My frame is bent!
Thread started by
mr rollers at 01.9.08 - 9:17 am
Courtesy of some putz in a Prius who ran a stop sign on 4th Street last night as I was crossing the intersection. I almost cleared him; his front bumper just caught the rear seat stay, as you can see in the pic, and it didn't even knock me off the bike.
Physically, I'm feeling very fortunate to be perfectly OK; emotionally I'm a little bent, too. This is the bike that I put together from the ground up last year and put over 1000 miles on in the later part of 2007. Besides the frame, the wheel is a little out of true and the shifting is a bit off, but the bike is remarkably rideable.
I'm gonna hit this guy up for some $$ to cover the cost of fixing this (hope he comes through) and start looking for a new frame.
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man...I'm glad you're okay rollers. What size frame do you ride?
tern01.9.08 - 9:22 am
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Glad you're okay! What was the driver's response?
stevo401.9.08 - 9:32 am
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Generally speaking, as big as I can find, ha. This one was actually on the small side, but I liked it. It was more of a sentimental choice than anything; a mid-seventies Raleigh frame that I found on eBay and had put many hours into stripping and lacquering.
I've already got my eyes on a couple of things, but let me know if you see anything good. Thanks.
mr rollers01.9.08 - 9:35 am
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The driver was at first almost insisting that he hadn't done anything wrong, meanwhile I was ranting at him (my adrenaline was flowing). He lives just down the block from where the accident happened and he wanted me to follow him to his house to get his info because he had his daughter in the car. Big deal! I told him he better not leave the scene of the accident and I think he saw the wisdom in that.
Meanwhile, the rest of my IAAL-MAF posse had rolled up, we calmed down, he gave me his info, finally apologized somewhat and told me he'd take care of any damages.
mr rollers01.9.08 - 9:44 am
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man, getting hit by a prius is the worst.
it's like the time some PETA people paint bombed the homeless for wearing fur coats when in reality those coats had been donated to them by another less militant faction of PETA.
chunk01.9.08 - 10:08 am
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chunk said:
"getting hit by a prius is the worst."
Ha, tell me about it. My little run in with a Prius resulted in a busted ass shoulder.
PETA people paint-bombing the homeless sounds like an episode of South Park.
Rollers, if you are very sentimental about that frame, it may be fixable. Superfish had similar damage to his track bike, and the guys at Yellow Jersey in Madison were able to roll it out and straighten the stay. May or may not be worth it in your case. (Johnny's frame was a primo NJS track frame.)
City Hobgoblin01.9.08 - 10:56 am
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Wow, city....I didn't know you have an ass shoulder. You should come out to den dinner tonight and show it off.
tern01.9.08 - 11:05 am
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supa glad to hear you're OK steve...people that drive Prius are usually somewhat responsible, he'll come through. I bet he wont be running anymore stop signs, thats for sure. I'll also keep an eye for frames your size...
skano01.9.08 - 11:07 am
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I'm guessing you weren't carrying your camera with you Steve. That usually quiets down the driver who wants to leave the scene.
stevo401.9.08 - 11:30 am
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@tern -- thanks for the invite, I'd love to go to D.D. and show off all my ass-related body parts, but I'm going to Santa Barbara tonight. Next time.
City Hobgoblin01.9.08 - 11:31 am
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I just spoke to the dude, he was apologetic and is sending me a check. Hopefully he has learned a relatively inexpensive but important lesson: see bicycles!
I also spent the last hour or so trueing the wheel as best I could and getting the gears working right, so I feel a lot better. Back on the horse!
Thanks for the info CH. The frame isn't really worth all that much; I think I'll end up replacing it with something slightly better and taking all the components off this bike.
mr rollers01.9.08 - 11:34 am
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Oh, I always carry some kind of camera, but I hadn't had the cahnce to whip it out yet. I was more concerned about making sure my body was intact. Luckily one of my crew rolled up and snapped a pic of his license plate with his cell.
mr rollers01.9.08 - 11:36 am
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Really glad to hear you're ok.
Was Alice with you? Did you get that look you used to get about helmets? : )
Drew01.9.08 - 12:03 pm
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Turn it into a tall bike!!!!!
Oh.. whoops maybe I should keep my mouth shut on this one.
Drew01.9.08 - 12:07 pm
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Nah, Alice wasn't with me, so I had to tell her when i got home. Never an easy thing, but she was relieved that I was ok.
I have in fact, been thinking of building a tall for bike for some time now; probably for someone else to ride.
mr rollers01.9.08 - 12:35 pm
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Well, cool thing is you survived and this guy swallowed a bowl of reality.
Another cool thing was the fact that you had an entire crew there as back-up, in case things got a little, squirrely.
I got to carry everything in a shatter-proof case and keep the
.30-30 locked and loaded if that ever happened.
bentstrider01.9.08 - 12:39 pm
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Just glad you are OK, rollers. Sorry about the frame - I know how much work you put into it, but it's much more replaceable than you are.
Maybe you can get some company (if you buy new) to clearcoat a raw frame for you to keep that look.
angle01.9.08 - 12:42 pm
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a steel frame can be hammered back into shape...
from the picture above, it doesn't look that bad...
you just need someone with a mallet...and some elbow grease...
just saying...
adrian01.9.08 - 12:48 pm
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Good to hear you're alright Rollers! Sure is nice to have backup huh?
Steel is one of the most forgiving materials when it comes to repairs. Are you sure it's just that stay Rollers? Is the frame out of alignment? Looks like it's an easy repair job. Spend the money and get it done right. That means don't using a hammer. That can be bent back easily at a shop. The metal will be just as strong as it was before too.
You mentioned that the guy in the Prius is cutting you a check. I guess there was a discussion about the damages. I hope he looked at it as replacing the frame or the bike.
User101.9.08 - 1:22 pm
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THE LOS ANGELOPES LOVE BENT FRAMES!!!
LOVE THE UNLOVABLE!!!
e-rock01.9.08 - 1:27 pm
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Mr. Rollers! I'm glad YOU are ok, but sooo sorry about your bike. Hopefully you can use the frame for art or something, if it's not straightenable. If I see any big frames on ebay or CL, I'll fwd to you.
mixtemotions01.9.08 - 2:25 pm
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Yes, I'm still considering having it straightened, although it is true that the more you bend steel (or any metal) back and forth the more brittle it becomes.
I'm also thinking that I may never feel exactly the same about it again, so maybe it's time to move on, and upgrade a little. The money the guy is sending me should be enough to cover the cost of a good used steel frame and a wheel if I decide I need it.
Or maybe I should think, 'wow, this thing really has a history now and it's pre-disastered!"
Once again, thanks for the concern & advice everyone.
mr rollers01.9.08 - 4:36 pm
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"So The Nazz and his buddies was goofin' off down the boulevard one day ...
and they run into a little cat with a bent frame.
So The Nazz look at this little cat with the bent frame
and he say, "Watsamatta wit' chew, baby?"
Little cat with the bent frame he said, "My frame is bent, Nazz."
Say, "It's been bent from in front."
So The Nazz look at the little cat with a bent frame
and he put the Golden Eyes of Love on this here little kittie
and he look right down into the window of the little cat's soul
and he say to the little cat ... he say, "STRAIGHTEN!"
Rooom - Boom!
Unbent that little cat like an arrow.
And everybody's jumpin' up and down
sayin' ...
"Look what The Nazz put on that boy!"
"You dug him before. Redig him now!"
mr rollers01.9.08 - 5:55 pm
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high on fire is false metal. matt pike is a christian. city hobogoblin is a poser.
ruinedbyidiots01.9.08 - 6:20 pm
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i hope so!
just like the back of metallicas kill em all lp - "bang the head that doesnt bang."
ruinedbyidiots01.9.08 - 7:16 pm
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Rollers,
Glad you survived your run-in.
Yeah, I love Lord Buckley.
Creative Thing01.9.08 - 7:38 pm
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Gee, Mr. Rollers
Glad to hear you're O.K. it's so painful to see our beloved bikes in shambles. I hope you're able to get it repaired or to find another frame that you like a lot as well. My neon green bike had it's own little run in with a car as well on Tuesday afternoon... but I wasn't hurt either. The driver left without putting a note on my bike or anything.
Go get em or your bike fixed :)
KataCyklsLA2NY01.9.08 - 8:03 pm
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That sucks! Glad to see that you're OK though. Just a reminder that drivers can be even less attentive on smaller streets!
cabhauler01.9.08 - 8:41 pm
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Glad to hear you're OK. Know of any structural engineers who can check out the frame?
mk452401.9.08 - 9:57 pm
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Glad to hear you're OK and hopefully back on the bike soon. Gotta keep the over 40 club going. If you need anything, parts or otherwise, don't hesitate to call. I know a friend who has a friend.......
sc_nomad01.10.08 - 11:30 am
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So I closed (what I think was) a decent deal on a very cool looking vintage late 60's lugged steel Carlton frame on eBay last night. I think I'll go the clear powder coat route this time. I know, Olympic Powder Coaters, right?
This frame is coming without a fork, so I might go with a carbon fork. Since I have a brand new in the box threaded headset sitting around, I'd need a 1" threaded carbon fork. SC, got anything like that around, or any good recommendations?
mr rollers01.10.08 - 2:14 pm
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Do they even make threaded 1" carbon forks??? As far as I know all carbie is 1 1/8 threadless. I don't think you can even really screw metal onto carbon... (Did someone say "metal"?)
Just go with a flat-crowned chrome Tange steel fork, 1" threaded. $45. Keep it classy.
ruinedbyidiots:
"city hobogoblin is a poser."
Why? Because I don't drop acid and start inappropriate mosh pits with 16-yr old drop outs? zing!
City Hobgoblin01.10.08 - 3:19 pm
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Yes, they did (and still do), but I'll check out the Tange; thanks CH.
mr rollers01.10.08 - 3:22 pm
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Classy like mr rollers!!
My bad -- SOMA actually makes it, and it's $100. But you're worth it!
City Hobgoblin01.10.08 - 3:33 pm
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Ridazz Roulette!
Mr Rollers said:
metal.
can this be the new "metal" thread?