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Heckler - So tough it can be fixed with rocks!
I was riding the Dam yesterday evening with two mates and just before climbing up the first lot of steps up towards the Parkway, my front wheel washed out and I bike slammed to the ground onto the rear derailleur, bending my hanger.
I didn’t want to have to walk my bike all the way back home to Queenscliff, so I tried to straighten it by hand. There was no way this was going to work so we pulled the derailleur off the hanger and then the hanger off the bike.
As I had nothing to lose, so we then proceeded to line the hanger up against a flat rock and then smash it back into shape with another. It didn’t end up perfect but it was straight enough for me to continue riding for two laps. Needless to say I was very happy and surprised with toughness the Santa Cruz hanger...It sure copped a severe beating!
Thanks to all the riders who passed by and asked if we were OK - Over the space of half an hour there was a lot, so I thought a few of them may have been Nobmobbers...
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ROCKS!
Geez, talk about doing it the hard way!
If you've just bent it to the side in towards the wheel (if I've read your description right) all you need to do is pull out your trail tool and stick a 5mm allen key (or whatever the appropriate size is for your RD) in the pivot bolt. Make sure the pivot bolt is tightened up all the way home so you don't monster the threads, and then with firm but not excessive pressure SLOWLY straighten the hanger/DR assembly.
Yep – in towards the wheel. We tried the allen key in the pivot bolt trick, but the hanger was so strong and I couldn’t get enough leverage that I was afraid I was going to bust my derailleur. It had a weird twist in it also, kind of like the start of a spiral.
I figured that If I’d be walking home anyway I might as well take the hanger off and use force on it. Needless to say I’ve ordered a new one this-morning.
If you have a quick release wheel with threads on the axle you can use your wheel as a lever to straight the hanger. The thread on shimano wheel axles is the same as on the hanger, CAREFULLY thread the axle into the hanger and use the wheel as your lever to straighten...
Makes sense. My wheels are QR, so I'll try that next time (hopefully not too soon).