Collided with a little girl. How do I know if my bike is okay?
08-23-15, 11:49 PM
#1
Full Member
Thread Starter
Collided with a little girl. How do I know if my bike is okay?
So with my mountain bike, every time I went into the shop, they always said something needed to be fixed. Every single time. And it would cost hundreds. Seemed like each time my bike fell, it needed a fix. It could just be falling off the stand from the wind.
Now on my 4th ride with my road bike, I collided with a little girl. She turned right into me. She was only like 50 pounds. The crazy thing was she wasn't hurt. She might have been pushed back a couple of inches. I flew down a 5 foot hill to the right, while my bike fell over on its side right where the collision occurred. I feel I'm very lucky, also because she could have been hurt bad. I couldn't believe that she wasn't hurt.
Now I have to be super careful when people are around, especially little kids. That may have been her first time on a bike. Now granted, I was only going about 5 mph.
Do I assume my bike is messed up? I went out and rode it 20 miles after that and everything seemed fine. But based on my experience with my last bike, every time it fell, no matter how soft of a fall, it needed a tune up.
Also, how the hell do you avoid people on the trails? Sometimes they aren't looking and just all over the place. Makes me upset a lot. They can at least look.
Now on my 4th ride with my road bike, I collided with a little girl. She turned right into me. She was only like 50 pounds. The crazy thing was she wasn't hurt. She might have been pushed back a couple of inches. I flew down a 5 foot hill to the right, while my bike fell over on its side right where the collision occurred. I feel I'm very lucky, also because she could have been hurt bad. I couldn't believe that she wasn't hurt.
Now I have to be super careful when people are around, especially little kids. That may have been her first time on a bike. Now granted, I was only going about 5 mph.
Do I assume my bike is messed up? I went out and rode it 20 miles after that and everything seemed fine. But based on my experience with my last bike, every time it fell, no matter how soft of a fall, it needed a tune up.
Also, how the hell do you avoid people on the trails? Sometimes they aren't looking and just all over the place. Makes me upset a lot. They can at least look.
08-24-15, 12:12 AM
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 289
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
For others I'll say something else but for you I'll say try this lol:
VR Cycling Simulator
VR Cycling Simulator
08-24-15, 12:26 AM
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Down Under
Posts: 1,936
Bikes: A steel framed 26" off road tourer from a manufacturer who thinks they are cool. Giant Anthem. Trek 720 Multiroad pub bike. 10 kids bikes all under 20". Assorted waifs and unfinished projects.
Mentioned: 11 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1188 Post(s)
Liked 1,154 Times
in
640 Posts
I'd be changing bike shops....
08-24-15, 12:36 AM
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Eugene, Oregon, USA
Posts: 27,547
Mentioned: 217 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 18349 Post(s)
Liked 4,501 Times
in
3,346 Posts
I slow to walking pace whenever I approach a pedestrian from behind. Then I'll simply holler "Hello". Perhaps a bell would be a good attention getter too. I don't really care if they move right or left, I just go wherever they open up a hole for me. I also pay close attention to the kids.
I did almost run into a 4 yr old.... a few months ago. Well, more like he almost ran into me, as I already had my foot on the ground by the time we had a near miss.
As far as your bike. Learn to take care of the basics yourself. If it shifts through all the gears ok, and the wheels spin true, then it is probably ok. Make sure the rear derailleur cage is vertical, and there is no tendency for the derailleur to shift into or touch the spokes.
I did almost run into a 4 yr old.... a few months ago. Well, more like he almost ran into me, as I already had my foot on the ground by the time we had a near miss.
As far as your bike. Learn to take care of the basics yourself. If it shifts through all the gears ok, and the wheels spin true, then it is probably ok. Make sure the rear derailleur cage is vertical, and there is no tendency for the derailleur to shift into or touch the spokes.
08-24-15, 04:54 AM
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,207
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 138 Post(s)
Liked 16 Times
in
13 Posts
Learning basic bike maintenance can be fun. Park Tool, Art's Cyclery and GCN (Global Cycling Network) have step by step videos for free (check out YouTube). Lennard Zinn has one of the standard books.
08-24-15, 04:56 AM
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 4,286
Mentioned: 21 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1096 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Easy: avoid the trails, and you'll avoid all the people on them!
Seriously, someone else was talking about being afraid of cars. Personally, I dread riding on busy paths - the chance of a mishap is far greater, unless one wants to ride at a jogging pace, and frankly, that's not always easy.
Seriously, someone else was talking about being afraid of cars. Personally, I dread riding on busy paths - the chance of a mishap is far greater, unless one wants to ride at a jogging pace, and frankly, that's not always easy.
08-24-15, 05:36 AM
#9
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 28,682
Bikes: 1990 Romic Reynolds 531 custom build, Merlin Works CR Ti custom build, super light Workswell 066 custom build
Mentioned: 109 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6556 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 58 Times
in
36 Posts
08-24-15, 05:37 AM
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 28,682
Bikes: 1990 Romic Reynolds 531 custom build, Merlin Works CR Ti custom build, super light Workswell 066 custom build
Mentioned: 109 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6556 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 58 Times
in
36 Posts
08-24-15, 05:53 AM
#11
Senior Member
A couple of baseball cards attached using a carbon fibre clothespin (we need to counter the weight of the cards) should generate enough noise to ward off any potential crashes with 5 year old little Freds.
08-24-15, 07:01 AM
#13
I'm doing it wrong.
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 4,875
Bikes: Rivendell Appaloosa, Rivendell Frank Jones Sr., Trek Fuel EX9, Kona Jake the Snake CR, Niner Sir9
Mentioned: 85 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 9742 Post(s)
Liked 2,812 Times
in
1,664 Posts
One, get a new bike shop...they are screwing you.
Two, learn to maintain your own bike...super easy.
Three, if the bike is riding fine, it's probably fine.
Two, learn to maintain your own bike...super easy.
Three, if the bike is riding fine, it's probably fine.
08-24-15, 07:04 AM
#14
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: LF, APMAT
Posts: 2,752
Mentioned: 13 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 623 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 397 Times
in
226 Posts
You really can't let your guard down anywhere. I've had plenty of peds step off the curb right in front of me while out on the road too.
08-24-15, 07:11 AM
#15
Tortoise Wins by a Hare!
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Looney Tunes, IL
Posts: 7,398
Bikes: Wabi Special FG, Raleigh Roper, Nashbar AL-1, Miyata One Hundred, '70 Schwinn Lemonator and More!!
Mentioned: 22 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1549 Post(s)
Liked 941 Times
in
504 Posts
Road bikes are even more flimsy than mountain bikes, it's quite likely your bike needs replacement. Take it to your shop and ask them just to be sure...
08-24-15, 07:36 AM
#16
FLIR Kitten to 0.05C
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Lincoln, Nebraska
Posts: 5,331
Bikes: Roadie: Seven Axiom Race Ti w/Chorus 11s. CX/Adventure: Carver Gravel Grinder w/ Di2
Mentioned: 30 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2349 Post(s)
Liked 406 Times
in
254 Posts
My favorites are the parents-dumber-than-a-bag-of-rocks who obliviously let their spawn wander every where to their left while they keep right...
08-24-15, 07:41 AM
#17
Señor Member
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 5,066
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 649 Post(s)
Liked 292 Times
in
215 Posts
Unless something directly hits a derailleur or snags a cable or other moving part, or if the wheels are out of true or the brakes rubbing, then I think your 20 mile ride was most likely an excellent diagnostic test. To paraphrase an old expression - if it ain't broke, it ain't broke.
08-24-15, 08:32 AM
#18
INSERT_TITLE_HERE
There was one family that nearly killed me twice yesterday. Just riding a long in front of me and 2 of them decided to stop suddenly and block the entire path... That's a good reason carry a frame pump, it make a handy beat down tool.
08-24-15, 09:51 AM
#20
Friendship is Magic
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Sacramento, CA
Posts: 22,983
Bikes: old ones
Mentioned: 304 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 26375 Post(s)
Liked 10,351 Times
in
7,190 Posts
.
...the rubberized stuff on the round things ought to be pointed downward toward the pavement. #ideally
...the rubberized stuff on the round things ought to be pointed downward toward the pavement. #ideally
__________________
08-24-15, 10:03 AM
#22
Senior Member
That's why it is also a good idea to have a brush guard on the front of your pickup for cyclists who block the road, "it make a handy beat down tool".
08-24-15, 10:10 AM
#23
ka maté ka maté ka ora
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: wessex
Posts: 4,423
Bikes: breezer venturi - red novo bosberg - red, pedal force cg1 - red, neuvation f-100 - da, devinci phantom - xt, miele piste - miche/campy, bianchi reparto corse sbx, concorde squadra tsx - da, miele team issue sl - ultegra
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 25 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times
in
3 Posts
please, get off your bike and walk it. you aren't competent to ride.
mup frequented by 5 yo girls aren't the place to take your road bike for anything quick. ride slowly. otherwise, ride on the ****ing road. it's a road bike you have right?
mup frequented by 5 yo girls aren't the place to take your road bike for anything quick. ride slowly. otherwise, ride on the ****ing road. it's a road bike you have right?
