Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Advocacy & Safety
Reload this Page >

Destroyed a wheelset hitting a pothole in Los Angeles......

Notices
Advocacy & Safety Cyclists should expect and demand safe accommodation on every public road, just as do all other users. Discuss your bicycle advocacy and safety concerns here.

Destroyed a wheelset hitting a pothole in Los Angeles......

Old 05-06-19, 08:33 PM
  #26  
nervgs
Member
Thread Starter
 
nervgs's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 26

Bikes: Giant Defy Composite 0, Bridgestone RB-1 (and a spare unbuilt frame), Masi Gran Criterium & Prestige, Specialzed (3Rensho) Allez, KTM Strada SL aero (frame + fork), Freschi Super Criterium (frame + fork), a 50-60's era Follis (frame + fork)

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 9 Post(s)
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by f4rrest
You won't win unless you have a hospital bill and personal injury attorney.

Also, where do you commute? I'd like to avoid.
This commute is from Encino to Agoura Hills, which if you've ridden around there, would know that the only two ways of getting over the hill are Mulholland or Calabasas Rd to Mureau. Though I guess you can add PCH if you have a ton of time and want to climb more than usual for a commute.

Funny enough, I used to commute from Encino to Pasadena a ton last year, riding through your neck of the woods.

-glenn
nervgs is offline  
Old 05-06-19, 08:45 PM
  #27  
nervgs
Member
Thread Starter
 
nervgs's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 26

Bikes: Giant Defy Composite 0, Bridgestone RB-1 (and a spare unbuilt frame), Masi Gran Criterium & Prestige, Specialzed (3Rensho) Allez, KTM Strada SL aero (frame + fork), Freschi Super Criterium (frame + fork), a 50-60's era Follis (frame + fork)

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 9 Post(s)
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by Chinghis
I can show you quite a few roads that look like that in Northeast LA. If you're Pasadena you should know there are lots of roads like that.

Anyway, the City has a program to reimburse car (vehicle!) owners for pothole damage. The local councilperson might be able to help. Good luck.

(And now that I look at the picture again, I noticed that yellow paint next to the pothole. That means someone or some department (Street Services) noticed it. That can be a good thing, because it means they knew about it and didn't get it fixed in a timely manner. That would be my argument.)
I filled out the claim form last week........ We'll see how far it'll get me.

I used to commute from Encino to Pasadena a lot last year (Burbank blvd, bike path, short stint on Magnolia, Glenoaks, Central, Broadway, Colorado) though almost never ran around a bad hole like this....... I was more scared of bad and/or rude drivers (especially through Glendale) which prompted me to start riding with a camera (and carrying bear spray).

Thanks for the tip of the yellow paint. I saw the yellow color as I was approaching it which made me take the street longer (and then the pothole happened), I had no idea what the yellow was and didn't want to run it over - I had a terrible incident years ago when I ran over some unmarked street paint that someone didn't cone off or warn and it got all over my bike. Luckily it was able to clean off quickly.



-glenn
nervgs is offline  
Old 05-06-19, 09:20 PM
  #28  
f4rrest
Farmer tan
 
f4rrest's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Burbank, CA
Posts: 7,986

Bikes: Allez, SuperSix Evo

Mentioned: 38 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2870 Post(s)
Liked 28 Times in 23 Posts
Originally Posted by nervgs
This commute is from Encino to Agoura Hills, which if you've ridden around there, would know that the only two ways of getting over the hill are Mulholland or Calabasas Rd to Mureau. Though I guess you can add PCH if you have a ton of time and want to climb more than usual for a commute.

Funny enough, I used to commute from Encino to Pasadena a ton last year, riding through your neck of the woods.

-glenn
Yep, I've ridden mureau a number of times. Used to work on Agoura rd.

You're lucky to live in arguably one of the best cycling areas around.

I went through a similar exercise with the car and pothole damage in a nearby city. No luck.

Glad you weren't hurt. That can be a sketchy descent in rush hour if the 101 is backed up.
f4rrest is offline  
Old 05-06-19, 10:55 PM
  #29  
diphthong
Senior Member
 
diphthong's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: insane diego, california
Posts: 8,287

Bikes: 85 pinarello treviso steel, 88 nishiki olympic steel. 95 look kg 131 carbon, 11 trek madone 5.2 carbon

Mentioned: 26 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1619 Post(s)
Liked 3,087 Times in 1,670 Posts
my first thought reading the headline was that the op hit the crater on westbound sunset blvd. near ucla.

the pictured pothole/pothole in question doesn't look like much as far as socal potholes go. then again, i don't
crack 20 mph as much as i'd like on the flats. ya hit anything fast enuff...boom.

nice bike btw.

Last edited by diphthong; 05-06-19 at 10:59 PM.
diphthong is offline  
Old 05-07-19, 12:03 AM
  #30  
ColonelSanders
Banned.
 
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Vegemite Island
Posts: 4,130

Bikes: 2017 Surly Troll with XT Drive Train, 2017 Merida Big Nine XT Edition, 2016 Giant Toughroad SLR 2, 1995 Trek 830

Mentioned: 29 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1916 Post(s)
Liked 310 Times in 218 Posts
I'm surprised that people with road bikes and "light" wheels don't encounter these sort of problems all the time, especially if they really rack up the mileage.
ColonelSanders is offline  
Old 05-07-19, 04:24 AM
  #31  
Pro11yN0taZeus
Junior Member
 
Join Date: May 2019
Posts: 11
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
Good luck, and glad you were not injured (seriously, anyway). Yeah, we have potholes like this everywhere. One of the reasons I am riding my hybrid mostly these days.
Pro11yN0taZeus is offline  
Old 05-07-19, 07:53 AM
  #32  
mr_bill
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Massachusetts
Posts: 4,529
Mentioned: 34 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2111 Post(s)
Liked 663 Times in 443 Posts
Originally Posted by nervgs
>> If you reached the point of no return, why are you still in the saddle?

I have no idea what you mean by this, can you explain your question?

-glenn
Plan B was to avoid the pothole. What was your plan C if you couldn't avoid the pothole?

(At the very least, get out of the saddle, keep a firm (but not death) grip on the handlebars, keep your elbows and knees bent, and stay loose and absorb the impact. And yes, someone will reply bunnyhop.)

Don't get me wrong. Last time I flatted on a pothole was January a couple of years ago. I thought I could ride through a cluster of five potholes. Missed four of five.

Two Star Wars quotes came to mind as I fixed my flat, for the first four potholes:

"I missed them. I MISSED THEM!"
"Great kid, don't get cocky."

What should have been going through my mind when I saw the cluster of potholes:

"Sir, the possibility of successfully navigating a pothole field is approximately 3,720 to 1."

And of course, the song "Out of the Saddle Again"


-mr. bill

Last edited by mr_bill; 10-07-19 at 09:38 AM.
mr_bill is offline  
Old 05-07-19, 09:33 AM
  #33  
ThermionicScott 
working on my sandal tan
 
ThermionicScott's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: CID
Posts: 22,625

Bikes: 1991 Bianchi Eros, 1964 Armstrong, 1988 Diamondback Ascent, 1988 Bianchi Premio, 1987 Bianchi Sport SX, 1980s Raleigh mixte (hers), All-City Space Horse (hers)

Mentioned: 98 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3868 Post(s)
Liked 2,560 Times in 1,574 Posts
I'm sure I'd be pretty upset if a nice set of wheels imploded under me, too.

But a couple things seem weird. Could be an artifact of cell phone photography, but that pothole doesn't look all that deep or unusual to me. Heck, long stretches of Paris-Roubaix go over jagged pave where the road surface dips and rises sharply by a couple of inches each way, and everyone's wheels don't collapse at once. Is there any chance that your rims are worn out from braking, and it didn't take much to crumple them?

I'm also not sure how this event could cause a brake cable to snap. Probably a coincidence.

This is the kind of thing that gives me pause when descending on an unfamiliar road, though.
__________________
Originally Posted by chandltp
There's no such thing as too far.. just lack of time
Originally Posted by noglider
People in this forum are not typical.
RUSA #7498
ThermionicScott is offline  
Old 05-07-19, 10:40 AM
  #34  
mr_bill
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Massachusetts
Posts: 4,529
Mentioned: 34 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2111 Post(s)
Liked 663 Times in 443 Posts
Originally Posted by nervgs
Thanks for the tip of the yellow paint. I saw the yellow color as I was approaching it which made me take the street longer (and then the pothole happened), I had no idea what the yellow was and didn't want to run it over - I had a terrible incident years ago when I ran over some unmarked street paint that someone didn't cone off or warn and it got all over my bike. Luckily it was able to clean off quickly.
Don't want you to get your hopes up on the yellow paint. It's just surveyor's marks for a natural gas line.

-mr. bill
mr_bill is offline  
Old 05-07-19, 10:44 AM
  #35  
trailangel
Senior Member
 
trailangel's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: Pasadena, CA
Posts: 4,847

Bikes: Schwinn Varsity

Mentioned: 22 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1931 Post(s)
Liked 741 Times in 421 Posts
LA County.
Not Los Angeles, CA
Nice bike... maybe Masi is telling you it doesn't like those carbon aero rims and just wants regular alloy!
trailangel is offline  
Old 05-07-19, 12:28 PM
  #36  
adablduya
Full Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 334
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 121 Post(s)
Liked 12 Times in 8 Posts
Originally Posted by logical
Yeah, good luck with that.
right, good luck with that.
first, you'd have to prove negligence (of reasonable road repair) on the part of LA. next, you'd have to prove that it was the pothole that caused the damage to your wheels AND that there was no other damage existing on the wheels OR no visible wear-and-tear. remember, carbon is not bullet-proof.
you're toast on this one. get new wheels, be more aware of hazards in the road, and get wheels robust enough to use for daily commuting. good luck.
adablduya is offline  
Old 05-07-19, 01:06 PM
  #37  
Leebo
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: North of Boston
Posts: 5,721

Bikes: Kona Dawg, Surly 1x1, Karate Monkey, Rockhopper, Crosscheck , Burley Runabout,

Mentioned: 10 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 854 Post(s)
Liked 111 Times in 66 Posts
Try bunnyhopping at speed.
Leebo is offline  
Old 05-07-19, 01:35 PM
  #38  
rumrunn6
Senior Member
 
rumrunn6's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: 25 miles northwest of Boston
Posts: 29,528

Bikes: Bottecchia Sprint, GT Timberline 29r, Marin Muirwoods 29er, Trek FX Alpha 7.0

Mentioned: 112 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5219 Post(s)
Liked 3,564 Times in 2,331 Posts
Wifey trashed two tires on her new car last month, cost her $500
rumrunn6 is offline  
Old 05-07-19, 03:14 PM
  #39  
Chris0516
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Washington Grove, Maryland
Posts: 1,466

Bikes: 2003 (24)20-Speed Specialized Allez'

Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 396 Post(s)
Liked 6 Times in 6 Posts
You asked about filing a claim against the city, and winning.

Several years ago, I was riding on the sidewalk of an East-West six-lane arterial. When I crashed after hitting the previous concrete base of a traffic light. The city moved the pole, and the light. But not the concrete base. I called the city and told them I would go back to the location where it happened to take pics of the problem, then send them to the city. I went back to the location, and took several pictures. I sent the pictures, along with a picture of my bikes' damage, and a copy of the bike repair bill to the city. They reimbursed me 100%.
Chris0516 is offline  
Likes For Chris0516:
Old 05-07-19, 03:33 PM
  #40  
Pilot321
Junior Member
 
Pilot321's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2017
Location: S.E. PA
Posts: 157

Bikes: 1987 Cannondale SR500

Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 61 Post(s)
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
I live in Pennsylvania, the home of the highest gasoline tax in the country, which was promoted to FIX the roads, but we continue to have the worst roads in the country. Yes, those potholes are nothing. That doesn't mean they can't cause a road bike problems. As someone else said, focus your eyes on the path YOU WANT, not what you want to avoid.
Pilot321 is offline  
Old 05-07-19, 07:52 PM
  #41  
nervgs
Member
Thread Starter
 
nervgs's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 26

Bikes: Giant Defy Composite 0, Bridgestone RB-1 (and a spare unbuilt frame), Masi Gran Criterium & Prestige, Specialzed (3Rensho) Allez, KTM Strada SL aero (frame + fork), Freschi Super Criterium (frame + fork), a 50-60's era Follis (frame + fork)

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 9 Post(s)
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by ThermionicScott
I'm sure I'd be pretty upset if a nice set of wheels imploded under me, too.

But a couple things seem weird. Could be an artifact of cell phone photography, but that pothole doesn't look all that deep or unusual to me. Heck, long stretches of Paris-Roubaix go over jagged pave where the road surface dips and rises sharply by a couple of inches each way, and everyone's wheels don't collapse at once. Is there any chance that your rims are worn out from braking, and it didn't take much to crumple them?

I'm also not sure how this event could cause a brake cable to snap. Probably a coincidence.

This is the kind of thing that gives me pause when descending on an unfamiliar road, though.
I'm tempted to go out and measure the depth of it, but that means putting myself in the way of automotive and cyclist traffic. After taking the picture of it, I thought it was a pretty dumb move because if someone was descending that road I'd be in their way - not very safe or cool.

Regarding the brake cable, I'm not sure either, maybe when the brake track got crushed it did something to the caliper arms? I have NO CLUE. All I know is I had no rear brake to stop with when I was pulling over (the video confirms this as I'm pulling on the lever and it goes all the way back), and if you thought stopping with two Delta calipers is hard enough, try one on a -2% grade.

Trust me, I have a video and I want to post it to show you all, but also don't want to ruin any claim stuff. I'll post it after I'm done.

-glenn
nervgs is offline  
Old 05-07-19, 07:53 PM
  #42  
nervgs
Member
Thread Starter
 
nervgs's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 26

Bikes: Giant Defy Composite 0, Bridgestone RB-1 (and a spare unbuilt frame), Masi Gran Criterium & Prestige, Specialzed (3Rensho) Allez, KTM Strada SL aero (frame + fork), Freschi Super Criterium (frame + fork), a 50-60's era Follis (frame + fork)

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 9 Post(s)
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by trailangel
LA County.
Not Los Angeles, CA
Nice bike... maybe Masi is telling you it doesn't like those carbon aero rims and just wants regular alloy!
Ha, they weren't on it.

The pictured Gran Crit did have tubs mounted though. That was a rough day.

-glenn
nervgs is offline  
Old 05-07-19, 07:58 PM
  #43  
nervgs
Member
Thread Starter
 
nervgs's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 26

Bikes: Giant Defy Composite 0, Bridgestone RB-1 (and a spare unbuilt frame), Masi Gran Criterium & Prestige, Specialzed (3Rensho) Allez, KTM Strada SL aero (frame + fork), Freschi Super Criterium (frame + fork), a 50-60's era Follis (frame + fork)

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 9 Post(s)
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by f4rrest
Yep, I've ridden mureau a number of times. Used to work on Agoura rd.

You're lucky to live in arguably one of the best cycling areas around.

I went through a similar exercise with the car and pothole damage in a nearby city. No luck.

Glad you weren't hurt. That can be a sketchy descent in rush hour if the 101 is backed up.
The Santa Monica Mountains aren't far from me, but I honestly don't take advantage of them - I ride in the Hollywood Hills a little too much since I'm closer.

Thanks. The road has never been bad to me east or west except for this incident. I've had more close calls from cars entering and exiting the Commons. If you remember how it is, it's going west after riding over 101 and passing the school/signal going downhill.

-glenn
nervgs is offline  
Old 05-08-19, 01:23 AM
  #44  
Chinghis
Full Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Southern California
Posts: 487

Bikes: Historical: Schwinn Speedster; Schwinn Collegiate; 1981 Ross Gran Tour; 1981 Dawes Atlantis; 1991 Specialized Rockhopper. Current: 1987 Ritchey Ultra; 1987 Centurion Ironman Dave Scott Master; 1992 Specialized Stumpjumper FS

Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 207 Post(s)
Liked 178 Times in 111 Posts
Originally Posted by trailangel
LA County.
Not Los Angeles, CA
Nice bike... maybe Masi is telling you it doesn't like those carbon aero rims and just wants regular alloy!
Haha, OK, you win!
Chinghis is offline  
Old 05-08-19, 08:50 AM
  #45  
trailangel
Senior Member
 
trailangel's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: Pasadena, CA
Posts: 4,847

Bikes: Schwinn Varsity

Mentioned: 22 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1931 Post(s)
Liked 741 Times in 421 Posts
What I mean.... identify the gov that is responsible. File a claim at the appropriate office. It will automatically be denied, then go through appeals process. More chance of collecting with permanent bodily injuries.
trailangel is offline  
Old 05-09-19, 05:10 AM
  #46  
63rickert
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 2,068
Mentioned: 44 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1090 Post(s)
Liked 329 Times in 245 Posts
That looks like what I ride through daily in order to avoid the big potholes. I ride stuff so much worse than that all the time on 60 year old Fiamme Reds. If those minor blemishes in the pavement can ruin your whole day - and trash your bike - it's rider error. All my bikes can and do swallow worse than that at speed all the time. The oldest bike here in regular use was built in May of 1950 and slams straight through little road blems without a care or a worry. If you require perfection 100% of the time in order to operate a bike-------
63rickert is offline  
Old 05-09-19, 06:51 PM
  #47  
ColonelSanders
Banned.
 
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Vegemite Island
Posts: 4,130

Bikes: 2017 Surly Troll with XT Drive Train, 2017 Merida Big Nine XT Edition, 2016 Giant Toughroad SLR 2, 1995 Trek 830

Mentioned: 29 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1916 Post(s)
Liked 310 Times in 218 Posts
Originally Posted by 63rickert
That looks like what I ride through daily in order to avoid the big potholes. I ride stuff so much worse than that all the time on 60 year old Fiamme Reds. If those minor blemishes in the pavement can ruin your whole day - and trash your bike - it's rider error.
Wouldn't it more likely be a case of people riding bikes/have wheels, that in their design, have prioritised lightness over ruggedness?
ColonelSanders is offline  
Likes For ColonelSanders:
Old 05-10-19, 04:34 AM
  #48  
63rickert
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 2,068
Mentioned: 44 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1090 Post(s)
Liked 329 Times in 245 Posts
Originally Posted by ColonelSanders
Wouldn't it more likely be a case of people riding bikes/have wheels, that in their design, have prioritised lightness over ruggedness?
My wheels are lighter than OPs wheels. Race bikes are capable bikes. It happens routinely in group riding that rough pavement just like what is shown in photos gets hit and most in the group have no possibility of seeing what is coming. And no one has a problem. Purely a matter of rider technique.
63rickert is offline  
Old 05-11-19, 08:34 AM
  #49  
dedhed
SE Wis
 
dedhed's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Milwaukee, WI
Posts: 10,516

Bikes: '68 Raleigh Sprite, '02 Raleigh C500, '84 Raleigh Gran Prix, '91 Trek 400, 2013 Novara Randonee, 1990 Trek 970

Mentioned: 40 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2731 Post(s)
Liked 3,361 Times in 2,034 Posts
Getting the City to Pay for Damages : LAPotholes
dedhed is offline  
Old 05-11-19, 08:41 AM
  #50  
dedhed
SE Wis
 
dedhed's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Milwaukee, WI
Posts: 10,516

Bikes: '68 Raleigh Sprite, '02 Raleigh C500, '84 Raleigh Gran Prix, '91 Trek 400, 2013 Novara Randonee, 1990 Trek 970

Mentioned: 40 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2731 Post(s)
Liked 3,361 Times in 2,034 Posts
Originally Posted by mr_bill
Don't want you to get your hopes up on the yellow paint. It's just surveyor's marks for a natural gas line.
Not quite surveyor's, but utility locate marks.
Given their proximity to the pavement deficiency, it "may" be an indicator that repairs (or other work) were already planned at the time of the incident.

You should be able to (don't know about CA) call the locate agency, give the location, and get any recent "locate tickets" for that location giving a basic idea of who requested the locate and what work they had planned.

Call811 |

Last edited by dedhed; 05-11-19 at 08:45 AM.
dedhed is offline  

Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.