Bike fell apart....

[phil_hg_uk]

Fair enough it's just something that has to be asked.

Well I hope you get better soon and let us know what happens, living in harrogate myself I am interested in the outcome.

 

[tradesecrets]

the only way ur handle bars would come loose like that if someone else had loosend them ask a joke [ sick kinda way ] couple ofthings who else has acces to your bike ????



or the fitting wasn't secured properly to begin with and the shop resulted in selling you faulty life threatening goods ....

 

[PpPete]

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.

Though rare I have seen quill stem failure. I had one on a Raleigh back in the 1970s. Hit a very deep kerb almost head on. Came off over handlebars. Pushed bike home, as realised I was too inebriated to ride. Next morning found quill stem cracked almost right across.

In this case though it doesnt sound like failure of quill stem itself ... fracture of the expander bolt, or expander bolt being way too loose seem more likely ?

 

[Ticktockmy]

One thing that has crossed my mind.. is “weather” When the Bike mechanic prepped the bike for you, one can only assume that he checked the checklist in good faith, after all he would be well aware, that the buck stops with him when things go wrong like they have for you. But I assume that there are recommend Torque settings for your bike and its fastenings etc. (Screws and Bolts). I know mine has recommended torque settings listed for most parts.

Now it might have been a nice cold day when he or she prepped your bike, so when the weather warms up even slightly it can allow the expansion bolt to expand along it length thus slackening off the tension on the expansion wedges within the headset assembly also the warming would also make the other components to expand likewise. This easliy allow enough slack to cause the forks to swivel independently to the direction of the handler bars. It just a thought, because I have in the past when cycling during the late winter and early spring found myself having to pinch up screws a half turn, during my lunch break check.

 

[colinr]

My sister's adjustable quill stem on a Dawes something-or-other hybrid did the same thing recently, bolt dropped out, bars came off in her hands. Must be something in the air.

 

[festival]

As someone who works in the cycle trade I have to say more often than not any problems are normally down to the rider in some form or other.
BUT having read your tale I think you have a strong case against the retailer.

I think they will say the bike has been out of their care for so long that any thing could have happened to it . Also regardless of the foc safety check offered, your handbook details what your responsibilities are in maintaining your bike & one of those is checking that the handlebar stem is tight (probably more often than any of us do).
While its a good idea to go in with a friendly but business like attitude don't let them use that against you & do very little for you.

Think about how you are going to approach them and what you want out of this. They may seem very concerned about you and promise to sort your bike out for free but is this enough?
My advise would be to take photos of the bike, take a competent witness and let the shop know whats happened and what you want them to do about it.
If you are not happy tell them this is just the start & you will take legal advice and consider your next move.

There have been occasions when the wrong size stem diameter has been fitted in some bikes which is then over tightened to make it appear ok.
This is then a disaster waiting to happen. or of course it may just have been poorly tightened in the first place.
In my opinion the type of stem on your bike does need special attention sometimes to ensure its secure before handover to the customer.
Ask whether the mechanic was cytec qualified or what training and experience he has. Good luck.

 

[Kaelyn]

Sorry for the late update, I have been busy with physio/doctors appoints/ work meetings etc.

I went to the bike shop and told them what happened, he said he would need to see the bike himself and I explained it would be hard to get it to him as I was still in my knee immobilser with crutches at that point so was reliant on public transport so he drove to my house and collected the bike.

They kept it in for about a week and checked it over and phoned up asking if it was ok if they did the 6 week service on it and removed the damaged bar ends which I agreed to, a couple of days later he dropped the bike back at my house with a letter and the damage report.

The letter basically states they found no fault with the stem and handlebars and that the bike shows very little signs of damage from the accident and that they have had no notice of defect or recall from the manufacturers. They said the accident was unfortunate and it is an adjustable part of the bike that should be checked reguarly. He then stated at the end of the letter that he would drop the bike back of at my house as a goodwill gesture.

The damage report lists what I told them, things I had added since purchase like my cycle computer and reflectors I had moved and then damage to the bike, I'll leave out the undamaged bits:

• Small scratch on fork crown besides fork suspension lock out lever. Lever in locked position on reciept of bicycle. Slight roughness to fork crown on back edge of headset.
• Wheels, both slightly out of true which would be expected from normal usage on road surfaces, both rotate freely.
• Drive side crank has very slight damage to metal around pedal fixing
• Pedals have scratches from normal use, no unusal movements in bearings.
• Rear brakes: Slightly out of adjustment and binding slightly on left hand side of rim.
• Stem: bike arrived with stem fitted into head tube at approximately 15Nm, No signs of damage to quill section into head tube. No signs of damage to adjustable section. Heavily damaged right hand side bar end which is also at a horizontal angle. Scuff damage to end of left side unit. Left hand bar at approximately 45 degree angle to the horizontal.
• On removal of stem from frame there was no signs of additional damage, Normal scratching from fitting of stem unit into the frame evident. Examination of interior of the head tube after removal of the stem revealed no signs of damage.
• Brake lever/ gear change: Very slight scratch on right hand unit
• Seat post: Slight lateral movement in seat post suspension
• Saddle: Slight scuffing and folding in leather
• Rear mudguard: slightly twisted to left hand side at rear
  
  It just feels like they don't think the accident even happened, I didn't expect there to be much damage to the bike as I was probably only going at about 5-10mph as it was at the start of my journey home and I took most of the force of the impact which was evident in my injuries. The bar ends saved my hands from being massacred as the bike flipped over and I'm greatful for that as I had only fitted them about a week previously. He said when he delivered it that he believes that I skidded on some ice or something and that caused me to lose control then the force of the bar ends hitting the ground had pivotted the stem loose, I know that I felt a jerk sensation and the wheel turned at an angle whilst the bars were still straight and then the bike flipped.
  
  I guess I just need to be happy that I got off as light as I did and that I still have a usable bike at the end of it, I'm still undergoing physio for my injuries and having to use crutches so am still unable to work unfortunatly, my physio said its my chocie if i use the brace or not so I'm trying to battle through it as the more movement I can get out of my knee the faster my recovery. I only get statutory sick pay from my work place so have had to go into my holiday savings just to keep out of the red and I just feel down from not being able to do much for the last 5 weeks so far.
  
  I have another physio appointment on thursday so will ask then when he believes I will be able to cycle again, they have stationary bikes there for rehab so I might see if he'll let me on one and see how I feel, even though the bike was what caused this pain I really miss riding, especially with all this beautiful weather we have had recently!

 

[Banjo]

I think you should contact a solicitor. You were badly injured and have lost a lot of income because the stem became loose the bike shop are just trying to cover their own backside by saying the accident loosened the stem. You were riding it you know it came loose.

 

[phil_hg_uk]

I think you should contact the local Citizens Advice and see where you can take it from here, see if there is at least a chance of covering the money you have lost from being off work.

From what you have posted sounds like they don't really give a toss about your injuries, I know as a local I certainly won't be going anywhere near the place.

I hope you get better soon.

 

[snailracer]

So the OP let the bike shop take the bike back, giving them the opportunity to cover up their (alleged) negligence Game over.

 

[Kaelyn]

There was very little to "cover up" from the accident, all I have is the witness that saw what happened, as I said in a post before we had to put the stem back in to bring the bike home safely on the back of a car and there seemed to be no defect.

I never set out to sue anyone, I just wanted opinions on what happened and whether it was something that could have been prevented by myself, I've already accepted my financial loss as I really don't think there is anyway to fight the bike shop.

Sitting here with ice on my knee atm, keep trying to push it too hard to get it better, very painful

 

[steve52]

ive been rideing for 45 yrs and had hadelbars work a bit lose once and mudgauards racks and lights come lose but neve handel bar stem so it seems to me to be badley seviced, i would recomend you lern to service your own bike, i never totaly trust the man in the shop, some are ok im sure but so many aint

 

[snailracer]

...I never set out to sue anyone... I've already accepted my financial loss...

Whether you decide to sue them is up to you, of course.

...I just wanted opinions on what happened...

Your best bet to find out what happened was to have taken your bike to another bike shop for their professional analysis, as they would have had an expert actually examine the bike, unlike us "amateur " forummers who can only speculate.

The shop that originally sold it to you has too much to lose, their report can't be considered objective and unbiased.

...whether it was something that could have been prevented by myself...

Seeing as you bought it fully-assembled from an actual bike shop at a bike shop price (as opposed to a cheap flat-pack from a supermarket) you should reasonably expect it to be at least safely assembled, if not in perfect working order, which is what vexes me about your situation.

Having your own tools and a bit of knowhow helps, but only gets you so far unless you are more mechanically adept than 95% of the population. Also, it's not always obvious which bits on a bike are considered safety critical. For example, the front reflector bracket on a mountain bike is there to stop a snapped brake cable from catching on the knobs on the front tyre and throwing the rider over the bars - I reckon very few people know that, and I'm certainly no expert so there are other things I am completely oblivious to but have gotten away with so far.

 

[mickle]

If OP is telling the truth - and we have no reason to suppose she isn't - then we have all the information we need without having to examine the bike.

The bars came loose on a new bike. The bars obviously shouldn't come loose on a new bike. The shop's response to her complaint is an odious pile of bullshit.

The correct and honest response would have been to accept responsibility, apologise, tell the OP what they've done to prevent this happening again and ask her what she might accept by way of compensation. Their response falls far short of acceptable. If it was me, after that letter, I'd be taking them to the cleaners. It's what they deserve, because they are not just incompetent - they are also dishonest.