Did poor maintenance contribute to his death?

[downfader]

http://www.theargus.co.uk/news/8786601.Brighton_student_died_after_falling_off_his_bike/

They mentioned the dreaded "H" word, but to me it sounds as if the poor sod had not had his bike properly maintained or that he was on a BSO? I've had chains slip whilst standing on the pedals, I havent come off as of yet, but can see how he'd go over the bars.

I'm amazed at how poorly maintained some cyclists bikes are. I dont see that many around so they stick in the mind quite well. One lad on a local bridge had a rear wheel so buckled that he was effectively braking as he pedalled. My old workmate complained that he couldnt stop too well, I went over and looked at his bike and said "you need new brake blocks!" and gave him a couple. I didnt feel I could let him ride like that.

Theres a guy I sometimes see who will often ride on a complately flat tyre too.

 

[gbb]

Doubt it was a BSO purely on the basis he was doing 20 to 25mph (allegedly). I couldnt imagine a BSO being capable of it. Didnt see anything negative in the comment re helmet, simply a statement that he wasnt wearing.

I'm moderately surprised the accident investigator couldn't or didn't come to a conclusive reason for it happening. Having seen that programme a few months ago about the bloke that got hit from behind by a lorry...the condition of the bike was investigated quite thoroughly. This investigation only seems to have stated what didnt cause it ?

Very very sad..

 

[As Easy As Riding A Bike]

Doubt it was a BSO purely on the basis he was doing 20 to 25mph (allegedly).

Looks like it was quite a steep hill, of which there are many in Brighton. Fairly easy to hit those kinds of speeds on any bike.

Sounds like a tragic accident.

I'm not sure how he could go over the handlebars without the bicycle stopping suddenly though - perhaps the chain jammed, rather than slipped?

 

[RecordAceFromNew]

GoogleMaps shows that Haybourne Road in Brighton is one long slope and kind of a cul-de-sac. As such 25mph is possible downhill with any bike in any condition. Just go to show how important good bike maintenance and set up is, and how fragile life can be...

 

[Sheffield_Tiger]

Doubt it was a BSO purely on the basis he was doing 20 to 25mph (allegedly). I couldnt imagine a BSO being capable of it. Didnt see anything negative in the comment re helmet, simply a statement that he wasnt wearing.

I'm moderately surprised the accident investigator couldn't or didn't come to a conclusive reason for it happening. Having seen that programme a few months ago about the bloke that got hit from behind by a lorry...the condition of the bike was investigated quite thoroughly. This investigation only seems to have stated what didnt cause it ?

Very very sad..

The fastest I have ever been on a bike was on a Raleigh mustang
The fastest I have ever been in a car was in a 909cc Yugo 45A

As others, it sounds like a tragic accident but does hammer home the need for maintenance

Got around tonight to properly stripping my gears down and replacing cables as things were getting sluggish and cables getting sticky after all the snow and salt of December and quite shocked myself as to how bad I had let it get (though I think some of it was after being ill and laying the bike up for 2 weeks just after Xmas, without time to clean the drivetrain properly

 

[turnout]

You can't predict when a chain will snap, although mine just has after 5000 miles. I don't know if the chap was going uphill but bearing down hard on the pedal at the top of the revolution and having it suddenly give way could easily spill you over the front. Freakish occurrence, poor chap.

 

[downfader]

You can't predict when a chain will snap, although mine just has after 5000 miles. I don't know if the chap was going uphill but bearing down hard on the pedal at the top of the revolution and having it suddenly give way could easily spill you over the front. Freakish occurrence, poor chap.

I'm paranoid about chain snappage. I check mine about once a week for fractures.

 

[661-Pete]

Whitehawk is a very hilly part of Brighton (well, most of Brighton is hilly, that district included). It also has a 'reputation', though I don't think this is a factor.

I think on this occasion - on this occasion mind! - lack of a helmet must have been a contributory factor. Tragic accident anyway - because that's what it was: an accident.

It doesn't mean that wearing or not wearing a helmet is a factor in every cycling death or injury.

I've had chains break on me. It can happen any place, any time. I'm sure you all know! I agree poor maintenance doesn't help.

RIP.

[edit] Just read the article more carefully. Seems like the chain slipped, not snapped. My apologies. Possibly got jammed between chainset and BB, or between cassette and drop-outs. This also happens - often!

 

[tyred]

Years ago, a friend went straight over the bars when his Sturmey hub slipped out of top and into neutral when he was sprinting on the flat. He did hit his head (no helmet) but only suffered a few cuts.

 

[snailracer]

Keeping one's bum on the saddle and spinning, as opposed to standing/mashing, also has the benefit of being safer in case of chain drop/slip/snap.

 

[gbb]

I ever thought about the terrian (hills) when i said i didnt think a BSO was capable of 25mph....just shows, i hate theorising about things, and i fell into my own trap there.
Helmets....you can come up with a thousand instances....wearing one MAY have saved a rider, other times it will not. Its all hypothetical/theroetical/academic...its a waste of time trying to work it out. (JMO though)

 

[tyred]

Keeping one's bum on the saddle and spinning, as opposed to standing/mashing, also has the benefit of being safer in case of chain drop/slip/snap.

Isn't one of Sheldon's pieces of advice about never standing on the pedals of a bike unless you know it to be in excellent mechanical condition.

 

[ChrisKH]

"A witness said she heard a noise which sounded like the chain had slipped "



What is she a bike mechanic? I have no idea what a slipping chain sounds like. It could have been anything; more likely he changed gear, or mashed the pedals too hard and the chain came off. All academic anyway.

 

[661-Pete]

Isn't one of Sheldon's pieces of advice about never standing on the pedals of a bike unless you know it to be in excellent mechanical condition.

Quite likely. Alas, most of the bikes ridden around Whitehawk, will either be completely saddle-less or have the saddle so low that no kid could actually sit on it...

 

[snailracer]

Isn't one of Sheldon's pieces of advice about never standing on the pedals of a bike unless you know it to be in excellent mechanical condition.

Hah, Sheldon even has a webpage devoted to that topic:

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/standing.html

There are many nuggets about standing scattered across his numerous other writings.