nuhtowel

On Thursday night, I was on my way home from a fast paced 20 mile ride, I was doing a cool down on a bike path. The bike path came to a T, and as I was turning two kids on mountain bikes came flying around the blind turn and mowed me over. It really was an accident, so lets not discuss the logistics of the crash itself. Anyway..

This is me, I ended up with road rash, bruises, and a snapped collar bone (fun)

This is my bike, its a Specialized Allez thats a few years old. I bought it used for $400 while I was in high school and rode it over the past 3 years. The frame and fork are toast, the dents are very deep and the fork is bent, both are aluminum so they are done for. The crankset is bent along with the front wheel, but I might be able to true it up (kidding, the wheel is actually snapped). From a brief inspection, my back wheel and shifters are ok, along with my seat, derailers, and brakes.

So now I'm left with the choice of trying to rebuild with what I have, or just hang it on the wall as art and get a new bike. Part of me wants to rebuild, but the component group I have on there is Sora, which isn't all the great to begin with. What would you do?

surgeonstone

I'm thinking it's time for a new pride and joy. Glad your OK.

Kneecop

Of course you should get a new bike! Go for an upgrade from sora. You'll be happy. And motivate for your recovery...

nuhtowel

If it weren't for the painkillers and my inability to drive, I would be at the bike shop already. Money also comes into play though, college is expensive!

Gluteus

In the not-so-long run, a new bike is going to be cheaper than replacing all the bits and pieces. But you already knew that.
Post the new bike, when you you get it. Good luck!

55/Rad

nuhtowel

don't forget this

Sixty Fiver

And some bailing wire...

After you are healed up it will be time to go looking for a new bike.

bikerjp

The kids parents should have liability insurance. I'd investigate some sort of pay out for medical and property damage. Of course, it might be hard to prove it's their fault. It's also possible your insurance would cover it. Anyway, check your options and just don't assume you're sol.

dspaff088

You could get a cheap front wheel and a used fork off the Internet.

From one student to another, this is what I would do. Just make sure to thoroughly inspect the rest but you could prob get back on the road for 100-200$

nuhtowel

I thought about that, but I don't feel comfortable riding on a dented and bent frame

531phile 

You look so Happy in the world's most depressing place, the hospital. That's a good thing you got a good disposition about this. It must be good to be young.

Jed19

That's b/cos he's high on painkillers

climber7

given that you've been riding it for 3 years, the frame, fork, and crankset are all toast, and the components were sora anyway, i'd say time for a new one.

if your main concern is budget, i suppose there's nothing stopping you from just getting a frameset + wheel + crankset, but it doesn't really seem worth it to me.

EDIT: also, do you race for penn state / did you race at easterns this year? that was a great weekend.

spock

An outstanding attitude. Keep it up.

wheeldeal

What happened to the kids (and their bikes)?

nuhtowel

Haha, my brother took that picture to send to my mother who was freaking out at the time, and it was before I was on any painkillers. I absolutely hate how these drugs make me feel but its the only thing that numbs the pain. I didn't get a chance to race this year for Penn State, my classes took up all of my time and I didn't have any time or energy to train, Easterns did sound like a great weekend though, the emergency room said a lot of people were brought there for the same injury. I just got back from my local bike shop, they might be able to hook me up with a frame set for cheap, but I'll let you guys all know once I get more details.

nuhtowel

They were banged up but ok, I cushioned their fall for them and their bikes. The one kids wheel was bent up but otherwise they both seemed fine. I definitely took the brunt of the accident

GP

Strip anything usable off and toss it all in a box. Then buy a new bike.

Nachoman

Yup. If you have uninsured motorist coverage on your vehicle, and the accident was the other cyclist's fault, you're likely covered.

NukeouT

When I broke my elbow over a pothole I used lots of Kahlua. It worked very well, and I knew exactly what side effects to expect! Plus I might have saved some money on the drugs too.

I've never broken a collar bone though....

Get well soon, and show us your new used bike when you get it.

pgjackson

This is what interests me. When my bike was stolen, my renter's insurance covered the loss. But if the bike is in an accident what insurance covers it? My biggest fear is totaling the bike. I definately don't have the $$$ to jsut go out and get another one. Is there bike insurance? Is it something I can add to my car insurance or something? I mean, if you run into someone on your bike, you don't call the cops.

nuhtowel

Now I'm faced with a tough decision. I've always wanted to try to take up mountain biking, and there is a really nice cannondale 29er that I can't seem to stop thinking about. Its entry level with low end components, but I think it would still be a good time considering the amount of trails around State College. But today while talking to a friend of mine at the shop he works at, he offered me a full ultegra group minus the cassette. I've purchased a other parts from him before and everything was very well maintained.

So I guess it comes down to whether I should try something new or build the road bike of my dreams.

nuhtowel

As I recover, I've been watching craigslist for potential new rides. Although the Philadelphia craigslist is usually loaded with a bunch of crap, it seems that I may have found a winner. The potential new ride is a Cannondale Cad 7 (R700), with 105/ultegra components. The bike is in immaculate condition with less that 1000 miles on it. The only thing keeping it from being mint is a small scratch on one of the shifters, but I really don't care all that much about that. The guy is asking $720 for it, do you guys think its a good deal?