A ‘cycling nut’ who broke his back in four places when his new Giant carbon road bike collapsed under him is suing the company for more than £200,000.
Ben Norbury, a keen club rider and amateur champion paid £2,199 for a brand new Giant Propel Advanced 2 2021 in the autumn of that year, only to have the fork separate from the steerer tube five months later in February 2022 whilst he was in the saddle doing 15mph.
Mr Norbury, 39, who designed and runs top cycling weather app myWindsock, suffered multiple spinal fractures when he hit the ground face first close to his then home in Sandbach, Cheshire.
He went on to sue Giant UK Ltd – part of the world’s largest bike manufacturing company – claiming over £200,000 compensation on the basis that there was an ‘inherent defect’ in the bike when it was manufactured which caused his accident.
After initially denying liability and arguing that Mr Norbury had caused the issue with the bike himself by changing the stem and handlebars, lawyers for the company have now admitted fault, guaranteeing him a payout.
Ben Norbury, 39, who runs top cycling weather app myWindsock, suffered multiple spinal fractures when his bike collapsed and he hit the ground face first close to his home in Sandbach, Cheshire
Mr Norbury, pictured with his wife Caroline, went on to sue Giant UK Ltd – part of the world’s largest bike manufacturing company – claiming over £200,000 compensation on the basis that there was an ‘inherent defect’ in the bike
In documents lodged with London’s High Court his barrister Adam Korn – who described Mr Norbury as a ‘cycling nut’ outside court – set out the circumstances of the accident.
‘On the day of the accident when he rode over a slight difference in the surface level of the road the forks of his front wheel separated from the alloy steerer tube crown,’ he explained.
‘He went headfirst off his bike and hit his head and face,’ he added, explaining he had no time to break his fall and crunched onto his head in the impact, suffering concussion, dental injuries and a broken nose- on top of the damage to his back and neck.
Mr Norbury says he lived and breathed before his accident, riding up to 20 hours in a typical week, competing in time trials, racing and hill climbing events as a member of Congleton Cycling Club and was the holder of regional speed records.
Before the disaster he had developed and launched cycling app myWindsock designed to provide accurate date on the impact of the weather on a cyclist’s performance.
Mr Norbury, of Winsford, Cheshire, ‘continues to run ‘myWindsock’ as his job,’ said Mr Korn.
But he has since struggled to get back to full fitness and to cycling and ‘is concerned that his passion has been taken from him’.
He had to go through corrective spinal surgery after the accident, suffered flashbacks and trauma in the aftermath, and medics fear he may be afflicted by a ‘subtle brain injury’.
Mr Norbury says he lived and breathed cycling before his accident, riding up to 20 hours in a typical week
An X-ray of Ben Norbury’s spine after the accident shows metal pins visible in areas where suffered fractures
Mr Norbury paid £2,199 for a brand new Giant Propel Advanced 2 2021 in the autumn of that year, only to have the fork separate from the steerer tube five months later in February 2022
The accident also left him with lingering neck pain – along with headaches, mood swings and problems with memory.
Carrying heavy items is also now beyond him and he’s been unable to do any high-level cycling since his crash.
After the accident he developed a range of psychological symptoms such as ‘anxiety dreams’ and fear of cycling, despite being desperate to return to his former obsession.
He has also struggled with his other hobby of playing the cornet and fears playing the instrument again due to the strain on his chest and spine.
His barrister went on to claim the accident occurred because of a manufacturing fault with the joint between the alloy tube and the bike’s carbon fork.
‘There was an inherent defect in the adhesive bond between the steerer tube and the crown socket.
‘It’s likely to have been caused by inadequate surface preparation of the steerer tube spigot at the time of manufacture,’ he added.
Giant UK Ltd are being sued under the Consumer Protection Act for selling a defective product, but initially alleged Mr Norbury’s own alterations caused the bike’s failure.
As a ‘keen amateur cyclist’ Mr Norbury routinely did his own bike maintenance and had tinkered with his new purchase to the extent of changing the handlebars and stem to alloy Shimano parts.
However, at a recent hearing designed to hammer out trial management issues Mr Korn told the judge Master Roger Eastman that Giant UK Ltd have now ‘conceded liability’.
The case is now going ahead to assess how much compensation is owed Mr Norbury.