Aluminium isn't meant to do this!!!

[the other Steve Dennis]

Due to boredom and disillusionment with riding in NYC I hadn't raced in 2 years.
My return to racing and Addiscombe colours was last Saturday morning in heavy rain at the Sherman Park Criterium in Chicago.

The good news is that I felt comfortable in the pack, was able to ride at the front and stayed with the race until the last lap and a half.
Would have made it to the finish if the other 9 riders in front of me hadn't slid across the road leaving me with no where to go but over the bars.

Even better news is that after someone unclipped my foot I was able to stand up and realise I was perfectly ok, well a little bum and back road rash and a couple of days later I am pretty stiff. So I picked up my bike, and then another piece and then dragged the other half to the side of the road. Yeah two halves and a little piece!

An engineer and a bike mechanic at the race had never seen Aluminium (aluminum) do this before!
Needless to say physically I was probably the best off (there were broken bones) but I so can't afford this and my wife isn't keen on me racing anymore now we have a daughter.

[img]http://www.velopaint.com/NewFiles/IMG_0167.JPG[/img]

[img]http://www.velopaint.com/NewFiles/Front-Section.JPG[/img]


Does anyone have experience of Cannondale's crash replacement program?
Anythought's on my next move.

If Cannondale come through I plan on their Caad 9 frameset only and salvaging usable components off the old bike.

Just to let you know that even though I am not posting anymore, I am lurking. Bit out of the loop with you all but I'm still with ACC at heart.
Huge congrats to Paul for finally getting the tandem record he has fought so long for.

Steve

[Ivor]

[quote="Sean Hogan - 何祥"]You haven't put on like tons of weight in Chicago since we met way back in '05 have you?

[Ivor]

[quote="Sean Hogan - 何祥"]I'm pretty sure Cannondale would be interested in this as Alooominum shouldn't fail like this, well thats the received wisdom.

[Jon H]

Wow that's a seriously trashed frame. It looks like the classic breakage points for a heavy straight-on front impact. I rode a steel frame into the front wing of a car once, and it failed in almost the exact same places, although it bent rather than fell apart.

[Ivor]

[quote="Jon Hemming"]I rode a steel frame into the front wing of a car once

[the other Steve Dennis]

Dead straight impact into a fallen rider at about 28-30mph - he is ok.
I found that the front rim is also bent and tyre looks as though it was cut up by a chairnring.
Then I saw the amount of scratching between the chainring and downtube on my bike.
So it looks like the frame snapped and the front wheel was pushed between the downtube and crankset on my own bike!

Going to speak to Cannondale directly and also a Cannondale dealer - see if they come up with different offers.
Trying to forget about the dream frames I would buy and stick with whatever I am offered.

[Ivor]

[quote="the other Steve Dennis"]Trying to forget about the dream frames I would buy and stick with whatever I am offered.

[mrP(Boonen)VT]

Hey Steve,
That is a severe impact, glad you're OK (and thanks for the tandem mention)

Are they undamaged carbon forks?

[the other Steve Dennis]

Yeah the forks look ok - nuts huh!

Cannondales replacement program will give me a CAAD9 frame and forks for $600.
No deal on complete bike, which is $1300 with Shimano 105.
Frame is better than I had but components definitely a step down or two.
I have been told that frame + replacing damaged parts + labor = around $1200.

So I am browsing for a new bike.
Looking for a deal.
Taking my time.

Kinda scared of risking crashing again on an all carbon - so trying to stick with aluminium.
No spare cash at the moment for on of the dream bikes.
[url]http://www.zullo-bike.com/products/tonica.html[/url]

Paul - missing riding the lanes with you guys.
Do you see or hear from Chris C, Brian Tidey or Keith Knight anymore?

Hope you are well.

Steve

[mrP(Boonen)VT]

Cheers Stevie,

Good luck - I have a Felt full carbon job that I love (shhhhhhh it's only 6.5kg ) and they also do some nice alu frames at a reasonable price.

Chris C is selling all his bikes (I have purchased the tandem) following his knee problem that has never gone away.

K "peeps" Knight pops up now and again, but is not doing much at the moment.

Brian - not seen or heard from him.

[Andrew G]

Wow that sounds like a nasty crash, glad to hear you bounced and are okay. The Tonica looks very nice, a proper bike .

[Mike I]

[quote="Andrew G"]The Tonica looks very nice, a proper bike .