Biking accident

[Eureka]

No pictures, no details... are we supposed to guess how your wheel came off?

What brand of bike was it? Was it a cookie-cutter brand (Walmart, Target, etc) where all the parts are made of weak metal?

Did you do a pre-ride maintenance check? Was everything secure and tight?

 

[Cuda1447]

No pictures, no details... are we supposed to guess how your wheel came off?

What brand of bike was it? Was it a cookie-cutter brand (Walmart, Target, etc) where all the parts are made of weak metal?

Did you do a pre-ride maintenance check? Was everything secure and tight?

I guess I wasn't really expecting people to try to figure it out, but I appreciate all the help.

The bike is a specialized hardrock sport. I didn't do a pre-ride maintenance check, didn't really think about it. Now I know to do that!

 

[slag]

Sometimes if you use helium in the tires it can throw off your trajectory due to it being lighter than air. I've actually lost two bikes in the past when jumping them as they keep going up after I've fallen off. I recommend using sea level air as the pressure is constant.

 

[ch33zw1z]

was there any wobble or warning signed before the wheel came off? If the nuts or quick release was loose, probably wasn't feeling right.

 

[rh71]

So you fell onto the lawn mower?

it almost ran over me when I pulled it going backwards... I even contacted a lawyer to see what I could do about it. Craftsman is a big company right?

 

[Eureka]

Well, at least it's a good bike.

You should definitely check all your moving parts if you're going to take it out hard, and it sounds like you ride your bike hard. Replace quick release with nuts and keep a toolkit in your car for changing out wheels. Quick release is great for the paranoid who take their wheels everywhere but not really useful otherwise. Use loctite on the nuts for a bit more grip.

You should probably also check your handebar nut too while you're at it. It sounds like you're riding pretty hard so you have a chance of vibrating loose all the parts if they're not secured and locked.

 

[Craig234]

was there any wobble or warning signed before the wheel came off? If the nuts or quick release was loose, probably wasn't feeling right.

Sometimes there will be but it seems that often the first notice is when you hit a bump or something and it's just off. This is a very dangerous thing...

It wouldn't be that hard to dump the rider into traffic, or off a cliff, or onto something sharp poking up, and so on.

 

[Cuda1447]

Well it looks like it was the quick release. Put it back on and tightened that bitch up. Easy fix actually, surprised I didn't notice that it was loose before. Like someone else mentioned, rookie mistake.


While I'm at it though, it seems like there are a lot of knowledgeable people here. I've been having issues with the gears. Some of the gears seem to not work right. I will put it in a lower gear and all of a sudden I have no resistance in the pedals. Sometimes going back up a gear or two will get it working again. I also hear a grinding noise at times.

What should I be looking at here?

 

[Cuda1447]

Sometimes there will be but it seems that often the first notice is when you hit a bump or something and it's just off. This is a very dangerous thing...

It wouldn't be that hard to dump the rider into traffic, or off a cliff, or onto something sharp poking up, and so on.

No wobble at all. I think it came loose when I hit the slight curb and went into the air.

Oh and yes, this could have been very dangerous. If this had happened a few minutes earlier I could very easily have ended up in traffic. Makes me nervous to think about it.

 

[Cuda1447]

it almost ran over me when I pulled it going backwards... I even contacted a lawyer to see what I could do about it. Craftsman is a big company right?

Woah, that's scary! I think Craftsman is big enough... not sure what you could realistically do about that though.

 

[OILFIELDTRASH]

No don't replace with nuts unless you plan on carrying a couple wrenches with you on the road so you can get the wheel off in the event you get a flat, which you will. Also you need to carry spare tube, air pump (frame mount or CO2), multi tool, tire levers.

 

[Eureka]

Well it looks like it was the quick release. Put it back on and tightened that bitch up. Easy fix actually, surprised I didn't notice that it was loose before. Like someone else mentioned, rookie mistake.


While I'm at it though, it seems like there are a lot of knowledgeable people here. I've been having issues with the gears. Some of the gears seem to not work right. I will put it in a lower gear and all of a sudden I have no resistance in the pedals. Sometimes going back up a gear or two will get it working again. I also hear a grinding noise at times.

What should I be looking at here?

Sounds like your derailleur needs to be tuned. Just in case you don't know how it works, the derailleur guides the chain via steel cable tension. If the tension is off, it can skip gears or be misaligned, causing grinding.

Call around your local (reputable) bike shops. Chances are they'll have a full "tune-up" for $60 or less, where they check all bolts, cables and wear items for you. They will probably fit the bike for you too if you ask nicely enough and they're not busy.

If you feel handy: http://sheldonbrown.com/derailer-adjustment.html

 

[Cuda1447]

Sounds like your derailleur needs to be tuned. Just in case you don't know how it works, the derailleur guides the chain via steel cable tension. If the tension is off, it can skip gears or be misaligned, causing grinding.

Call around your local (reputable) bike shops. Chances are they'll have a full "tune-up" for $60 or less, where they check all bolts, cables and wear items for you. They will probably fit the bike for you too if you ask nicely enough and they're not busy.

Gotcha. Nothing I can tune myself, right?

 

[Eureka]

Well, I just edited my last post, but here's a guide: http://sheldonbrown.com/derailer-adjustment.html

If you feel handy enough it's just trial and error. It's not terribly complex, but it may be worth it to get someone else to look it over, since it's a used bike and they'll basically do all the labor to get it back to great mechanical condition.

 

[OILFIELDTRASH]

Well it looks like it was the quick release. Put it back on and tightened that bitch up. Easy fix actually, surprised I didn't notice that it was loose before. Like someone else mentioned, rookie mistake.


While I'm at it though, it seems like there are a lot of knowledgeable people here. I've been having issues with the gears. Some of the gears seem to not work right. I will put it in a lower gear and all of a sudden I have no resistance in the pedals. Sometimes going back up a gear or two will get it working again. I also hear a grinding noise at times.

What should I be looking at here?

Rear and front derailleurs need adjustment likely. Could be worn chain, rear cassette (geared wheel in rear), crank (big front gears). If you'd like to do it yourself it will require the purchase of some specialized tools and a work stand. Shouldn't be much but considering you're a newb you might quit cycling within the next month or two so I wouldn't suggest buying the tools just yet. Take it to a bike shop and have them sort it out.
If you're the do it yourself type like myself I can give advice.

 

[Eureka]

No don't replace with nuts unless you plan on carrying a couple wrenches with you on the road so you can get the wheel off in the event you get a flat, which you will. Also you need to carry spare tube, air pump (frame mount or CO2), multi tool, tire levers.

Really depends on the style of riding. But since it's a mountain bike, weight isn't a premium so carrying a tool bag with a few tools isn't going to be a big deal. Small wrenches or a combination tool will fit into a pouch.

If it's just around the park riding where you're no more than a mile or two from your car/house, then it may not even be worth it to carry all the tools.

 

[OILFIELDTRASH]

Really depends on the style of riding. But since it's a mountain bike, weight isn't a premium so carrying a tool bag with a few tools isn't going to be a big deal. Small wrenches or a combination tool will fit into a pouch.

If it's just around the park riding where you're no more than a mile or two from your car/house, then it may not even be worth it to carry all the tools.

I don't know anyone that carries a couple of wrenches with them. And if all he planned on doing was park rides a mile out from his car he should have went to Wal-Mart and bought a $100 special. The closest mountain bike trails around me still have you out several miles from your car. I also don't know of any wedges that would carry the weight of some wrenches along with all the other essentials. You really are giving some bad bicycling advice here.

 

[Eureka]

I don't know anyone that carries a couple of wrenches with them. And if all he planned on doing was park rides a mile out from his car he should have went to Wal-Mart and bought a $100 special. The closest mountain bike trails around me still have you out several miles from your car. I also don't know of any wedges that would carry the weight of some wrenches along with all the other essentials. You really are giving some bad bicycling advice here.

I've seen $100 Walmart specials and they do a lot worse than lose a wheel. That's the worst advice I've seen, period.

And something like this:

Can't hold a 13mm wrench?

Or get a small enough wrench like this:

Which you can definitely fit into a wedge. I've fit my massive 5" cell phone into my wedge.

Speaking of which, to OP: since you landed without a wheel, it's probably go to take it in to a shop and make sure nothing else is misaligned.

 

[OILFIELDTRASH]

Sure he can carry anything he likes. He could get a luggage rack and carry a full tool box if he'd like. Point is he doesn't need to carry a couple of full size wrenches when the quick release is capable of holding his wheel in place if used correctly. I don't know about you but when I'm miles out from my house or car and I'm nearing exhaustion the last thing I want is two more wrenches along for the ride. Sure it doesn't seem like much but a couple hours of tough riding and those wrenches become more like 10lb weights. Space and weight is a premium on a bicycle which you don't understand as you're not a bicyclist. Give me some more room for snacks or fluids so I can make it home.

 

[Eureka]

Sure he can carry anything he likes. He could get a luggage rack and carry a full tool box if he'd like. Point is he doesn't need to carry a couple of full size wrenches when the quick release is capable of holding his wheel in place if used correctly. I don't know about you but when I'm miles out from my house or car and I'm nearing exhaustion the last thing I want is two more wrenches along for the ride. Sure it doesn't seem like much but a couple hours of tough riding and those wrenches become more like 10lb weights. Space and weight is a premium on a bicycle which you don't understand as you're not a bicyclist. Give me some more room for snacks or fluids so I can make it home.

The choice to use a QR vs axle nuts is dependent on the usage, but if a couple of emergency tools (see the lightweight wrenches I linked above) are too heavy for you then I have nothing to discuss here.

 

[Imp]

I'd file this one under "shit happens" (though probably preventable) and keep wearing a helmet and gloves for some degree of protection.

 

[Cuda1447]

I'd file this one under "shit happens" (though probably preventable) and keep wearing a helmet and gloves for some degree of protection.

I think you mean start wearing a helmet....

Yea, I'm lucky nothing worse happened.

 

[Eureka]

I think you mean start wearing a helmet....

Yea, I'm lucky nothing worse happened.

I try to wear a helmet as much as possible. One day I decide to take a bike ride in the rain. I take a corner too fast and my rear starts sliding out.

I think to myself "Good thing I'm wearing a helmet".

I land on my shoulder.

 

[highland145]

Haha! Come on man... it's been years since that happened. I've gotten a lot better.

Hey, it worked.

:biggrin:

No don't replace with nuts unless you plan on carrying a couple wrenches with you on the road so you can get the wheel off in the event you get a flat, which you will. Also you need to carry spare tube, air pump (frame mount or CO2), multi tool, tire levers.

This. Rode the same route for years with no flats. Bam, 2 in 2 weeks but I was prepared thankfully. Toss in a $20 just in case.

 

[Cuda1447]

Hey, it worked.

:biggrin:

This. Rode the same route for years with no flats. Bam, 2 in 2 weeks but I was prepared thankfully. Toss in a $20 just in case.

Oh man, that picture brings up bad memories! I'm surprised you guys remember that thread.