Novara Randonee Crash

[Cadet]

Still not sure what happened but the quick and dirty version is I crashed mid hill at about 25 mph, Im ok, road rash and the like, but the front fork on the bike is bent bad. Im wondering if anyone knows about finding a fork replacement.  Its a 2008 Randonee from REI.  Thanks for the help.

[MTNGator]

You should probably check with REI before you replace the fork - they might have a replacement. From looking at the REI website, the fork looks a lot like the Surly Long Haul Trucker fork I recently installed on my Cannondale T2000. I picked up the fork on eBay from a guy who bought it for a project but then decided against doing. The fork cost me $80 delivered (but I also had to buy a crown race and star nut, cut the steerer tube to length and have a bike shop install the crown race and star nut - spent about $125.00 for everything). Harris Cycles in MA can get you a fork as well for a bit more $$$ than I spent on eBay.

The problem I see in your case is that REI does not list the geometry of their bikes on-line so you can't tell if the fork rake of the replacement (45 mm) is the same as the fork rake of the original. Maybe REI or someone else can tell you.

Kona also sells replacement steel road forks but the Surly is closer to the style of your REI bike. Good luck.

[paddleboy17]

A friend of mine also crashed his Cannondale T2000 and bent the fork.  There was an old school bike owner who still had the jigs for aligning forks, but the fork won't stay true.  He bought a fork from Independent Fabricators for $130, but has yet to install it.  IF made the fork for his wife's Serotta touring bike (don't ask any questions about why Serotta made her a touring bike) under contract for Serotta.  He was really impressed with IF's work, not so impressed with Serotta's work.

So check and see what IF can do for you.

[Cadet]

Thanks for all the help Im going to sell the bike but I did find the Surly Long Haul Trucker Fork would be a perfect replacement.

Ive decided to buy a new Surly LHT with the sale money and a little savings. 

[MTNGator]

The Surly LHT is a great choice. Good luck and let us know how you like the new bike after you have had a chance to put on some miles.

[DaveB]

Thanks for all the help Im going to sell the bike.....

A crash severe enough to ruin a fork may have also damaged the frame.  Check it very carefully for a dented or crimped down tube and top tube and be sure the head tube wasn't ovalized by the impact.  Selling a damaged frame to some unsuspecting purchaser is not a good move. 

It may cost a bit to have the frame alignment and tube integrity checked by a bike shop but it will tell you if the frame is salable or should be discarded.

[paddleboy17]

If the bike is too trashed for you to ride, then it is probably too trashed for anyone else to ride also.

Just canabilize her for parts.

[Cadet]

Im not selling a bad bike, I had it checked by the REI bike shop and they guaranteed the only damage was the fork. Which was twisted, the bikes fine. Ive been wanting to sell and upgrade anyway so it was more just the last straw. It just needs a new fork and a wheel tuning. You cant even tell it was crashed unless you look straight down the fork.

[whittierider]

Without taking it apart and putting it on the alignment table though (which they won't have in the store), they probably couldn't guarantee it would track straight anymore if you did put a new fork in it.