5 Dangerous Bicycle Mechanical Issues That Can Cause Serious Crashes

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Although mechanical problems cause a small minority of bicycle accidents, they do happen. Regular inspection and maintenance of your bike could help you avoid potential accidents and injuries, along with costly repairs or replacements. Protect yourself and others, before you need a bicycle accident attorney, by knowing these top 5 dangerous mechanical issues that can cause serious crashes.

Tire Blowout

When it comes to bicycle mechanical failures, tire blowouts are one of the most common. Just like a car’s tire can blowout, so can a bike’s tire. The cause is usually from an improperly installed tire, over inflation, under inflation, worn-out tires, or damages caused by hitting an object such as a sharp rock or nail in the road.

You can prevent a tire blowout by getting your tires installed on your bike by a professional and getting your tires regularly inspected. Get in the habit of checking your tire pressure once a month, or more often if you are using your bike regularly. Inspect your tires before each ride for damage and replace worn-out tires to avoid additional costs or injury.

Broken Pedal Crank

This is the part that holds and connects the foot pedals to the bicycle’s frame. If the crank breaks, not only will it be nearly impossible to pedal your bicycle, but you’re risking serious injury due to a potential crash. Before you hit the road, give the bike’s pedals and cranks a quick inspection for cracks or loose parts to avoid getting stuck somewhere due to a broken crank.

Damaged Derailleur

This is the system on a bicycle that consists of a chain, multiple different sized sprockets, and a mechanism that shifts the chain from one sprocket to another (more commonly referred to as gears). The derailleur could become bent during a crash, which could lead to damage to the entire rear of the bike. A quick inspection will ensure that it’s functioning properly.

Snapped Chain

One of the worst things that could happen as you’re out for a bike ride is a snapped chain. However, there are easy ways to prevent this from happening. Always keep the bike chain well-oiled, ensure that the derailleurs are properly aligned, ease of pedaling when you’re shifting gears, and you may want to consider carrying a spare chain on long bike rides.

Weakened or Bent Bike Fork

This is the part of the bike that holds on the front wheel and connects to the handlebars by a steerer tube. Faulty bike forks can cause serious or even deadly accidents. Sometimes, bicycle manufacturers will recall certain models for this exact issue. It’s important to stay informed if your bike has any recalls on this part or any other issues you should be aware of.

In summary, it’s important to thoroughly inspect your bicycle each time you go for a ride. A few minutes to check over the working parts, and ensure that your tires are properly inflated and in good shape could save you from a dangerous accident. 

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