Broken chain - over handlebars

[hanvyj]

Someone has been borrowing my bike (his got stolen and he can't be bothered to buy another one) and I just heard that he went over the handlebars. Wasn't wearing the borrowed helmet so smashed his face in.

He said it was because the chain broke. I was just wondering how on earth a broken chain could cause you to go over the handlebars!

 

[sabian92]

Well, if it got stuck in the spokes it might do it, but only the front. The rear would just lock and slide but it wouldn't throw him over the handlebars.

 

[hanvyj]

That's what I thought, it would just lock up the rear wheels - unless it somehow flew into the front spokes

 

[Octet]

If the chain snapped and got jammed in the cassettes and derailleurs, then you could sort of throw yourself over the handlebars.
It happened to me once, the chain didn't snap but it did get jammed. Fortunately I was exiting a junction so I wasn't going fast at all but if he had been pedaling furiously then he would effectively be jumping out of the seat as the pedals are now acting as a solid platform.

 

[Deleted member 20519]

Maybe he got a fright and grabbed the front brake?

 

[hanvyj]

Here we go, got some more info:

He was waiting at traffic lights, they changed so he stood up on the bike to get ahead of traffic then the chain broke and he went over the handle bars... So he wasn't moving much I guess? More like he was leaning forwards and suddenly "solid platform" (as you mentioned, with pedal he was standing on gave-way. I'd imagine you would just kind of whack your arse on the seat though if that happened...

Kind of the opposite to what you described octet.

Hope he hasn't broken my bike!

 

[Canrider]

I've had a chain fall off when I jumped on the pedals at a light--it certainly didn't throw me over the handlebars! If the chain broke as he put his foot down on the pedal to start moving, all that would happen is the pedal would drop down to its lowest point--if anything, he'd feel himself drop down (and maybe square himself on the saddle or top tube) rather than be launched over the handlebars.

 

[Sara_H]

Oh dear. Is he ok?

 

[dandare]

In this age of litigation for everything, I'd be worried he might be seeking compo from you for allowing him to use a bike with a worn or faulty chain.

 

[Cyclopathic]

Is he implying that it's your fault?

 

[tadpole]

I've had a chain break, my foot slipped off the pedel as it spun down, my foot dragged on the ground with my nuts banging on the frame, so I jammed on the brakes, and went base over apex over the handlebars before landing in a heap with the bike on top of me. Easy done, every time I stand up on the pedels there is a though at the back of my mind... I'm waiting for it to happen again. .

 

[raindog]

It's only happened once to me in all my life and I just freewheeled to a stop. Over the bars? Can't get me 'ead round that one.

 

[Rob3rt]

Maybe in a panic he grabbed the front brake and flipped, especially if he was leaned forward over the front end accelerating. Also if he was leaned over the front end and the chain snapped, depending on the pedal position the sudden jolt as the cranks went loose could have just caused him to essentially fall over forwards over the bars.

Lot's of daft seemingly illogical stuff can happen given a sudden event.

Also he could be over exaggerating!

 

[fossyant]

How long has he been borrowing it for. I must say in all my life I have never had a chain break.

 

[skudupnorth]

I've had a chain give way but the only thing that suffered were the crown jewels Thankfully i've got enough kids so they are surplus to requirements Hope your friend is OK