Bike fell apart....

[numbnuts]

OUCH get well soon

 

[mickle]

Someone has made a mistake. A mistake which - without any exaggeration - could easily have cost you your life. If it had happened in front of a bus for example.

Clearly a warranty issue. Cut and dried. Their mechanic failed to assemble the bike properly. It's not acceptable, not fit for purpose and should probably be brought to the attention of your local consumer protection organisations.

Everybody makes mistakes - but this should have been picked up before it left the shop. If they don't have a system in place for ensuring that this kind of thing cannot happen again - it'll happen again. It's just about the most dangerous thing a bike shop can fail to do.

I don't know what to suggest - what do you want?

A refund and buy another bike elsewhere?
Big fat compensation?
An apology?

You are entitled to all of the above.

 

[ramses]

Painful!!

Sounds like the stem fractured to me, or somehow failed. I would definitely take it back to the shop whilst you are still on crutches etc....
Sound advice above, to get someone in the know to have a look first.

I'd make a claim, that could have been a whole lot worse!!

Get well soon!

 

[mickle]

I'm pretty sure, if not absolutely certain, that it's not a component failure but a failure of the mechanic to tighten the stem bolt. I cannot remember the last time I saw a stem failure. They just don't. And if, as a result of some manufacturing screw-up, it was a failure of the stem - Ridgeback have an almighty problem on their hands.

 

[Mad at urage]

Stems do fail, had it happen to me once (good thing the road was flat and I was good at riding with no hands, steering with your @rse is a skill worth developing): Cause in my case was diagnosed by LBS as too long and deep a thread cut into the stem (failed at bottom of thread, within a couple of inches of the fork). The LBS report helped me take the bike supplier to small claims court.

My advice, get the bike examined by a well-recommended and competent local bike shop before returning to the shop which assembled it. People here should be able to recommend one (?) if you post your general area.

 

[Kaelyn]

I'm located in Knaresborough, North Yorkshire.

My dad had to put the stem back in to transport the bike home on a bike carrier and it seemed to go back in ok so I'm unsure as to whether it is damaged or it was a simple tightening error. I haven't viewed the stem myself apart from when I saw it when I was flat on my back straight after the accident so I couldn't really say, this is my first "proper" bike so I'm not really up to speed on the technical side on things.

I'm sure the parent that was behind me that stopped and helped me would be a witness to the fact that the stem came loose as she saw the whole thing.

 

[mickle]

Cause was diagnosed as too long and deep a thread cut into the stem (failed at bottom of thread, within a couple of inches of the fork).

Eh?

 

[Mad at urage]

Old fashioned threaded stem. Thread was cut v. deep into stem and all the way down too close to where it joins the fork. Bottom stem bearings acting as pivot between (axle) end of fork and the weakened stem broke the stem.

That's what I was told, anyway stem broke at the bottom of the threaded portion which was within a couple of inches of where it joined the fork.

Edit: Checked my terminology: Apparently what I've always thought was the stem is the steerer . Apologies (the only stem-snapping story I have is the time the stem bolt broke). Snapped steerer or stem bolt both result in handlebars in hand syndrome.

 

[Banjo]

What a horrible experience. I hope you get better soon and dont get put off cycling.

The free 6 week service offered by bike shops is intended to check nothing has worked loose and adjust stretched cables etc. Not taking it in for that service will possibly absolve the shop of any blame.

Personally I go round the bike with allen keys about once a month and check wheel quick releases every day.

 

[phil_hg_uk]

Which bike shop did you buy it from ?

 

[Kaelyn]

What a horrible experience. I hope you get better soon and dont get put off cycling.

The free 6 week service offered by bike shops is intended to check nothing has worked loose and adjust stretched cables etc. Not taking it in for that service will possibly absolve the shop of any blame.

Personally I go round the bike with allen keys about once a month and check wheel quick releases every day.

They said to take it in after 6 weeks or when it had done about 100 miles, which it had nearly done when the accident happened, I would suspect the wear on the tyres and brakes will indicate it has had very little use.

Which bike shop did you buy it from ?

the big red bike company next to the odeon.

 

[phil_hg_uk]

Ah I thought you might say that, although I must admit I have no experience of them and I havent heard of anyone else having any problems, but I know who you mean I just couldnt imagine any of the other LBS making a mistake like that, exept a certain car accessories chain of course

 

[Kaelyn]

Ah I thought you might say that, although I must admit I have no experience of them and I havent heard of anyone else having any problems, but I know who you mean I just couldnt imagine any of the other LBS making a mistake like that, exept a certain car accessories chain of course

Yeah I completely understand, thats why I bought from a place like that instead of a chain, they had repaired another bike I own and are really nice people, I think if it was a mistake on their part it is just an oversight. I think I'm going to go tomorrow and talk to them then decide if I need to go anywhere from there, if anything it will help relieve some of this boredom! Been stuck for 2 and a half weeks in this brace already, it just makes everything that much harder to do.

 

[phil_hg_uk]

I know what you mean by it could have been an honest mistake but lets face it if the chain had come off not to much of a problem, but when the handlebars come off in your hand .

If it was me someone would be walking around with some handlebars sticking out of their arse im afraid. It would be like driving around and the steering wheel coming off in your hand I can imagine a visit to the garage from the law if that happened.

I assume the bike hadnt been messed about with while it was parked up ?

 

[Kaelyn]

Very unlikely, its locked up right next to the building around the side out of site of the carpark and right next to the room that I work in, with it being a nursery anyone suspicious hanging around gets noticed quite quickly.