May be in the market for a new bike

[pll]

Sorry to read about your crash! Sounds very similar to one I had many years ago, where my front wheel went into a crack in the road.

Here's is what I would do: replace the fork so you can continue to ride while you search for bike. The new fork does not have to be from Trek -- it could be from Performance Bike or Nashbar. You don't want the new bike to be urgent. Once you get the new one, the old one can be demoted to the trainer, perhaps to be ridden on rainy days.

[Possegal]

Sorry to read about your crash! Sounds very similar to one I had many years ago, where my front wheel went into a crack in the road.

Here's is what I would do: replace the fork so you can continue to ride while you search for bike. The new fork does not have to be from Trek -- it could be from Performance Bike or Nashbar. You don't want the new bike to be urgent. Once you get the new one, the old one can be demoted to the trainer, perhaps to be ridden on rainy days.

That is another option. I can ride the Kona so I'm not bike-less. But I may look into that as well. I told my sister I don't want to be like when I'm desperate to buy a new car. I don't want to be desperate to buy. I'm taking the Kona to the mechanic I talked with today, on Wednesday, so he can just give it a once-over. I'll talk to him about it options to replace the fork. Thanks for the advice. And for making me feel a bit better about the wreck, definitely sounds like a similar crash. OY

[pll]

That is another option. I can ride the Kona so I'm not bike-less. But I may look into that as well. I told my sister I don't want to be like when I'm desperate to buy a new car. I don't want to be desperate to buy. I'm taking the Kona to the mechanic I talked with today, on Wednesday, so he can just give it a once-over. I'll talk to him about it options to replace the fork. Thanks for the advice. And for making me feel a bit better about the wreck, definitely sounds like a similar crash. OY

OY is totally right! I hit the ground so hard I nearly stopped cycling. Broken helmet (CT scan followed). My elbow hurt for nearly a year, and I had one bruise that deserved a photo blog: the top tube left an psychedelic impression on my thigh.

I went through bike shopping experience in late 2009. My old bike started to fall apart: the rear wheel became 'untruable', with a different spoke breaking in three consecutive weeks; the cartridge in the bottom bracket went... I replaced the wheelset and do not regret it at all. I rode that bike a couple more months and now it is ready to go on the trainer, so I don't put my beautiful new bike on that contraption. I have a hybrid, too, but I like a road bike better for longer rides.

[indysteel]

Ouch. I hope you have a quick recovery! That sounds like a painful wreck.

I don't know if I agree with pll. By the time you factor in parts and labor, it might make more sense to invest that money in a new bike, especially if your budget is already tight. But if you want to buy sone extra time or otherwise salvage the bike, then replace what you need to and start the search. Any idea what you want?

[Possegal]

No idea. Figure I'll test ride over a few weeks. I've got lost of nearby bike shops, so plenty to test. And since I have started riding the Kona to work, I've got time to play.

I liked this mechanic a lot and I feel like I can bounce ideas off him and see what makes the most sense. He did comment something about it not necessarily being worth it financially to replace the fork.

So, let's say I decide that is the case - what would you all do with the bike? salvage parts? Clearly I'm barely able to stay upright on the bike, any mechanical aspects of it are foreign to me.

[Blueberry]

Ouch!!! Sounds like a crash I had (went down hard; don't know why; best guess was crack in the road) - major road rash and a shoulder that was not good. X ray showed a partial AC joint separation. Lots of PT and LOTS of time to heal (seriously, I noticed it stopped hurting after a year!) - but am fine now. Biking was allowed for me after the worst of the pain subsided (I pushed that and rode 40 miles 4 days after the crash - I had paid for the ride!).

Hang in there!!