Rkman

Hey guys, just had my first major crash on a bike. I was cycling at 20-30 mph on a 2 mile trail, and I was out of the saddle pedalling. All of a sudden, the bike locked up and I flew over the handlebars. I landed on my wrists and I broke one wrist and skinned the other. I was wearing a helmet luckily. Kinda sucks since I am 14 and currently taking a course to skip algebra 2 honors over the summer. Does anyone have any insight on what caused the crash? The bike is a specialized allez sport and when I got up and looked at it the chain had come off and the rubber hoods were torn.the place I was cycling had a smooth road with no debris on it. I am asking cause I suspect the shop where I bought the bike might have incorrectly set the limit screws on the FD, since the bike is only around 2 weeks old
Thanks for any insight

u235

Is the rear derailleur twisted up and jammed into the spokes? A chain getting jammed between big and FD would cause that to. I've had both happen but luckily was just putting around. Were you changing gears at the time? Swinging around in your out of saddle, bump (you say smooth road, asking anyway)? PICS?

rubiksoval

Bummer about the crash. If you broke your wrist, how are you typing this stuff out? And why?

20-30 mph?

Do you actually know what the limit screws do? Especially on the FD? For a bike to lock up and you to go over the bars would mean the front wheel locking up. Rear wheel locking up will just cause you to skid.

Chain coming off and all is likely a result of the crash, not the cause (same for hoods).I mean, you could jump gears I guess, which may cause you to lurch, but you'd have to be pretty unbalanced to go over the bars from it. No way for anyone to know. Chalk it up to stuff happens and try to be more cognizant of your body position and weight distribution on the bike.. Without anyone actually seeing it it's all a guess.

Doohickie

Squirrel!

CliffordK

I'd look at your front wheel, fork, and spokes carefully.

Anything bent or cracked on the back side of the fork? Any spokes bent? Is the wheel still true?

It is possible you picked up some debris that spun around and locked up the wheel. It can make for some spectacular crashes.

Also, did you hit your head? Do you remember the accident well? Were you riding with someone?

Riding forward and standing can be a relatively unstable place to be riding. Simply hitting the front brake hard can send you flying.

CliffordK

Oh, and take care of the hand. Heal quickly, and good luck with the summer classes.

DiabloScott

Yeah, this. You might crash on a rear wheel lockup, but very unlikely to go over the bars.

So what can make the front lock up? It's pretty rare. Something jammed into the spokes; the wheel folded or came out of the dropouts; the frame broke. I've also seen people pull their stems off the head tube and the wheel flopped sideways.

u235

I assume "flew over the bars" was not literally. Any wipeout can put you slightly off to the side and on a trajectory from a first persons perspective be considered flying forward and scraping to a stop in front of the bike. I doubt he.she actually knows the real path they took. Maybe I read too much or not enough into that statement. I've watched enough youtube crash compilations that seem to show that

CliffordK

Oh, one other thing to look for. Return to the scene of the accident and look for road cracks (deep and wide). They can eat up a front wheel quickly and throw down a cyclist. Parallel storm sewer grates?

What is a "trail"? I'm assuming paved bike/multi-use path as this is the road forum, plus your speed.

Was the riding in the daylight? Well lit area? Shadows?

mercator

Sadly, I have first hand experience with going over the bars with a rear wheel lockup.
Like the OP, I was standing and hammering when the rear wheel pulled out of the semi-horizontal dropouts.
I assume my speed coupled with the high center of gravity led to the end result.
Make sure those QRs are tight y'all.

canklecat

Might have been a Tank Possum. You know how vicious those beasts are around bicycles.



The dreaded Tank Possum.

Maelochs

Few weeks back a riding partner had his front wheel torque sideways and jam against the fork ... I assume he bumped his QR lever while taking the bike out of his car or at some point before rolling out. First time he really hit the brakes hard, he nearly wrecked us both.

One thing an old MTB racer told me ... always check before riding. Shake the bike, shake the wheels, squeeze the tires ... test the stuff that might loosen. Seems silly except for that 1-in-100 time you find the headset is loose or whatever ... and you realize that you missed an opportunity to do serious damage to the bike and maybe yourself.

Doohickie

I've gone directly over the bars myself. It's not that hard if your front wheel stops dead.

Iride01 

IMO, take your bike with you when you crash. Don't let go and just go flying off like Superman with out stretched arms because you will likely break something as you found out.

Staying with the bike is one of the main things I think has kept me from getting anything more than an abrasion or nursing a sore hip or shoulder for a week.

motosonic

I just had my first 'major' crash on 6/11.. I went down on a downhill going 30+ mph, but I was not as lucky as you....I broke ribs, my clavicle and scapula.. as well as collapsed my left lung... I was taken away in an ambulance. Thank goodness I was in a group ride when it happened. Consider yourself lucky. I'm pretty sure i hit a crack just wide enough to torque my front wheel and throw me. It can happen pretty easily..but lack of regular/proper maintenance can be a major cause.. so make sure to get your bike checked up regularly and you can lower your chances. I lost my poor Wilier Cento1 in that crash. Remember any crash you walk or ride away from is a blessing. I'll be healing for a while. Get yourself looked at and heal up quick. I once had a minor crash that tore a ligament in my thumb and I thought it was just 'bruised'.

Shuffleman

noodle soup

I didn’t want to be the first to say this, but I guess no one else is going to.

You didn’t have a major wreck.

I’m glad you didn’t experience a major wreck. Major wrecks are awful. I’m glad you didn’t have one.

chainwhip

1) the kid is 14.
2) his arm is broken.
3) his bike likely had some major damage...
(Forgotten what your first good bike cost you?)
4) his summer plans are substantially altered, and probably impaired.

So your 'major' and his dont match up.
Kinda sad.

CliffordK

We can argue definitions if one wishes. Ending up in the ER after a crash and returning home with a cast or splint is "Major" It could have been worse, and thankfully it wasn't (we hope).

It still is worth analyzing what happened so hopefully it can be prevented next time.

SLOW DOWN? Consider rider position & bike balance?

There have been quite a few suggestions of things to consider. Hopefully the OP has had a chance to look at a few things, although, if the bike was disassembled for transport or something, then some valuable data may be lost. Photos at the scene?

The bike is nearly brand new, so there is the temptation to lay the blame on the shop. But, there is also a mix of shop vs rider responsibility. A loose rear wheel could potentially be blamed on the shop, unless the OP removed and re-installed it after purchasing the bike.

BTW: Quick Releases are being used properly, right? Turn it with the QR open until finger tight, then flip the lever to lock (using about as tight as one can get it). Adjust the nut until flipping the lever gets it quite tight.

Rkman

I think something got between the spoke and the fork cause when I looked at the bike, there is only a bent spoke and some paint chip on the fork in addition to completely tearing up the hoods as damage

Rkman

it was a section of 2 miles of curvy new tarmac, all downhill at around a 2-3 percent gradient. Not many people know about it, which is great for me. I was riding at around 7:30 please, our sundown is at 8:30, so it was well lit

Rkman

i definitely agree, but looking back at it, it was my first crash so I kind of over emphsized it

Rkman

Its actually not that bad, I only have around 5 weeks for recovery and the only damage is that the brake hoods are torn up. My class is alright since I'm a right and can still take notes and do test s, since my left wrist is broken

Rkman

After looking at the bike, I'm pretty sure it isn't the shops fault, and besides the only damage was some scratches on the frame and levers and a destroyed brake hoods, so I'll probably cover it. The quick releases are alright, I always check them before I ride

CliffordK

It sounds like you may be narrowing it down if the bent front spoke and chip on the back of the fork line up.

It still is a bit odd, as I think one's wheels tend to toss stuff up behind you (so more of an issue if you are following someone or passing someone).

It may well be a fluke accident. But, still watch what you're running over, especially stuff that might flip around to bite you.