Rear wheel hit by car - question about potential damage

[IntegraTypeR]

Hi all.

My bike is a scott cr1 team carbon road bike.

I went out for a ride last week and a car that was turning to his right cut across my path and clipped the rear wheel. The rear wheel was knocked out of the drop outs and luckily i managed to pull to a stop without hitting the deck - was doing about 25mph at the time. The only visible damage is that the rim is out of true. What I'd like to understand is if there is much potential for damage elsewhere such as the frame or drivetrain components, if everything looks ok, and the bike appears to ride fine after the rim has been replaced. I don't know if a carbon frame either snaps or is fine?

I don't see any marks on the rim so I suspect that he clipped the tyre. Can't be sure though.

Opinions much appreciated!

Thanks

Ian

Edited by IntegraTypeR on Sunday 4th August 14:18

[itsnotarace]

Take it to a shop and get them to check it over, if it was forceful enough to dislodge a properly secured (with skewer) wheel then it just have been quite a knock. Unlucky mate

[LotusMartin]

if he hit you and you were doing 25mph I would be having a VERY meticulous look at the frame, uprights, all carbon joins. I hope he/she stopped and gave you insurance details.

[IntegraTypeR]

Thanks for the replies so far. Yes the driver stopped and I have his details. My lbs will be checking the bike over but I was interested in hearing from other folks that know about the way in which carbon frames tend to deal with impact. My concern is that while all looks good on the surface, there may be internal damage that cannot be detected. Putting a positive spin on it, now that I have 1 dead mavic aksium, I might be forced into an upgrade

[LotusMartin]

From what I've heard the only conclusive way is to X-ray the frame (I think it's X-ray). but that would cost more than the frame is worth. See what the bike shop says and suggest you'd be happy to right it off given the risks of such an impact.

[GaryGlitter]

Guy I ride with had a low speed rear-end tap from a car, he's now riding on a new frame as the drivers insurance company offered a replacement frame straight away due to the risk of hidden damage within the carbon frame.

It might not look damaged on the outside, but are you happy to take the risk?

[upsidedownmark]

More FUD. Nothing magic about carbon really.

My take would be this: If the frame has not taken any direct impact, forget about it. If it has, then I *might* worry.. but probably not. It's possible for carbon to delaminate, but normally that's the result of a bad layup, or (repeated) crushing. In all my experience it's either fine or in 2 pieces - look for cracks.

I'm having a hard time figuring how the car turned across you and hit the back wheel? As you stayed on.. sounds like a very light tap.. most likely very little loading on the frame. Inclined to think the QR wasn't done up properly, or it may have been released by something.

Of course if you want to get a new frame out of them, go for it. Just don't complain about the price of car insurance

[IntegraTypeR]

It's certainly possible that the qr was not as tight as it should be. I was almost past him as he turned in hence he only clipped the rear wheel. Have booked the bike in for a check so hopefully they give it a clean bill of health. Just ordered a set of shimano rs80 to replace the wonky aksium

[itsnotarace]

Not being funny but why were you overtaking a vehicle turning right?

[Vocal Minority]

I expect the vehicle was on the opposite side of the road and turning to its right (the OPs left) across thecarriage way into a side road.

[itsnotarace]

Gotcha

[IntegraTypeR]

Vocal Minority said:

I expect the vehicle was on the opposite side of the road and turning to its right (the OPs left) across thecarriage way into a side road.

Precisely

[IntegraTypeR]

Bike shop have checked it over and there were no issues found (apart from wonky wheel) so that's great news. I've fitted my new Shimano RS80s and I'm all ready for my first Sportive on Sunday (New Forest Rattler) - fingers crossed it doesn't fall apart on me half way through the ride