shuru421

I literally flopped over like a book trying to unclip, INFRONT of my house as my ride had just finished..
Luckily, I fell onto the grass but still paranoid as this is a very special bike to me. So whats the checklist in ensuring a frame is still straight?

Initially, I got off and checked the frame for any damage, the rear derailleur, the cranks and out of all of the parts (and body parts) only the bartape on the drops (drive side) had a small scratch(tear) and my knee and elbows came out with some scratches. I guess its my paranoia, but can shock from a fall like that affect my stem in which results in damage to the frame from the inside (head tube) or out etc.? Its a quill stem, threaded fork. Thank you.

noodle soup

Ride it. Does it pull to one side?

I doubt anything is damaged from a fall like that, but be careful when shifting into the largest cog.

Jon T

I did that same thing on my vintage '84 Peugeot (original owner, btw) about 6 months ago. Ran out of seam trying to get my foot into the cage and literally just fell over. Luckily it was the non-drive side. Small scuff on the brake lever and seat edge and the obligatory knee and elbow gash. The bike was/is fine and I hit the tarmac, not a soft landing as you experienced. My gut tells me that your bike is fine and you're stressing over a non-issue.
Jon

Abe_Froman

Quill stem so I assume steel frame...I'd worry about your scrapes getting infected far more than the frame. Get out the H2O2 before you start thinking about a frame x-ray...

TrojanHorse

Put the bike in a workstand (or get somebody to hold the seat up for you) and run through all the gears. If the gears shift, nothing's rubbing... you're probably OK.

I mean, you tipped over - you didn't endo over a cliff. It happens.

cthenn

Bikes are tougher than a drop like that, onto grass...the parts attached may get out of whack a little bit (rear derailleur, shifter, etc), but unless you fell with the full force of your body weight on the middle of the top tube, I doubt you did any damage to the actual frame.

Maelochs

You have to strip the frame, first---take off every part bolted to it.

Then, using an angle grinder or an industrial bandsaw if you can get one, saw the frame in half lengthwise.

Lay the two halves out on a sheet of cardboard. Put tracing paper under one half.

Trace both frame halves, then lay the tracing paper over the outline on the cardboard.

You should only see one line.

Maelochs

Seriously, if your bike were fragile enough that the frame would bend from a simple clip-fall, it wouldn't be safe to ride.

Maybe sure the saddle is in line and the brifters are angled right, and go do a clip-fall Properly .... in front of a crowd.

colombo357

It's probably toast.

RGMN

If you really think you bent the frame do a simple alignment check. Remove the rear wheel, take a string and run it out one dropout, around the head tube, then back to the dropout on the other side. Pull the string tight, and then measure from the string to the seat tube on both sides. These measurements should be identical. If they aren’t you bent the frame.

jordanair45

Mmmm. OP, you're proabably fine. Bike is ok! Fell on grass, Speed approaching 0. You hit the ground, bike used you as a pillow.

yamsyamsyams

GeneO 

Sounds like you flopped over on the drive side. Your body probably prevented the rear derailleur hanger form bending - have you checked that it shifts OK? If it doesn't then the hanger can be replaced.
I doubt it did any other damage, your bod probably protected it

Maelochs

That's my thought. Replace the bike and rider immediately. Both are likely damaged internally and invisibly in ways which could lead to catastrophic failure in the next hundred years or so.

1500SLR

As others have said, that kind of tip over where your shoulder cushions the fall is more likely to be a bruise of your ego than your bike. Just don't make a habit of doing it.

mpath

LOL...been there, done that!

Brandonyatessr

Good exuse for a new bike... Put your "special" bike on your living room wall lol