Crickey!
The poor chap's had a tough time!
I'm building up a bike with my first ever all carbon forks (and handlebars) and I must admit to being a tad nervous.
Hopefully the insurers will do a thorough job looking into the failure, but I'm inclined to think that the fault is most likely to lay with the Chinese manufacturers of the fork.
The article also says that Planet X had gone into administration, I hadn't realised that.
sure, but it also reads like they weren't doing their own independent testing & instead just relying on the word of the manufacturer 🤷♂️ You get what you pay for I guess! Really rough result for the chap though. I know 99.999999% of the time you'd be fine, but Chinese forks is just not something I could ever bring myself to put on one of my bikes.but I’m inclined to think that the fault is most likely to lay with the Chinese manufacturers of the fork.
but Chinese forks is just not something I could ever bring myself to put on one of my bikes.
Most carbon forks on the market are of Chinese manufacture.
Ugh, what happened to the warning when clicking through to Daily Wail links (I didn't read the URL).
That's very sad but I couldn't see past the poorly/well placed banana in that article
Unrelated to this but if anyone has a PX Tempest from that 2020-ish era and wants to pull the fork out and post up the codes on the steerer it might be of interest
SALSACYCLES.COM An ex colleague of mine had the same happen* with a pair of Ridley forks, so not limited to budget brands (or what is perceived as budget)
*his injuries not so bad, but still broken back and neck, lots of metal work later can walk but is a good few inches shorterÂ
with a pair of Ridley forks
could be from the same supplier, not sure who makes that PX fork though
I bet Canyon are made up one of their bikes features in that article's pictures.
🙄 obviously I am referring to the cheap-n-cheerful ones with dubious quality control rather than something from a reputable manufacturer
I know who makes PX frames (and I am guessing forks too) and they do indeed make forks for quite alot of bigger, or at least much more expensive brands.
I think they have more than one supplier. Some of their frames are/were known open mold supplier's but not all.
Poor guy, that's grim. I know where it happened and that grass is pretty smooth.
To echo posts above, I also know a guy who had forks snap on a pricey bike, a Wilier roadie. Happened going uphill on tarmac, and he's not really a big powerful guy.
He gained some new teeth, and a very wonky nose out of it.
That's really bad luck especially as he says he was going about 15 mph. Did it snap at the crown or the stem? I don't think it says.Â
When people post links to forks I always say Id rather have a cheap Chinese carbon fork from planet x or other company than an unknown from Ebay becuase they have proper insurance. Yes, they might fight it but at least you've something to try and claim against.Â
As others have said, it's probably the same as all the other companies.Â
My new trek 1120 fork is a ali steerer bonded in. Not sure it's any better or worse but made me wonder why they have changed the design.
@Hambini mentioned something on one of his videos recently about an insurance claim he was asked to write a report on. Wonder if it's this one or if there's loads of them (on failures, not against px)Â
@brucewee good call, text here -
NHS doctor, 30, who broke his spine and was paralysed after his £2,300 all-terrain bike 'sheared in two' while going downhill sues firm for £10million<br />Dr Daniel Gordon suffered life-changing injuries when his bike fell apart in 2020<br />He is now suing the insurers behind the Sheffield-based bike company for £10m<br />By DAN WOODLAND
PUBLISHED: 10:44, 27 November 2023 | UPDATED: 11:00, 27 November 2023<br />A doctor who broke his spine and became paralysed after his brand-new bike fell apart while going down a hill is suing for £10 million compensation.
Dr Daniel Gordon, 30, suffered life-changing injuries when the forks of his £2,300 all-terrain gravel bike 'sheared in two' as he rode through the grounds of the hospital where his girlfriend worked in Inverness, Scotland, in July 2020.
The keen cyclist, who was working as a junior doctor at Raigmore Hospital, was only travelling at around 15mph before the bike collapsed beneath him, throwing him to the ground.
He underwent spinal surgery and then months of rehabilitation, but devastating spinal injuries have left him paralysed, with no use of his lower body, making him dependant on a wheelchair.
He is now fighting for £10 million in compensation from the insurers behind the Sheffield-based bike designers, builders and sellers Planet X who sold him the bike. They deny that it was defective or that any defect caused the accident.
Dr Daniel Gordon (pictured), 30, broke his spine and became paralysed after his brand-new bike fell apart while going down a hill is suing for £10 million compensation
He suffered life-changing injuries when the forks of his £2,300 all-terrain gravel bike 'sheared in two' as he rode through the grounds of the hospital where his girlfriend worked in Inverness, Scotland, in July 2020
Dr Gordon is now fighting for £10 million in compensation from the insurers behind the Sheffield-based bike designers, builders and sellers Planet X who sold him the bike<br />+6<br />View gallery<br />Dr Gordon is now fighting for £10 million in compensation from the insurers behind the Sheffield-based bike designers, builders and sellers Planet X who sold him the bike
According to claim documents, Dr Gordon grew up in England but moved to Scotland to pursue his medical training in 2018, working as a junior doctor at Raigmore Hospital, in Inverness.
He is a keen and experienced on and off-road cyclist and in July 2020 purchased from the company a £2,300 Planet X Tempest SRAM Force 1 titanium gravel bike.
Dr Gordon's barrister, Nathan Tavares KC, said in his claim: 'On the evening of 20th August 2020, the claimant took the bike out on its first proper test ride since purchasing it.
'The bike appeared to the claimant to be properly set up and without any obvious defect or safety issue.
'The claimant commenced his journey on the A82 Glenurquhurt Road in Inverness and travelled north along the edge of the Caledonian canal before branching off to New Craigs Hospital.
'The bike was not fitted with any bags or luggage. The claimant wore a helmet.
'Upon leaving the hospital location at around 9pm, he rode the bike down a grassy slope situated off a track running through the hospital grounds known as New Craigs Forresters.
'In the course of descending the grass slope at a speed of about 25 km per hour (15.5 mph), which is terrain and a speed the claimant will say ought to have been well within the capabilities of the bike, the carbon fibre front forks suddenly and without warning sheared in two at the base of the steerer tube, causing the front wheel of the bike to collapse rearwards.
'This resulted in the claimant falling forwards heavily, impacting the ground whereupon he sustained severe life changing injuries.'
According to claim documents, Dr Gordon grew up in England but moved to Scotland to pursue his medical training in 2018, working as a junior doctor at Raigmore Hospital, in Inverness
<br />He is a keen and experienced on and off-road cyclist and in July 2020 purchased from the company a £2,300 Planet X Tempest SRAM Force 1 titanium gravel bike (pictured)
He was initially treated at Raigmore Hospital in Inverness before he was transferred to the Scottish Spinal Injuries Centre at Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, Glasgow.
After vowing that his life was 'not over,' Dr Gordon has gone on to forge a new future as a disabled athlete, competing in para-triathlons, while resuming his studies.
Mr Tavares said: 'At the time of the accident, the claimant was a Foundation Year 2 doctor at Raigmore Hospital, Inverness,' his barrister says.
'He lived with his Italian partner, now his fiancée, who is also a trainee doctor.
'In February 2021 they moved to more suitable wheel-chair accessible ground floor accommodation. He subsequently returned to his medical training and now works 80% of full time.
'His career options in medicine are now severely curtailed and he is significantly handicapped on the labour market.
'The claimant and his partner have not yet decided in which country they will live and pursue their medical careers once they completed their training..'
His lawyers blame Planet X Limited for supplying a 'defective' bike to Dr Gordon, which his barristers claims had 'dangerously weak front forks.'
Planet X's marketing for the bike stated: 'Tempest is our flowingly fast and comfortably confident titanium gravel bike that gives you the freedom to ride wherever you want.
'Light yet tirelessly tough frame, powerful disc brakes, large volume tyres, tubeless-ready wheels and a full bike packing fixture list. The only thing Tempest doesn't have is limits.'
Dr Gordon underwent spinal surgery and then months of rehabilitation, but devastating spinal injuries have left him paralysed, with no use of his lower body, making him dependant on a wheelchair<br /><br />
The barrister continued: 'Gravel bikes are intended to be go-anywhere bikes equally at home on rough terrain as on the road.
'The claimant will say that particularly given the purpose for which the bike was marketed, the front forks should not have failed in the circumstances in which the bike was being used by him.
'Alternatively, there should have been clear and effective instructions or warnings about its unsuitability for such use.'
'Planet X failed to institute or to operate, any or any adequate system of checking or testing the safety of the bikes it produced and in particular the safety of the front forks, including in the head-set and frame they were incorporated with.
'The claimant notes in particular that the forks were not wholly made of carbon fibre and weaker glass fibres were used in structural areas of the of the forks.'
Planet X went into administration earlier this year, but Dr Gordon has pursued his claim against the company by suing its two insurers, Arch Insurance (UK) Limited and Chubb European Group SE.
In a joint defence submitted by law firms representing the two companies, they deny that Planet X was responsible for the failure of Dr Gordon's bike.
The forks had been designed to the relevant standards, had been 'appropriately tested' and were inspected by Planet X before being dispatched to Dr Gordon.
'The defendants understand that there had been no complaints to Planet X or incidents referred to Planet X similar to that made by the claimant in respect of the said forks,' they say.
The insurers say they are still investigating the damage caused to the bike, but in the meantime deny that it was defective or that any defect caused the accident.
'Planet X purchased the forks from a reputable supplier and there was evidence of the testing of the relevant products to appropriate standards, on which matters Planet X reasonably relied,' they say.
The forks were manufactured by a Chinese company which supplies 'the said forks' to 'many brands of bicycle in the UK and elsewhere' Planet X lawyers say.
According to Dr Gordon's particulars of claim, his claim is 'likely to be in the order of £10 million.'
The case has not yet reached court.
Did it snap at the crown or the stem? I don’t think it says.
At the crown.
In the course of descending the grass slope at a speed of about 25 km per hour (15.5 mph), which is terrain and a speed the claimant will say ought to have been well within the capabilities of the bike, the carbon fibre front forks suddenly and without warning sheared in two at the base of the steerer tube, causing the front wheel of the bike to collapse rearwards.
Assuming this is true, it's yet another thing that makes me wary of carbon stuff for structural stuff. What seems likely to me is that shoddy knock offs were substituted and PX didn't spot it (because it would be impossible to spot just from an external inspection.) Big companies like Giant or Trek can control the entire supply chain, but smaller companies that have to contract out will always be vulnerable to scammy suppliers.
'Planet X failed to institute or to operate, any or any adequate system of checking or testing the safety of the bikes it produced and in particular the safety of the front forks, including in the head-set and frame they were incorporated with.
'The claimant notes in particular that the forks were not wholly made of carbon fibre and weaker glass fibres were used in structural areas of the of the forks.'
Planet X went into administration earlier this year, but Dr Gordon has pursued his claim against the company by suing its two insurers, Arch Insurance (UK) Limited and Chubb European Group SE.
Well I wish I hadn’t read this now given I have a tempest
must be literally thousands and thousands on Planet X forks out there however, which aren’t snapping. Plus I believe I read of a case that occurred with giant very recently where it also snapped at the steerer join
‘In the course of descending the grass slope at a speed of about 25 km per hour (15.5 mph), which is terrain and a speed the claimant will say ought to have been well within the capabilities of the bike, the carbon fibre front forks suddenly and without warning sheared in two at the base of the steerer tube, causing the front wheel of the bike to collapse rearwards.
The bit in bold is interesting. Would have thought it would go forwards.
Not 100% sure I want to be commenting too much on this given it's not gone to court yet. But...
- Pretty sure I know where that happened - and it's 100% within the expected use of a gravel bike. Mine has had a hell of lot more clart than that.
- The guy is not a big unit. Many forks will experience way more biffer loading.
- Things fail - even well made ones. Unless you plan to test to destruction everything thing you make (therefore having nothing left to sell) stuff will get through no matter how good your QA/QC is.
- Companies have liability insurance for a reason. PX will have been coughing up for insurance for decades and this is a case of the insurance company reluctant to pay out for the service they 'provided'. I'd be rather surprised if PX were not on the side of the poor guy and want the insurance company to pay out, even if they can't state that in public. This wasn't some old bike that had led a tough life carrying previously user induced damage - it was fresh out of the box. I would hope it was immaterial how good PX's checks were - as a retailer (rather than a manufacturer) something they supplied seriously harmed someone whilst they were using it as intended. That 'should' be enough - though I'd imagine it's not in the usual nonsensical lawyerly way
Regardless of how this all ends up fair play to Daniel for getting out there, resuming his career and his love of sport. I hope he gets the pay out and in no way is that an anti PX reaction to the story.
editÂ
The claimant notes in particular that the forks were not wholly made of carbon fibre and weaker glass fibres were used in structural areas of the of the forks.
Yeah - that doesn't sound good does it. Assuming this was what was discovered looking at the broken bits post accident.
BIKEBIZ.COM edit ‘The claimant notes in particular that the forks were not wholly made of carbon fibre and weaker glass fibres were used in structural areas of the of the forks.’
there was a bit of a hoo ha on social media recently about loads of carbon forks having fiber glass in the steerer tube, not just carbon fiber. I don’t think it was just cheep no name Chinese forks that were guilty of this
the issue you have is this is just if not more likely to happen if the steerer is alloy. Unless you use steel forks your options are a bit limited
Went to click on the OP's link and completely forgot I had the Tea and Kittens plug in installed!
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and Kittens[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/brf/ ]Ben Freeman[/url], on Flickr
Christ, I'm 105kgs and ragged my PX London road off and on road for a good few years, that had a carbon fork but alu steerer I think. Eventually the frame cracked at the seat tube joint with the top tube. Not unexpected if anyone remebers the big thread about the £150 F&F.
I've now got a Cotic Cascade with a Salsa Carbon fork, which has a carbon steerer. Which up to now has been great. Hopefully that continues. Although I have been thinking of susspension forks...
I did ride my PX LR down these steps a good few times. So I don't think we should all start worrying just because we have Carbon forks....
My mate is a big unit and crashed his Kaffenback into a tree stump. Forks were fine, but he bent the frame.
It's going to be a tough job to prove manufacturing fault, especially if this is a random failure. Any material can fail.
Poor guy and fair play to him for getting on with his career/life.
I’ve now got a Cotic Cascade with a Salsa Carbon fork, which has a carbon steerer.
Similar, I've also got a Cascade but with eXotic carbon fork with carbon steerer. Somewhat reassured that when I used the same fork on a titanium Planet X / Titus Mutsu frame, it was the frame that cracked and not the fork...
The bit in bold is interesting. Would have thought it would go forwards.
Possible (but unlikely from decriptions of the terrain) that it hit a bump that pushed the wheel backwards or, more likely, it sheared when he pulled the brake. Or something else I haven't thought it.
That fibre-glass revelation though - offt
montgomery
Free Member
I bet Canyon are made up one of their bikes features in that article’s pictures.
They'll just be happy that the bars are still in one piece.
So is this the kind of 'Russ Pinder fork/disk' moment that changes aspects of how we source components and bolt bikes together?
It’s going to be a tough job to prove manufacturing fault, especially if this is a random failure.
I'd spin that - it manifestly failed. The tough bit is proving beyond reasonable doubt that the bloke had not done something stupid to it prior to riding it down a grassing bank. I mean, the poor guy was in no condition to drag himself and the bike from a set of stairs like ads's and stage something more placid. The scenario it catastrophically failed will have loads of after the fact witnesses (like the ambulance crew).
Poor guy.  He's a brave one and hasn't let this beat him. <br /><br />
I do worry about carbon parts in general that require torquing, 6nm ain't that high and crush damage to carbon can create an instant failure. Â
urgh, what a nightmare for the fella. 99 times you'll walk away, then there's that1 time. I hope he gets what he needs.
So is this the kind of ‘Russ Pinder fork/disk’ moment that changes aspects of how we source components and bolt bikes together?
Don't know really, bike deaths and serious accidents are steadily coming down, and number of miles travelled is going up so I guess bikes are becoming safer and safer.Â
6nm ain’t that high and crush damage to carbon can create an instant failure.  <br />
what part of your carbon front end required torquing to 6nm? I use no more than 4 on the steerer, bars and shifters of my bikes and have never had any slippage
whats the proper torque for a set of roadie shifters on carbon bars for example? You see 6-7 banded around but I’d not be keen using that
RE this bit,
The claimant notes in particular that the forks were not wholly made of carbon fibre and weaker glass fibres were used in structural areas of the of the forks.
Glass fibre is (or was?) fairly common in entry to mid range carbon frames and forks. May mean a tougher part in some ways as it has better elongation (so saying it's 'weaker' could be a bit of a simplification) but it will be heavier. Cheaper too.
I wonder if we will still be using carbon in 10 or 20 years?Â
When carbon goes it goes quickly like in this case. Metals tend to let you know and bend first.Â
With all the recalls it's clear it's not as good as we thought. Plus you can't easily recycle it. It's not actually that much lighter now we have better manufacturing techniques.Â
If products were taxed to pay for their recycling at the end of life then none of us could afford carbon. It's probably another ticking time bomb our children will have to sort out.Â
what part of your carbon front end required torquing to 6nm? I use no more than 4 on the steerer, bars and shifters of my bikes and have never had any slippage
in my experience 6NM is often specified for both carbon steerer bungs and carbon stems. It's also the typical toque setting for seat posts. Â Yes, you can possibly reduce that by using assembly paste, but I would hazard an informed guess that actually using a torque wrench in the first place isn't the norm.
Glass fibre is (or was?) fairly common in entry to mid range carbon frames and forks. May mean a tougher part in some ways as it has better elongation (so saying it’s ‘weaker’ could be a bit of a simplification) but it will be heavier. Cheaper too.
Depends on the glass fiber, S-glass has a comparable tensile strength to carbon fibers (~4000 MPa), but about 20% of the modulus (90MPa Vs 500MPa), useful if you want something strong with a bit of give in it.
Remember stiff things crack, as bit of give in a structure means the load gets transferred to other parts before the highest loaded part breaks.
But yes, also cheaper.
The bit in bold is interesting. Would have thought it would go forwards.
There's a bit in one of the Cy/Cotic mech engineering lectures where he talks about the CEN test that includes a 'pull apart' component and he asks the students why that is, someone says the obvious answer "landing a jump flat", so he explains the G-force required to minic the CEN test, it's MASSIVE, basically impossible in the real world, and annoyingly the driver behind larger top tubes.
Glass fibre composite is a common engineering material and of itself not a reason to be worried about strength. Unless it was designed to be carbon and replaced?
A normal well made bike would be able to withstand the forces required. So there would be no need for warnings and disclaimers? I wonder why they have decided not to pursue the defective manufacture route - one off fork fault rather than systematic failire. Can you claim that you have carried out due diligence and this is a freak accident as a defense? I suppose at that point the insurance has to pay and that is who the case is really against.
Out of the information available you can't really say very much. They are obviously pursuing many approaches. The real information will come out during the trial.
Real shame for the guy. Could have happened to anyone and is so sad.
As a heavy rider and a fearty, aside from my old 90s Kona, all my bikes are steel forks.
Probably no logic in it as many thousands of people use carbon forks with no problems.
Depends on the glass fiber
Sure, like the grade of carbon it's used with - just saying it's not necessarily a problem in itself, it's more about how the particular fork was meant to be made.
Fork column...? That raises lots of questions.
From the article in the OP:
The claimant wore a helmet.
What's that? Is that the sound of every Daily Mail reader clicking to the next article?
