Current Projects chat and miscellany

Columbus Gara is steel.. So it will be fine, still, get yersen a new frame for free...

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've spoken to her and her husband since, no hard feelings and we joked a bit about Germany (and Greece's) abysmal performances at this Olympics. We also mutually agreed not to discuss politics or economics at this point.

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

Bike wise, I was on the Gara, which is broadly fine but the cockpit swang round, risers skipped over the TT and the underside of the X2 faceplate struck the TT causing this:

I peeled back a bit of paint and softly went over it with a rough sponge revealing the full dent:

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?

I have to say that the Police report puts her at fault 100% and as she realised I could claim ££££ from a no-win-no-fee outfit, her husband is offering me enough cash to replace the entire frame + parts.

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