier

[TheBALDpuma]

Yes I know I'm a complete idiot!! Let's move past that.

Anyway my son's bike got ripped off the roof having collided with the restriction - and it's damaged the front the frame. Luckily missing the forks!

Anyway here's a picture - do we think this is just cosmetic?

I'm going to give it a good wash and check everything over. Anything to look for?

[jfdi]

Ouch, that's took a fair wack. I'd be checking carefully for any cracks both around the headset and at the points the bike was secured to the car.

[TheBALDpuma]

Yeah - I'm a little concered that it could have deformed that part of the frame, but it does look okay other than the missing paint! I can't see any cracks there.

It was a Thule mount so one grabber on the down tube and then attached around the wheels. I think they're designed to fail in this scenario the downtube and wheel look okay but I will have a very close look when I get the bike clean!

[snotrag]

You'll need to have a good look at the down tube and top tube however - I think you've gotten away with that, looks a bit rough but thats all. The fact it het the headtube bang on is quite lucky really, it would have caused more damage getting tangled in the bars or hitting the fork crown or stantions.

[loskie]

It's NUKEPROOF.

It should be OK.

Sorry. I couldn't help myself.

Get a local bike shop to check it out. Otherwise you'll constantly worry about your son.

Edited by loskie on Friday 29th May 13:32

[oddman]

I'd have thought if the head tube was damaged this would affect the steerer tube headset assembly so if steerer is turning OK and headset bearings feel OK then I doubt much damage could have been transmitted to the rest of the frame. I'd ride if this and a basic visual check is OK.

Different though when it's your son so +1 for taking it in to a proper bike shop.

[boyse7en]

Get it checked.

My nephew has just come off a borrowed old MTB because one of the fork stanchions broke. It was obviously damaged previously and failed suddenly.

He's now got a broken collarbone and has had to have his ear sewn back on.

[POIDH]

I would be worried for all sorts, not just headtube damage you have shown. If this was ripped off, how was bike attached and to what. Every contact point with the rack and 'levers' between need checking. You really do need someone to give a very thorough bike check IMO.

That said, one of my lads has done more damage to frames by riding (and crashing) and we have ridden on..

[TheBALDpuma]

Thanks all - yeah I am going to give it a big clean at lunch time, a good look over, and then I'm taking it to my local bike shop for them to have a look too. Like others have said if it was mine I would be happy with a look over and how it felt.

My 5yo son on the otherhand - he took it for a little test last night after I'd put the gear and brake levers back in the right place just to see it if it felt right - he got distracted feeling for gear location and rode into the neighbors Audi. 10 inch scratch down the wing. FFS! Couldn't get cross at him though because it all stems from me being an idiot in the first place!

[LunarOne]

You're lucky if the damage was confined to the bikes. A friend of mine had bikes on the roof of his Honda Accord and went under a height restriction barrier. Aside from the damage to his bikes, the whole roof of the car ended up with a ripple and the C-pillars were twisted. He ended up selling the car to a friend who didn't care about the damage!

[TheBALDpuma]

LunarOne said:

You're lucky if the damage was confined to the bikes. A friend of mine had bikes on the roof of his Honda Accord and went under a height restriction barrier. Aside from the damage to his bikes, the whole roof of the car ended up with a ripple and the C-pillars were twisted. He ended up selling the car to a friend who didn't care about the damage!

There is some damage, some light cosmetic stuff and a dent in the bottom of the cant rail - need to get that I checked out too!

[Hugo Stiglitz]

I did the same on a moss covered RSJ. Brand new first ride Santa Cruz Blur4X. Just built by me.

It knocked the bike and rack clean off. I replaced the front brake hose and bent front rim and it was fantastic.

Have you rotated the bars, felt the headset for grouchy bearings? Bars at 90degrees, brakes on and rocked back and forth for play etc?

Ride it down a few local stairs yourself first before handing back

[TheBALDpuma]

It's comforting to know I'm in a large group of people to have done similar I read all a guy who admitted to doing it three times!

The bike has been checked over by a mechanic. He has had the forks out to check for deformation of the head tube and steerer, as well as a visual check all over. And it's been given the all clear. Thank fk! Got off pretty lightly I think.

I had some touch up paint for it anyway so I've done a few coats. Needs sanding down and polishing but that's a job for another day, we've got a pump track open day to go to tomorrow! It's not going to be perfect but it will be better than it was!

Hugo S... As much as I'd love to test it, my son is 5 and the bike is a 20" wheel so it's a little small to give it much of a ride! Haha

[RustyNissanPrairie]

I m an ex MXer and DHer and generally a heavy hitting fast rider that cracked a few frames before I retired . At the time I was regularly riding Antur Stiniog blacks and everything at Bike Park Wales. I cracked a Cannondale Jekyll on two rides at Antur. The Nukeproof frame I built up to replace the Jekyll had no issues and I absolutely beat the st out of that frame.

Yours will be fine. Id be more concerned with the state of the barrier than the Nukeproof