I've riden 6 bikes in the last 2 days; I started at nytro yesterday but they didn’t have anything in my size (53) put together in my price range (2k), they said they would set a QR tequilo (2k) today for me. So I left for B and L and road a Specialized transition (2600 already over budget). FASTEST bike hands down I have ever been on, but SUPER stiff and wasn’t going to be comfortable over long rides. So I tried a Guru trilite (3k really over budget) extremely comfortable but it felt slow.
So I was off to Trek to ride the equinox 9 and 11. The 9 was a great bike for 2k.was comfortable and fast, then I road the 11 (carbon and 3500) to see if I could feel a different. It wasn’t as fast as the specialized but it was close and extremely comfortable. I wanted to ride the cervelo P3SL but they only had it in a 55. I told trek that I had the tequila to ride the next day and I would make up my mind after that.
Today I road the tequilo, it was a nice bike, but nothing special. So I took it back to nytro and asked what else they had. I ended up on a 55 titanium litespeed tachyon to try out (the 53 wasn’t built and it was on sale for 2190) so I took it out. I am cruising along and liking what I am riding. It was fast and comfortable. It had a better ride than the equinox 9, so about 10 mins into the ride I said ok, this is the bike. In which I started to turn around to head back to nytro, to tell them to build the 53 for me, but something in me said naaa, if this is going to be the bike take it out and make sure; so I continued south on 101. I got to the salona beach boarder and turned around. I stopped at a light and when it turned green I decided to hammer it.
The bike handled great until I came up to another light, I started to break and I hit sand and the backend flipped over my shoulder. I did a somersault in the air still on the bike when I got about 270 in the air I let go of the bike and it flew from me. I proceeded to roll in the sand about 2 more times. I pick myself up, cars start stopping to see if I am ok. I give them the thumbs up that I am fine. I walk to the bike. The back tire is off. Ok, I will put it back ok. I look at the bars, they were FUCKED. I said there is no way I can ride this back. So I pick up the tire not even bothering to put it back on the bike and threw the bike on my shoulder and start walking the 3.5 miles back to nytro.
Around Birmingham street a minivan pulls up, a women rolls down the window and asks I needed a ride. Since I still had 2.5 miles or so to go. I took it. Her husband jumps out and says he races bikes so he knows the feeling. He asked if the bike was mine, I was like no, it’s a test ride. He was like OH, nytro then huh? I said Yeah can you drop me off there please.
I get back to nytro, they were extremely cool about it and were more concerned that I was OK, then there were about the bike. I said I would take the bike, (in the right size), they then found a 53 hanging up. I asked take the stuff off the 53 to make the 55 100%. I picked new bars for my bike, they are swapping the stuff tomorrow and are going to let me know if there is anything else I will have to replace on my “brand new already crashed” bike.
What is the understanding, usually, when you test ride something? I am not expressing an opinion, I am just clarifying–they are making you pay for the damage?
" What is the understanding, usually, when you test ride something?"
what if you were selling as a private party, and the prospective buyer crashed your bike on a longer-than-usual test ride? what would your expectation be?
not trying to start anything, just food for thought.
in any case, he found the bike he’ll want to ride for the next few years. all the rest of it wiil be a distant memory after a coupla thousand miles on his new bike.
What is the understanding, usually, when you test ride something?
I have no idea what the industry understanding is, or even less, what the typical bike customer understanding is, but my understanding is that if I break it, I buy it.
I agree with you Vitus … it really comes down to personal responsibility; if I borrow something and I break it I need to replace it.
my understanding is that if I break it, I buy it.
Was that what your first girlfriend told you?
Isn’t that something that a retailer (and not an individual seller) has insurance for?
Yes, but I would think that the damages are below any deductible, and in any event, the insurance company then has the right to go after whoever was responsible (not including their own insured). It’s called “subrogation”. Let’s say it was sitting out front of the store on display and Widow Jones drives over five headstones and over the bike. Let’s say the damage is over the deductible (I wouldn’t guess that this would usually be true, unless she crashed through the windows and took out a line of high end bikes) and insurance pays. They go and grind up Widow Jones, who probably turns it over to her insurance company. Hopefully it is the same insurance company for both sides–screw those bastards.
Here it sounds like “someone” failed to operate the bicycle in the manner in which it was intended to be used–failed to exercise due care, etc. No offense to the original poster.
Most of what I said here is probably wrong.
I was raised with the " if you break it, you just bought it" mentality too. They said that the bike is insured but, I am sure a pair of $40 bars is well below the deductable. Either way, The shop did nothing wrong, it was MY fault for crashing the bike, so in my eyes, it’s my responsiblity to fix their bike.
not only that, but I bet the bike shop remembers you as a stand up kinda guy in the future also…
you definitely did the right thing
“Ride if you must, buy it if you bust”
We have everyone sign a form saying they will pay for any and all damages. The form also releases from any personal injury, property damage, etc… caused by the rider to themselves or anyone else.
The fact that the business has insurance doesn’t mean the test rider can’t and shouldn’t have a sense of responsibility about it. If I’m driving my car and I rear-end you and cause damage, I am responsible, regardless of whether YOU have collision coverage.
The fact that the business has insurance doesn’t mean the test rider can’t and shouldn’t have a sense of responsibility about it. If I’m driving my car and I rear-end you and cause damage, I am responsible, regardless of whether YOU have collision coverage.
Trying to find where in my post I said that a “test rider can’t and shouldn’t have a sense of responsibility about it.” The latter part of your post isn’t necessarily true either.
“Ride if you must, buy it if you bust”
We have everyone sign a form saying they will pay for any and all damages. The form also releases from any personal injury, property damage, etc… caused by the rider to themselves or anyone else.
Depending on the state, rarely enforceable… .
The latter part of your post isn’t necessarily true either.
If we assume I am determined to be responsible for the accident in the first place (yes, I guess thre are situations in which my car rear-ends your car in which it would not be my fault…) and have Liability coverage. Just meant it as sort of an apples-to-apples example.