Advice after a crash

You should probably examine the frame (even if you didn't collide with anything...aside from the ground), make sure the wheels are still true.

Solanog said:

I fell off my bike and broke my clavicle and had a lot of bruises etc. This was about two months and a half, yesterday I went for a ride and everything seemed fine.
From the fall the bicycle had the bar ends broken and some scratches and the rear derailleur was hit as where the shifters, my question is what should I check? I'm not sure if the handlebar is bent, it could be but at least is not noticeable only where the bar ends where attached it is bent, what should I do change handlebar? What else should I check before I go for a ride?

It's good to hear you are (reasonably) OK. (Shameless self pity to follow)--> I am currently in physical therapy for my second (yep) surgery on the same shoulder this year, nice.

Anyway, if the bar measures out OK (no noticeable differences in height, bend, etc) then it should be fine. Several years ago I put a couple hundred miles on a bent Answer riser bar (not horribly bent). I can't advise anyone riding a bent bar, but...

I'd also check to make sure everything else involved with the steering is aligned and OK. It's easy for the headset to twist on the steerer tube and be a bit off. It's an easy fix though. From there just look for cracks in the frame (if you are worried), brake lever alignment and see if all cables/lines are as they should be. Finally, if it shifts correctly you should be good to go. Ride it around the block/neighborhood for a bit to get an idea if all is kosher before you bomb down anything wicked. Good luck and good healing.

Kraig.

ireman_1 said:

It's good to hear you are (reasonably) OK. (Shameless self pity to follow)--> I am currently in physical therapy for my second (yep) surgery on the same shoulder this year, nice.

Anyway, if the bar measures out OK (no noticeable differences in height, bend, etc) then it should be fine. Several years ago I put a couple hundred miles on a bent Answer riser bar (not horribly bent). I can't advise anyone riding a bent bar, but...

I'd also check to make sure everything else involved with the steering is aligned and OK. It's easy for the headset to twist on the steerer tube and be a bit off. It's an easy fix though. From there just look for cracks in the frame (if you are worried), brake lever alignment and see if all cables/lines are as they should be. Finally, if it shifts correctly you should be good to go. Ride it around the block/neighborhood for a bit to get an idea if all is kosher before you bomb down anything wicked. Good luck and good healing.

Kraig.

Thanks for the advice, I checked the frame and it seems O.K, the handle bar seems good except for where the barends where attached, at the shop they say I can cut the tips of the bar so the bent part goes (a little about half inch at most). The steering is a little bit mis aligned but not a big deal I will correct it next weekend before I take another ride!

Sorry to hear about your fall, but its good to see you will be getting back to it as soon as you can.

I find that after all of my crashes I can usually just "feel" any problems in the bike. I ride it up and down the street really slow listening for creaks and squeaks paying special attention to how the pedals feel. Watch out for bent cranks, or cogs run it threw all the gears and check those breaks! If everything seems in running order I usually hop it a few times just to see if anything rattles off.