Thanks for all the insights and kind words. One of the enlightening aspects of having an accident like this is finding out the so many others have had variations of the same experience. Now pushing 60, I figure I've been on and off bikes for most of the past 50 years, and this was the first time I'd ever taken a serious spill; I thought others had had the same run of luck but, clearly, it's been me who's been beating the odds all this time. Makes me feel kinda special :). I was also surprised to find that my Rivs don't have the lawyer lips that I thought they must. Well, it just means that I'll be particularly careful to ensure that the QRs are tight before heading out. All the best, Kevin
On Saturday, April 23, 2016 at 6:15:58 AM UTC-4, Michael Hechmer wrote: > > Kevin, if you feel safer with lips on your dropouts then I would recommend > this product https://www.1upusa.com/product-quicknutblack.html which will > simplify retightening, and insure a consistent result. I use one on the > tandem because it goes on a roof rack & hence has the front wheel on & off > a lot. > Michael > > On Wednesday, April 20, 2016 at 8:22:15 PM UTC-4, Kevin Lindsey wrote: >> >> This is on-topic. >> Aside from being a Riv fanatic, I also love old steel racing bikes. Over >> the past three months, I rebuilt a 1972 (i.e. pre-lawyer lips) Peugeot >> PX-10, using all original equipment (Simplex transmission, Mafac brakes, >> Campy hubs, Brooks Swift, etc.) and took it out for its maiden voyage two >> days ago. On my way back from the 40-mile jaunt, I approached a slight >> curb and jerked the front wheel up a bit to clear it. My next memories are >> a flash of me going over the handlebars and hitting the pavement, then >> being surrounded by concerned runners (I was on the Mount Vernon bike and >> running trail in Alexandria, Virginia) tut-tutting at my broken bike and >> bleeding knees, shoulder, and face. Fortunately, I was able to walk the >> bike about three miles to the nearest bike shop and called my wife to come >> pick me up. >> Looking at the bike and my injuries later that evening, I believe what >> happened was this: the old Campy quick release skewer on my front wheel got >> loose and, by jerking the bike up at the curb, I pulled the wheel out of >> the left fork, causing the wheel to pop off, digging my now wheel-less fork >> into the pavement, and flipping me for a 180. I hit on my knees and hands >> (fortunately protected by riding gloves), and my head (fortunately >> protected by a now-gashed helmet). I will eventually heal (assuming that >> my wrist is not actually broken, but only banged up, and that the slight >> headache I've had since will eventually dissipate), but the right tine of >> my fork is permanently bent at about a 15 degree angle. Otherwise, thank >> God, my bike is almost unscathed (except for the Brooks, which was deeply >> scored and which led me to conclude that I flipped the bike over completely >> during the crash). >> Although we often grouse about lawyer lips and helmets, this accident >> wouldn't have happened on my Hunq or Bleriot, graced as they both are with >> those annoying lips demanded by liability lawyers to prevent incidents like >> this. Also, if I hadn't been wearing my helmet, it's likely that I would >> have had a full-blown concussion, not to mention a deep road rash on my >> head to match the relatively light stuff on my face. >> Lesson learned. >> In the meantime, does anyone out there have a spare white fork for a 56cm >> PX-10? >> Kevin >> > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. Visit this group at https://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
