Got rear-ended on ride home...

[Maz]

As above.

I was at the front of a line of traffic waiting to join the circulatory of a roundabout. Got shunted from the rear by a car and I came off the bike. I have the driver's details and some other motorists got out of their cars to see if I was OK. I am unhurt but I dont know how my bike (Allez Elite) was affected (it has carbon forks).

To the naked eye, there are no visible signs of damage to the bike. Should I take it to a bike shop for them to double-check (e.g. cracks)? Has anyone done this before to assess damage to their bike?

Thanks.

 

[CopperCyclist]

The most likely point of damage would be a rear wheel buckled if that's the cars point of contact. If your back wheel is fine, you are 'probably' ok.

If your LBS will have a look over it for you then it's likely worth it, I mean what's to lose from it? However if you can't see damage on the back wheel you should be ok. I appreciate the carbon forks could have been damaged from hitting the floor - but if you had just dropped the bike you probably wouldn't be worried about them!

 

[ianrauk]

You weren't wearing your Hi-Viz jacket then?

Very glad to hear your unhurt.

 

[Maz]

Doh! Just realised one of the bar end plugs is now missing... probably still on the roundabout. Might still be there in the morning.

 

[Tynan]

and wait a few weeks before deciding you're unhurt if you fell with any force at all

details exchanged?

 

[BentMikey]

Oooh, unlucky mate, sorry to hear of this. Let's hope everything is OK, both you and the bike.

 

[fossyant]

Unlikely any fork damage. Get the bike in for a quick check, rear wheel true etc. any scuffed up parts, you are entitled to replacements.

 

[BLUE(UK)]

Unlucky there Maz. There were some fricking a55holes on the road today in Leicestershire, I almost had road rage with some guy in a BMW even though when I drive at work I go easy and enjoy the drive between jobs.Luckily(for him at least), he didn't pull over when I guestured him to do so.

......I shouldn't have got drawn in to be fair.

 

[Maz]

Unlikely any fork damage. Get the bike in for a quick check, rear wheel true etc. any scuffed up parts, you are entitled to replacements.

Can you tell if its out of true just by spinning it? Spin looks ok to me.

 

[gaz]

Can you tell if its out of true just by spinning it? Spin looks ok to me.

Yes, Pleased to hear you are ok.

 

[4F]

Glad you are ok Maz

 

[classic33]

Hope there's no unseen damage to yourself. Wait until the morning, then you'll have a better idea.

As for the bike, get it checked.
If you feel sore anywhere get yourself checked.

 

[Davidc]

From past experience - check the rear wheel daily for a couple of weeks. When I had a similar incident several spokes failed soon afterwards at the hub end where they bend.

Good that you don't seem to be hurt, these things happen, often a misjudgement, and provided the driver or his insurers make good any damage there's not much anyone can do about it.

 

[Dayvo]

Glad you're OK, Maz!

Try tapping your bike (stays, forks, tubes etc) with a spanner to hear a different sound if the frame is cracked somewhere.

And get a new bar-end asap: you don't want to go apple-coring your leg.

 

[betty swollocks]

Wheels are inherently strong structures.
Even if wheel is, or appears to be undamaged, it doesn't mean to say other parts of the bike will be intact too.
Years ago, I had a front wheel shunt: the wheel remained perfectly true, but the head tube and down tube were bent. The force of impact simply got transferred elsewhere.
Glad that you're ok.