NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!

[benb]

My bike, my lovely bike.

I had met my wife and kids after work, and locked the bike onto the roof rack.
We drove out of the car park, and crash - there was a height barrier that neither of us noticed.

It came off the rack, and hung down the side of the car still attached by its front wheel, giving the car some nasty scratches.

As far as I can tell, the only damage to the bike other than a couple of scratches, is a small flattened dent on the down tube near the bottom bracket, where the arm from the rack was clamped on. Both wheels spin freely, the gears seem to change up and down just fine, and I can't feel any excess play in the headset.

Do you think it's OK to ride it? I'm supposed to be on a sportive on Sunday, and don't want the frame to give out half way round. (it's steel if that makes a difference)

Here's the damage: the oval mark is flattened slightly.

 

[Night Train]

I'd ride it but not competitively or hard.

I'd be too worried that the dent will just fold at any time as the tube is quite structurally compromised.
No bike tech experience to base this on, just engineering experience.

 

[400bhp]

If it's not carbon I'm sure it'll be fine.

I did it not once, but twice last year on holiday - needed a new set of forks on my old Carrera subway cna some minor repairs on the car.

It's the biggest PITA about roof racks.

 

[benb]

Probably best I take it to the LBS in the morning for a once over.

 

[Raging Squirrel]

i'd have thought there's a possibilty that the internal structure was compromised. It'd depend how hard you hit it and how much temperature was generated by the bend / dent.

On our way to Keswick on Monday we saw an Audi on the side if the M6 with a Specialised and a De Rosa road bike on the road behind the car in pieces. GUTTED!

 

[cyberknight]

Nasty , hope its ok .
If in doubt take it to a bike shop who knows their stuff and get it checked out.

 

[Banjo]

Commiserations ,I came within a meter of doing exactly the same thing with two bikes on the roof. My son fortunately screamed at me just in time.

Hope the bike is ok .

 

[Crankarm]

Ouch!

 

[Drago]

Strip the bike, fill the dent, get the frame powder coated, good as new. no guarantees but odds are that shouldnt compromise the frame.

 

[Kiwiavenger]

Strip the bike, fill the dent, get the frame powder coated, good as new. no guarantees but odds are that shouldnt compromise the frame.

Then flog it saying it's reconditioned.

 

[Red Light]

Take it to a car repair place. These days they can vacuum suck out dents like that and return it to new.

 

[Big boy]

Im thinking it will be fine, as for it to fold the top tube will have to go with it.
I would have thaught that it would be repairable if you are really worried.
It is worth getting it looked at by an expert, just remember that they may well try to flog you a new bike :

 

[taximan]

Then flog it saying it's reconditioned.

Remind me never to buy anything from You

 

[Crosstrailer]

One of my neighbours did this with 3 bikes on his roof

He even made the local papers much to his annoyance LOL

 

[Kiwiavenger]

Remind me never to buy anything from You

Lol not something I would do, saw someone post on here about a bloke who had a dented seat tube, put filler in it, resprayed it and flogged it on as reconditioned!