New bike...smacked by a car...any advice appreciated
 

I got my new road bike from Gary Hobbs at GVH bikes Thursday. It is
(was) a beautiful burnished Cannondale Caad5 with full carbon fork,
Campy Centaur, and a high zoot Fizik Aliante saddle. Gary did a great
job of building the bike and getting it to me in time to enjoy the
weekend with it. It rode like a dream.

All was good, until this morning commuting to work I was t-boned by a
car running a red light. Fortunately, the young female driver was able
to slow down enough to avoid running me over completely. I was thrown to
the ground and so far I have only noticed a sore left elbow and very
slightly sore right knee. The bike didn't fare quite as well. She nailed
the fork and front wheel, possibly the frame and crank on the left side
as well. I fell over on the right side, and the visible damage amounts
to gouges on the pedals, rear derailleur, and saddle, and a bent front
rim.

After carrying it a mile back home, I see more ominous signs of trouble.
I knew he bars were out of line, but then I noticed the headset felt
loose. I reset the preload on the headset to something that felt snug
but not overly tight, and the headset still felt loose. I torqued down
the end cap way tighter than I have ever done and most of the slop went
away, but it seems there is still a tiny bit of slop if I lock the front
brake and rock the bike back and forth. The drivetrain is out of kilter
as well making lots of racket. I can try to adjust it later when I have
the time, but there is no doubt some damage to the derailleur or hangar.

The question is, what should I demand of the insurance company? Visibly
the bike looks almost as good as new, but they weren't made to be
broadsided by cars. The headset situation I find unacceptable and I
suspect a cracked fork or bent head tube. It was a brand new bike, but
now I don't completely trust its safety and certainly not its longevity.
The drivetrain doesn't make me happy either. I'm sure I would have
eventually bent the derailleur and got the various nicks on my own, but
in this case somebody else is liable. Should I demand a total loss and
replacement, or will I be f'ed over by the insurance company and be
stuck with a damaged bike?

"SuperSlinky" wrote in message
t...

All was good, until this morning commuting to work I was t-boned by a
car running a red light. Fortunately, the young female driver was able
to slow down enough to avoid running me over completely. I was thrown to
the ground and so far I have only noticed a sore left elbow and very
slightly sore right knee. The bike didn't fare quite as well. She nailed
the fork and front wheel, possibly the frame and crank on the left side
as well. I fell over on the right side, and the visible damage amounts
to gouges on the pedals, rear derailleur, and saddle, and a bent front
rim.

Did she admit it? Did you file a police report? Do you own a car also
(and thus have your own insurance).


The question is, what should I demand of the insurance company?

I would, at a minimum, insist on a new bicycle. You can make a cogent
claim as to why it is "totalled".


isibly
the bike looks almost as good as new, but they weren't made to be
broadsided by cars. The headset situation I find unacceptable and I
suspect a cracked fork or bent head tube. It was a brand new bike, but
now I don't completely trust its safety and certainly not its longevity.
The drivetrain doesn't make me happy either. I'm sure I would have
eventually bent the derailleur and got the various nicks on my own, but
in this case somebody else is liable. Should I demand a total loss and
replacement, or will I be f'ed over by the insurance company and be
stuck with a damaged bike?


Of course you do not have to take what they are offering and can sue. You
can also check out those injuries (in fact you SHOULD check out those
injuries) to make sure that it doesn't present future risks (such as
enhanced risk of arthritis at an earlier age) and, if I were you, I would
ask for a lot more than just the new biccyle. (Did any of the clothing get
taken out? If she admitted fault and/or you have a favorable police
report, they will have little to stand on... And frankly, if it is less
than 5 grand or so, the insurance company is more inclined to pay (if they
think you will fight) rather then litigate. They'll raise the rates of the
hitter and will soon come out fine.

"SuperSlinky" wrote in message
t...

All was good, until this morning commuting to work I was t-boned by a
car running a red light. Fortunately, the young female driver was able
to slow down enough to avoid running me over completely. I was thrown to
the ground and so far I have only noticed a sore left elbow and very
slightly sore right knee. The bike didn't fare quite as well. She nailed
the fork and front wheel, possibly the frame and crank on the left side
as well. I fell over on the right side, and the visible damage amounts
to gouges on the pedals, rear derailleur, and saddle, and a bent front
rim.

Did she admit it? Did you file a police report? Do you own a car also
(and thus have your own insurance).


The question is, what should I demand of the insurance company?

I would, at a minimum, insist on a new bicycle. You can make a cogent
claim as to why it is "totalled".


isibly
the bike looks almost as good as new, but they weren't made to be
broadsided by cars. The headset situation I find unacceptable and I
suspect a cracked fork or bent head tube. It was a brand new bike, but
now I don't completely trust its safety and certainly not its longevity.
The drivetrain doesn't make me happy either. I'm sure I would have
eventually bent the derailleur and got the various nicks on my own, but
in this case somebody else is liable. Should I demand a total loss and
replacement, or will I be f'ed over by the insurance company and be
stuck with a damaged bike?


Of course you do not have to take what they are offering and can sue. You
can also check out those injuries (in fact you SHOULD check out those
injuries) to make sure that it doesn't present future risks (such as
enhanced risk of arthritis at an earlier age) and, if I were you, I would
ask for a lot more than just the new biccyle. (Did any of the clothing get
taken out? If she admitted fault and/or you have a favorable police
report, they will have little to stand on... And frankly, if it is less
than 5 grand or so, the insurance company is more inclined to pay (if they
think you will fight) rather then litigate. They'll raise the rates of the
hitter and will soon come out fine.

Get a new bicycle, go riding , run your stop signs and red lights and get
smacked for good next time.

"John Smith" wrote in message
m...

"SuperSlinky" wrote in message
t...

All was good, until this morning commuting to work I was t-boned by a
car running a red light. Fortunately, the young female driver was able
to slow down enough to avoid running me over completely. I was thrown to
the ground and so far I have only noticed a sore left elbow and very
slightly sore right knee. The bike didn't fare quite as well. She nailed
the fork and front wheel, possibly the frame and crank on the left side
as well. I fell over on the right side, and the visible damage amounts
to gouges on the pedals, rear derailleur, and saddle, and a bent front
rim.

Did she admit it? Did you file a police report? Do you own a car also
(and thus have your own insurance).


The question is, what should I demand of the insurance company?

I would, at a minimum, insist on a new bicycle. You can make a cogent
claim as to why it is "totalled".


isibly
the bike looks almost as good as new, but they weren't made to be
broadsided by cars. The headset situation I find unacceptable and I
suspect a cracked fork or bent head tube. It was a brand new bike, but
now I don't completely trust its safety and certainly not its longevity.
The drivetrain doesn't make me happy either. I'm sure I would have
eventually bent the derailleur and got the various nicks on my own, but
in this case somebody else is liable. Should I demand a total loss and
replacement, or will I be f'ed over by the insurance company and be
stuck with a damaged bike?


Of course you do not have to take what they are offering and can sue. You
can also check out those injuries (in fact you SHOULD check out those
injuries) to make sure that it doesn't present future risks (such as
enhanced risk of arthritis at an earlier age) and, if I were you, I would
ask for a lot more than just the new biccyle. (Did any of the clothing
get
taken out? If she admitted fault and/or you have a favorable police
report, they will have little to stand on... And frankly, if it is less
than 5 grand or so, the insurance company is more inclined to pay (if they
think you will fight) rather then litigate. They'll raise the rates of
the
hitter and will soon come out fine.

Get a new bicycle, go riding , run your stop signs and red lights and get
smacked for good next time.

"John Smith" wrote in message
m...

"SuperSlinky" wrote in message
t...

All was good, until this morning commuting to work I was t-boned by a
car running a red light. Fortunately, the young female driver was able
to slow down enough to avoid running me over completely. I was thrown to
the ground and so far I have only noticed a sore left elbow and very
slightly sore right knee. The bike didn't fare quite as well. She nailed
the fork and front wheel, possibly the frame and crank on the left side
as well. I fell over on the right side, and the visible damage amounts
to gouges on the pedals, rear derailleur, and saddle, and a bent front
rim.

Did she admit it? Did you file a police report? Do you own a car also
(and thus have your own insurance).


The question is, what should I demand of the insurance company?

I would, at a minimum, insist on a new bicycle. You can make a cogent
claim as to why it is "totalled".


isibly
the bike looks almost as good as new, but they weren't made to be
broadsided by cars. The headset situation I find unacceptable and I
suspect a cracked fork or bent head tube. It was a brand new bike, but
now I don't completely trust its safety and certainly not its longevity.
The drivetrain doesn't make me happy either. I'm sure I would have
eventually bent the derailleur and got the various nicks on my own, but
in this case somebody else is liable. Should I demand a total loss and
replacement, or will I be f'ed over by the insurance company and be
stuck with a damaged bike?


Of course you do not have to take what they are offering and can sue. You
can also check out those injuries (in fact you SHOULD check out those
injuries) to make sure that it doesn't present future risks (such as
enhanced risk of arthritis at an earlier age) and, if I were you, I would
ask for a lot more than just the new biccyle. (Did any of the clothing
get
taken out? If she admitted fault and/or you have a favorable police
report, they will have little to stand on... And frankly, if it is less
than 5 grand or so, the insurance company is more inclined to pay (if they
think you will fight) rather then litigate. They'll raise the rates of
the
hitter and will soon come out fine.

Hey retard, the CAR ran the red light!

BTW, traffic laws originated from the desire not to hurt or kill people.
Cyclists running red lights already face severe penalties, such as
quadriplegia. While red light running is dumb in its own right,
equivocating someone piloting 25 pounds of aluminum doing 20 versus 2500
kilos of steel doing 40 is just wrong.

But what would you know about cycling or driving, you just ride that short
bus around.

Sheesh!


"Ted John Kerry Kennedy" wrote in message
...
Get a new bicycle, go riding , run your stop signs and red lights and get
smacked for good next time.

"John Smith" wrote in message
m...

"SuperSlinky" wrote in message
t...

All was good, until this morning commuting to work I was t-boned by a
car running a red light. Fortunately, the young female driver was able
to slow down enough to avoid running me over completely. I was thrown
to
the ground and so far I have only noticed a sore left elbow and very
slightly sore right knee. The bike didn't fare quite as well. She
nailed
the fork and front wheel, possibly the frame and crank on the left side
as well. I fell over on the right side, and the visible damage amounts
to gouges on the pedals, rear derailleur, and saddle, and a bent front
rim.

Did she admit it? Did you file a police report? Do you own a car also
(and thus have your own insurance).


The question is, what should I demand of the insurance company?

I would, at a minimum, insist on a new bicycle. You can make a cogent
claim as to why it is "totalled".


isibly
the bike looks almost as good as new, but they weren't made to be
broadsided by cars. The headset situation I find unacceptable and I
suspect a cracked fork or bent head tube. It was a brand new bike, but
now I don't completely trust its safety and certainly not its
longevity.
The drivetrain doesn't make me happy either. I'm sure I would have
eventually bent the derailleur and got the various nicks on my own, but
in this case somebody else is liable. Should I demand a total loss and
replacement, or will I be f'ed over by the insurance company and be
stuck with a damaged bike?


Of course you do not have to take what they are offering and can sue.
You
can also check out those injuries (in fact you SHOULD check out those
injuries) to make sure that it doesn't present future risks (such as
enhanced risk of arthritis at an earlier age) and, if I were you, I would
ask for a lot more than just the new biccyle. (Did any of the clothing
get
taken out? If she admitted fault and/or you have a favorable police
report, they will have little to stand on... And frankly, if it is less
than 5 grand or so, the insurance company is more inclined to pay (if
they
think you will fight) rather then litigate. They'll raise the rates of
the
hitter and will soon come out fine.

Hey retard, the CAR ran the red light!

BTW, traffic laws originated from the desire not to hurt or kill people.
Cyclists running red lights already face severe penalties, such as
quadriplegia. While red light running is dumb in its own right,
equivocating someone piloting 25 pounds of aluminum doing 20 versus 2500
kilos of steel doing 40 is just wrong.

But what would you know about cycling or driving, you just ride that short
bus around.

Sheesh!


"Ted John Kerry Kennedy" wrote in message
...
Get a new bicycle, go riding , run your stop signs and red lights and get
smacked for good next time.

"John Smith" wrote in message
m...

"SuperSlinky" wrote in message
t...

All was good, until this morning commuting to work I was t-boned by a
car running a red light. Fortunately, the young female driver was able
to slow down enough to avoid running me over completely. I was thrown
to
the ground and so far I have only noticed a sore left elbow and very
slightly sore right knee. The bike didn't fare quite as well. She
nailed
the fork and front wheel, possibly the frame and crank on the left side
as well. I fell over on the right side, and the visible damage amounts
to gouges on the pedals, rear derailleur, and saddle, and a bent front
rim.

Did she admit it? Did you file a police report? Do you own a car also
(and thus have your own insurance).


The question is, what should I demand of the insurance company?

I would, at a minimum, insist on a new bicycle. You can make a cogent
claim as to why it is "totalled".


isibly
the bike looks almost as good as new, but they weren't made to be
broadsided by cars. The headset situation I find unacceptable and I
suspect a cracked fork or bent head tube. It was a brand new bike, but
now I don't completely trust its safety and certainly not its
longevity.
The drivetrain doesn't make me happy either. I'm sure I would have
eventually bent the derailleur and got the various nicks on my own, but
in this case somebody else is liable. Should I demand a total loss and
replacement, or will I be f'ed over by the insurance company and be
stuck with a damaged bike?


Of course you do not have to take what they are offering and can sue.
You
can also check out those injuries (in fact you SHOULD check out those
injuries) to make sure that it doesn't present future risks (such as
enhanced risk of arthritis at an earlier age) and, if I were you, I would
ask for a lot more than just the new biccyle. (Did any of the clothing
get
taken out? If she admitted fault and/or you have a favorable police
report, they will have little to stand on... And frankly, if it is less
than 5 grand or so, the insurance company is more inclined to pay (if
they
think you will fight) rather then litigate. They'll raise the rates of
the
hitter and will soon come out fine.

Robert Haston said...

Hey retard, the CAR ran the red light!

BTW, traffic laws originated from the desire not to hurt or kill people.
Cyclists running red lights already face severe penalties, such as
quadriplegia. While red light running is dumb in its own right,
equivocating someone piloting 25 pounds of aluminum doing 20 versus 2500
kilos of steel doing 40 is just wrong.

But what would you know about cycling or driving, you just ride that short
bus around.

Sheesh!

I was going to reply to this genius, but I figured it would just give
him and the other mongoloids gathered around his computer another chance
to giggle. Have pity on him. Just think what it must be like going
through life dumb as a rock.

Robert Haston said...

Hey retard, the CAR ran the red light!

BTW, traffic laws originated from the desire not to hurt or kill people.
Cyclists running red lights already face severe penalties, such as
quadriplegia. While red light running is dumb in its own right,
equivocating someone piloting 25 pounds of aluminum doing 20 versus 2500
kilos of steel doing 40 is just wrong.

But what would you know about cycling or driving, you just ride that short
bus around.

Sheesh!

I was going to reply to this genius, but I figured it would just give
him and the other mongoloids gathered around his computer another chance
to giggle. Have pity on him. Just think what it must be like going
through life dumb as a rock.

Ted John Kerry Kennedy wrote:
Get a new bicycle, go riding , run your stop signs and red lights and get
smacked for good next time.

Troll. Plonk.

Honestly, as a red-blooded American conservative, I'd advise the biker to
carry a large katana in a conspicuous place. People (cagers) tend to be
much more careful around people who they know can easily kill them/slash
the brand-new leather upholstery of their cages.

*grin*
-Andrew

* 1960s Raleigh 3-speed
* DiBlasi folding bike
* Motobecane 12-speed road bike (in pieces in the garage)

* Honda Nighthawk 550

* Volvo 240DL - for when a cage *is* really needed