jyl

I just had an odd dream.

I had loaned - or is it "lent"? Where is an English major when you need one? - my Bridgestone MB-Zip to a friend. I've owned this bike since new. When it was returned, I was upset to see that the bar, levers and shifters had been removed and replaced with some chrome steel BMX bar, and that the bike had been left outside to rust as a beater yard toy for his little children. How did I know he'd given it over to his kids? Because the MB-Zip had been made into a tricycle. Funny, that part didn't bother me so much. Odd dream, as I said.

Fear not, the Zip is safely dozing in the basement. But this makes me wonder: do you loan (or lend) out your bikes? Offer them for guests to ride, or let friends take them away for a while? Is there just one loaner bike in your fleet, or multiple? Have you had any good or bad experiences?

Myself - I have one designated "guest bike" in the garage, a Dahon folder that can fit anyone and is easy to ride albeit not speedy. A guest has already crashed it, and the little bike bears those scars. I've also had guests ride the longtail (Xtracycle) grocery bike in the past, that also allows them to carry all the picnic supplies (heh heh). There are two bikes my kids ride to school, and they could be emergency guest-fodder if needed. Otherwise, all the currently-functional bikes in the fleet have clipless pedals, or in one case the bike is a recumbent, so they can't be easily borrowed. I've never given anyone a bike to borrow for an extended time, and the situation has never arisen.

RaleighSport

I'll lend a bike to a friend.. to ride on while out with me.

Michael Angelo 

The last time Pastor Bob was in town I lent him one of my Benotto's , he had it for almost a week. He returned it in perfect shape.

gomango

Yes.

Family, friends and the occasional forum member have been known to enjoy my bicycles.

Italuminium

Yes. City bikes all the time, road bikes on occasion, if someone wants to do a charity or something like that and don't want to buy a bike for just one event. I cherish the rides with my friends way more than the bikes

Yo Spiff

I loaned a hybrid to my nephew whose bike had been stolen, and told my sister in law that if she wanted to pay me back the $40 I bought it for, they could keep the bike. It has been 2 years and I haven't seen either the $40 or the bike since then.

I also loaned a nice floor pump to a friend. Forgot she had it until I mentioned my missing pump a couple of years later. Got it back with the important guts of the pump head missing and did not get an offer from her to help replace it. She was out of work at the time, so I didn't ask, but she should have offered to repair or replace the pump.

Drillium Dude 

Sure - here's a pic of WNG riding my 1978 Super:



DD

RFC

It's just an old bike being used by a relative. Can't you just eat the $40?

Yo Spiff

I did.

RaleighSport

The first sounded more like a statement than a complaint to me... I could easily be wrong though as this is the interwebz.

bradtx

jyl, I've loaned bikes and tools without any negatives, well maybe one negative. Resetting saddle position can be a PIA sometimes.

My current, and slow motion, project bike has two points of interest, the first to learn new skills (painting, decal application and etc.) and to be the designated loaner.

Brad

sonatageek

I had a Fuji road bike I saved from someones trash that was in pretty good shape that I fixed up and loaned to someone in town visiting their significant other who was in grad school. Fine experience.

A few years ago another BF member came through for me with a loaner while I was in Northern VA for Thanksgiving. Bike had been purchased by the member as flip and I got to use it before he took it home. Nice ride.

iab

I live in the burbs. They don't ride out here and nobody has ever asked. For the tiny amount who do ride, they know their rigs and prefer them to some ill-fitting loaner - they come prepared.

But if an experienced rider asked, I would say yes. Some schmuck would rather borrow my car, so no worries there.

fender1

Lent my Ritchey to -holiday76 for the month of September. Have not heard from him since..........hmmmmmmm.

[IMG][/IMG]

RaleighSport

Never to be heard from again

John E

When a BF member was in town, I lent him my PKN-10 for almost a week. We had a good ride together, and he later rode with one of my local friends. He also got the chance to do some solo exploring. A great time was had by all.

I also lent an old SR road bike, a freebie from a neighbor, to a German visitor, who unfortunately lost it to theft in downtown San Diego. She apologized profusely and offered to pay me, but I reassured her that it was not a valuable bike and that I probably should have provided a better lock.

rhm

'Loan' is the noun, 'lend' is the verb, 'lent' is the past tense, and 'loaned' is an outlier. Some would frown on it, but it has entered common usage. So at this point, irregardless(!) whether it's wrong or right, we can't stop it now.

I lent my prized Norman Rapide to Photogravity, and he liked it so much he offered me money close to what it was worth, so I let it go.

I lent my track bike to RobE30 and made it clear I was not trying to sell it... I think I'm getting it back next week.

-Holiday 76 lent me his Fuji the Finest and I liked it so much that I bought one of my own (in a slightly smaller size than his).

Photogravity also lent me his Norman Invader frame, which I've built up now... And will ride a bit more before I let him have it back!

So yeah, I think lending bikes is great.

If anyone wants to borrow one of my bikes, feel free to get in touch!

The Golden Boy 

I used to be quite generous with my stuff.

I have been playing guitar and collecting/hoarding stuff for a long time. Around 10 years ago, I was playing bass in a band. The singer/guitar player had crappy gear- so I offered to let him use one of my guitars. It was a really nice guitar. And it was a long term loan- I'd see the guitar at shows and rehearsals and everything.

One day I was going to be playing guitar for a show and asked for my guitar back. I opened the case and I was treated to a grimy guitar, with cruddy strings on it. Like **** caked on the strings. I was relatively unhappy. And when I picked the guitar up out of the case I see a huge gouge out of the headstock. I was absolutely livid. This was an expensive guitar. A few years later, I needed money and had to sell that guitar. I seriously believe that gouge out of the headstock was about 1/4 of the value of that guitar removed.

As a result I am no longer freely giving of my stuff. I liked and trusted this guy. I felt he was responsible to me and my equipment and my trust in him. I was wrong.

The Guitar:




The headstock:

Lenton58 

One friend took my Trek 930 away for several months. We both enjoyed sharing notes on the beast. (We like it.) And friends have ridden with me on my bikes. But I have my limits. Loaning out my 979 would be like loaning out my wife. It's just not on! I daresay my Gazelle will be the same — whenever it is that I finish it.

longbeachgary

Never. Nobody is going to take care of your stuff like you take care of your stuff. Not only will you lose your stuff, you'll also lose a friend.

YoKev

Sure do

AAZ

I have a designated "guest bike" as well - lugged Trek MTB. It's actually very nice for a 20 year old machine and seems bombproof.

oddjob2

When I was a boy scout, we were taught to leave the campsite in better condition than how we found it. Pretty much anytime I borrow something, I always return it clean in as good or better condition than I received it, or with more gas in it.

Unfortunately, this is not true of most all of my friends, including former significant others, friends, and neighbors. My cars have come back trashed, my new finish nailer came back beat up and looked like it was left in the rain, and tools don't get returned. Some sh*thead has my Helicomatic wrench currently, going on two months.

So no more Mr. Niceguy.

If you want to ride with me, there is always a spare available, but no loaners.

Chombi

Sorry, but the only time I'll ever feel comfortable enough to ever lend out my bicycles and motorcycles to ANYONE is..........when gravity ceases to exist.....

robtown

I lent my Raleigh fixie/ss a year or so ago to a local BF member. He ended up building his own, a Fuji.

I lent my first 10 speed to a friend many years ago. A few months later he confessed that it was stolen from him.

A couple years ago I rented a nice Motobecane over a weekend for $50. That went much better.