Road Cycling - Back to square one: bike was stolen over the weekend.

My nice new 2003 Trek 2200 got stolen over the weekend. I had picked this up in Wisconsin for an amazing price a few weeks back. I had it in the back of my Jeep. Went to the mall before I was due to drive down to southern illinois for a long weekend. Came out the store to find my back window smashed in and the bike gone.

So, now I'm back looking for a new bike. I can't find another 2200 for the price I paid ($1000 USD). The insurance will cover a new bike and I'll add a few hundred dollars to it to get somewhere close to the quality of the 2200. I was wondering what people thought of the 2004 Giant TCR Alloy vs. the Cannondale 2004 R800. The Giant has a seemingly better groupset. The R800 has the CAAD7 frame.

Thanks,
MacMan

Damn, I feel for you man. :(

I certainly hate being screwed over as much as the next person, sooo what can you do?

Hang in there and if you're in dire need of a bike quick, perhaps look on ebay and get a frame, maybe build one up.
Is your insurance gonna cover it?

GOOD LUCK!

BTW, I'm sure Mr. "Adbot" will post somewhere to get a new bike!:D

Is your insurance gonna cover it?


It'll cover what I paid for the bike - based on receipts. My car insurance company said I needed to send in a receipt showing what it cost to buy. Obviously, I got a great deal and cannot get another 2200 for $1000 but I'd like to get somewhere close to the quality.

Yeah - you can always rely on Ad-Bot!

That sucks. See what you can find on qbike.com

I know how you feel. I had my bike stolen out of my garage about two years ago, and they also scratched the whole side of my truck with the bar end.

I really wish you the best of luck.
Jessica

When I am out of sight of my bike for quite some time, I might even use two locks and chains tied to a bike rack. One section of cable is probably a half inch with a combination lock..Will anything less than a Krytontine lock give you security..

I would contact an attorney, especially if you have an attorney friend, and ask him to negotiate with the ins. co. Or at the very least mention to the ins. co. that you are consulting with an attorney.

Just because you bought a bike for a sweet deal doesn't mean they should only reimburse you for that price.

THE REPLACEMENT COST SHOULD BE THE MAJOR FACTOR IN AN INSURANCE SETTLEMENT!

It was when I got hit on my Bianchi.

PJ

THE REPLACEMENT COST SHOULD BE THE MAJOR FACTOR IN AN INSURANCE SETTLEMENT!

Assuming one has that type policy.

first thing you want to do in any insurance claim is lie. did you say 2003 2200? you must have meant 2004 madone.

next you go to your local LBS (lying bike shop) and get the
receipt from the bike that was stolen, you know, the 5.9 madone. then you wait for the mailman to bring you the cheque from the insurance company to cover the cost of your stolen 5.9 madone and buy the bike that you really wanted all along.

preferably not another trek so that you don't look like some lance wannabe.

congrats you just got a free upgrade.

Good points! I think I will simply present the insurance company with the MSRP of a 2003 2200 and they can go off that for the replacement.

Still ... any thoughts on the TCR vs. the R800?

Thanks!

CAAD7 is nice!! but i'd compare the fit and geometry before i compare the frame material

i'm not versed on the particulars, but your insurance company should provide you with the cash necessary to replace what was stolen, not just reimburse you for what you paid.

you are saying if the bike had been a gift, you'd receive no money?

i would definitely go the lawyer route. a brief consultation and letter to your insurance company will go a long way.

don't lie about the model, just prove that you owned what you did, and show them the replacement cost (perhaps get a quote from the highest priced bike store around), and you should be covered.

it'll help if you've been a good customer with your insurance company and haven't made a million claims, of course.

Clearly, they will ask for a police report,
evidence of the theft, the original invoice,
and so on.

Also, you need to reveal whether you have a
difference insurance company covering your
home property items if you decide to claim
from your visa, amex or mastercard insurance,
to prevent double-claims.

I've heard that if an insurance company catches
you claiming 3 times or more ...they'll just refuse
to renew your policy, and dump you as a bad risk.

first thing you want to do in any insurance claim is lie. did you say 2003 2200? you must have meant 2004 madone.

preferably not another trek so that you don't look like some lance wannabe.

congrats you just got a free upgrade.


Treks are fine bicycles there is nothing wrong with them. I believe they have taken their place in the cycling world as good bikes based on performance. Not everyone who rides a Trek is a "Lance wannabe". Considering you are from Toronto (French :rolleyes: ) I didn't think you would like a Trek bike or Lance Armstrong in the first place. I believe it was Lance's French cycling team thought he was done and over with when he was ill. All to come back and beat the Frenchies at their own sport not once but twice!! I love it!! :D

I believe it was Lance's French cycling team thought he was done and over with when he was ill. All to come back and beat the Frenchies at their own sport not once but twice!! I love it!! :D

I believe 6 times...Lol

Considering you are from Toronto (French :rolleyes: ) I didn't think you would like a Trek bike or Lance Armstrong in the first place. I believe it was Lance's French cycling team thought he was done and over with when he was ill. All to come back and beat the Frenchies at their own sport not once but twice!! I love it!! :D

How can you get this sort of cr*p into a thread about a stolen bike! You just reinforce the stereotype of Americans being parochial and xenophobic.

By the way, what Lance's French cycling team?

first thing you want to do in any insurance claim is lie. did you say 2003 2200? you must have meant 2004 madone.

next you go to your local LBS (lying bike shop) and get the
receipt from the bike that was stolen, you know, the 5.9 madone. then you wait for the mailman to bring you the cheque from the insurance company to cover the cost of your stolen 5.9 madone and buy the bike that you really wanted all along.

preferably not another trek so that you don't look like some lance wannabe.

congrats you just got a free upgrade.


never lie to your insurers. All that will happen is you will get done for fraud and spend some time assuming the racing crouch position in front of bubba in a cell.

All that will happen is you will get done for fraud and spend some time assuming the racing crouch position in front of bubba in a cell.
Nobody wants that....

Bad luck on losing the bike though

ummm wow at the variety in this thread.
sorry bout the stolen bike, my second ride met its demise that way as well.
my first bike was totalled in a crash, I got a better bike through the insurance dealings with help from the LBS. I would check your lawyer and maximize the potential for replacement for sure.
my current ride is the TCR in which you speak. I really like it so far though I've only had it for a little over a month. I chose it for the fit and feel over the cannondale and it does come outfitted fairly well.
good luck

Well, this thread has given me a few laughs that is for sure!

The insurance company, based on a call this morning, is satisfied with the replacement cost of the bike (I decided to let my insurance broker do all the calling - they dropped the thought of recipts when he stated who he was!). The closest bike store to me that carries a 2200 2003 is quoting $1375. It isn't my size though.

Thanks for the advice (though I'd still like to hear more about the TCR vs. the R800!!)

MacMan.

ummm wow at the variety in this thread.
sorry bout the stolen bike, my second ride met its demise that way as well.
my first bike was totalled in a crash, I got a better bike through the insurance dealings with help from the LBS. I would check your lawyer and maximize the potential for replacement for sure.
my current ride is the TCR in which you speak. I really like it so far though I've only had it for a little over a month. I chose it for the fit and feel over the cannondale and it does come outfitted fairly well.
good luck

Have you managed a longish ride on it? What is it's comfort level like?

I would contact an attorney, especially if you have an attorney friend, and ask him to negotiate with the ins. co. Or at the very least mention to the ins. co. that you are consulting with an attorney.

Just because you bought a bike for a sweet deal doesn't mean they should only reimburse you for that price.

THE REPLACEMENT COST SHOULD BE THE MAJOR FACTOR IN AN INSURANCE SETTLEMENT!

It was when I got hit on my Bianchi.

PJ

WHOA!!!

I spent 20 years running various parts of insurance companies before starting my own business...

All he needs to do is go to a bike shop and get a receipt for a 2200. Period. Ask for a price quote. Get two copies and give one to your agent. Less your deductible you are in business.

Yeah..hire a lawyer who will charge him more than the cost of the bike in billable hours or keep a third of the claim instead of him getting all the money.

A lawyer in a thousand dollar claim would really make us shake in our boots...

I haven't managed to go very far (just in the 20's). I wanted to get the 30 day checkup/tune taken care of before getting far away and having something go wrong.
so unfortunately I can't tell you about distance comfort.
my old frame was steel so the alloy road buzz (even with the carbon forks/seat) took some getting used to. other than that (which I'm thoroughly over and forgot about miles ago) I really like the feel/responsiveness.

good deal about the expense of the 2003 2200, that'll getcha closer to the price of the rides you're talking about.

I would suggest locking it up with Kryptonite's
NEW YORK U-LOCK.

"First thing you want to do in any insurance claim is lie. did you say 2003 2200? you must have meant 2004 madone.
next you go to your local LBS (lying bike shop) and get the
receipt from the bike that was stolen, you know, the 5.9 madone."

That's brilliant. You've been on the wrong end of a criminal act, so the solution is to commit one yourself?

And people wonder why insurance premiums are so high.

My wife's 2200 was recently stolen, but luckily recovered. She had decided on the R800 to replace it, but liked the TCR alloy as well. I think the Giant has a little more agressive geometry. Good luck on your replacement.

1. Lying is not the answer.

2. As I stated in my initial post, CONSULT with a lawyer, especially if it's a friend.

3. Get a quote for replacement and be done with it.

As far as the insurance man who answered, that's the same mentality that almost made me sue when I was hit on my bike. My lawyer, a friend of mine so the case was pro bono, called with replacement cost for the bike, medical bills, lost wages, etc, and a REASONABLE claim for damages. The insurance co was unbelievably rude, lazy, and just plain useless.

Their adjuster kept saying "you client just fell off his bike" when in fact I was HIT by a car (their insured motorist) and thrown to the ground while riding my bike.

In the end it honestly took a threat of a suit to finish the settlement. Their agent even basically said- go ahead we have lawyers on staff.

I was amazed (maybe I shouldn't have been) that a reasonable request on our part was passed around for so long. I wasn't asking for a million dollars either, just expenses, etc.

Insurance is the biggest scam there is IMHO.

PJ

Never, ever ever, leave anything in sight inside a vehicle. It takes less than a second to crack and break a car window. The crooks know how to do it easily.

How can you get this sort of cr*p into a thread about a stolen bike! You just reinforce the stereotype of Americans being parochial and xenophobic.

By the way, what Lance's French cycling team?


Xenophobic? not at all. America is one huge melting pot with all nationalities in it. I was wondering too how some people get that sort of cr*p about Trek bicycles, Lance Armstrong and Americans. I was commenting about a post calling cyclists who ride Treks a "Lance wannabe". The guy who posted it was from Toronto (go figure).

Lance was on a french racing team called the Cofidis. When Lance was ill with cancer, Team Cofidis dropped out on him and "renegotiated" his contract after telling everyone publicly that they would back him up during his illness. They basically wrote him off. ;)