Walter S

Sure that wasn't on purpose?

jeffpoulin

I was wondering how the OP's insurance works in this case. Our HO policy covers the bikes in our garage, but only if our garage is locked. If we leave the door open, we're responsible.

dwilbur3

We decided not to file for insurance. We have a pretty high deductible so we decided we didn't want to risk our premiums going up just for a few hundred dollars. And since it was our fault, they probably wouldn't have paid anyway.

So the replacements are coming out of my pocket.

DiabloScott

+1

Totally Vaya... any bike shop should be able to get one for you since its a QBC brand.

MattoftheRocks

I commuted for a couple of years with hydraulic disc brakes. They were useful when I was daily on hills that demanded 35mph (no shoulder) that would often have traffic stopped at the bottom. Without that sort of condition in my rides, dual pivot calipers and cantis with kool-stops work just fine year round (syracuse NY), are far less fuss and are less theft-attractive.

I vote cross check or lht even though the replacement of my recent wreckee will likely be either a wabi special or an 80's road conversion ss with the priority being a front dual-pivot and 32mm tires.

dwilbur3

An update: I found a good deal on a Cross Check on Ebay. It met all my criteria but 5). I'll get used to the shifters pretty quick and disc brakes were more of a "like to have it" thing than a requirement.

We'll buy my wife's bike this week. I was concerned that she had unrealistic price expectations in the beginning, but she was easier to convince than I thought. I also persuaded her to switch to a bike with drops, which will really help here in windy Sacramento. REI is having a pretty sweet clearance sale on the Novara Carema. It will go for under $600 with tomorrow's sale. She wanted a lighter faster bike than the old Cannondale MTB she's been riding and she definitely got that.

Now we just have to rebuy all the accessories (racks, panniers, frame pump, locks, lights, helmets...). Ouch.

Thanks everyone for your excellent suggestions (and legal advice ).

Jonahhobbes

Have a LHT - it's a very slow ride unless you look at swapping out the stock wheels. The rim brakes are shocking but I don't know if they've changed my surly is around 5 years old.

Have a Salsa La Cruz - lovely but difficult to mount a rack to.

Also use my wifes Salsa Fargo, (she's my height pretty much and never uses it), - I love this bike and if I had pick one as an all rounder it would be this.

thelazywon

I have a Tricross and I love it. On my fast commute days I ride a titanium racing frame with Dura Ace 9000, and when I ride the tricross I'm only about 10 minutes slower on a 20 mile trip. It's very comfortable, and takes bad roads, mud, and even mild off roading like a champ. I think they are discontinuing it in favor of the AWOL, so you can probably get a great deal.