Current Projects chat and miscellany

drøn - Very nice! What chainset was it? Shimano?
How much weight have you managed to save?

long story short, I wiped out last Saturday. (Tower Bridge Road)

German tourist (ped) walked into me which resulted in her breaking her arm in 2 places & 3 broken fingers (requires surgery) as well as the usual road rash/bruises. Unfortunately I weigh close to 95kg and she was quite elderly and frail. Not a good scenario.

I had no time to react etc as she literally stepped into my cockpit and not in front of the bike so to speak.

Spoke to Ryan (Oak Cycles) and Jacopo (Dodici Cicli) and both basically said the same thing. Ride it, but keep an eye on the damage and if a crack appears, stop riding.

Questions, (thanks in advance)

1-any chance of catastrophic explosion a la carbon?
2-worth repairing? possible? Dodici mentioned replacing the TT but their framebuilders are away till September...
3-can I re-laquer locally? If so suggestions? clear nail varnish?
4-could a crack start from the inside of the tube and not be immediately visible from the outside?
5-the frame is straight and true, but where would I get this ratified? LBS?

It's no trick bike, but the Gara is generally thought to be more bombproof than other alu street tarck bikes..hmmm

How in Jebus' name did she "literally stepped into my cockpit"?!!
I mean, thats some feat for the sprightliest of us on a big bike like yours, never mind an elderly woman!
Anyway, that aside, how are you dude, hope you weren't hurt too bad?

1. Catastrophic explosion is a lot less likely on alu than crabon, but it does occasionally happen. I'm no expert, but the advice you've been given sounds about right, after all, how many times have we seen that ratty 'Dale in rats and HHSB threads thats got more than its fair share of dents?
   
2. The only way to repair it that I can see is to replace the TT, but wouldn't that then mess with the heat treatment on the HT and ST?
   
3. Armortex? http://www.armourtexltd.co.uk/
   
4. I would have thought after seeing a few frames break, that the crack goes completely through the wall of the tube and then spreads around the circumference of the tube, no?
   
5. Sorry, what? Do you want it turned into a rat? well now you've got a dent and missing some paint, its getting that way, but I'd leave it to time and abuse to do the rest, not LBS. Or you mean how do you get it fixed? If its the dent, frame builder, if its the paint, painter/finisher, but neither of those require LBS! ;P