Dangers of Test Riding
09-11-07, 07:12 PM
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Dangers of Test Riding
This evening I went with a friend to test a bike that was a pretty good deal on Craigslist. When my buddy saw the bike, he thought it was going to be perfect - a scratch here, a nick there, but the great CF frame and like-new DA components for a terrific price. He brought his riding shoes with him and headed out for a quick spin around the block to make sure it was real, I guess. When he stood up and started to crank on it, the rear wheel dislodged, the chain got locked up, and he flew over the CF handlebars. 
Apparently the seller hadn't tightened the wheel when he was swapping things around before we showed up!! Because of that he lost a done deal and has a banged-up bike with a broken handlebar and some out-of-true wheels.
My friend is okay. He thought he broke some ribs but x-rays showed that he just got badly bruised up.
So the lesson learned? Never trust a bike you didn't check.
Apparently the seller hadn't tightened the wheel when he was swapping things around before we showed up!! Because of that he lost a done deal and has a banged-up bike with a broken handlebar and some out-of-true wheels.My friend is okay. He thought he broke some ribs but x-rays showed that he just got badly bruised up.
So the lesson learned? Never trust a bike you didn't check.
09-11-07, 07:20 PM
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well hello there
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Trust no one.
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Two wheels good. Four wheels bad.
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Two wheels good. Four wheels bad.
09-11-07, 07:22 PM
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Yeah, sometimes we get so excited about things we lose our ability to be objective and reasonable. Sorry about your friend. Next time he will be less quick to trust.
09-12-07, 10:09 AM
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Sounds like a lawsuit for negligence. The seller should have to pay for any "out of pocket" expenses, and any lost time from work. Pain & suffering usually depends of the amount of medical bills.
09-12-07, 10:12 AM
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Your friend didn't check the bike he was about to ride so I hope he doesn't follow this advice and accepts the responsibilities for his own actions (or inaction in this case).
09-12-07, 10:13 AM
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hello
09-12-07, 10:13 AM
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When you forget to tighten the wheel for yourself and crash, do you sue the skewer maker because there is no warning light telling you to check it?
While I believe there is a certain amount of trust that should be involved, would you pick up a bike off the street and ride it without checking to make sure everything is put together correctly?
Why people so damned focused on getting money when they didn't check for themselves...
09-12-07, 10:21 AM
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the actual el guapo
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Whatever happened to personal accountability?
When you forget to tighten the wheel for yourself and crash, do you sue the skewer maker because there is no warning light telling you to check it?
While I believe there is a certain amount of trust that should be involved, would you pick up a bike off the street and ride it without checking to make sure everything is put together correctly?
Why people so damned focused on getting money when they didn't check for themselves...
When you forget to tighten the wheel for yourself and crash, do you sue the skewer maker because there is no warning light telling you to check it?
While I believe there is a certain amount of trust that should be involved, would you pick up a bike off the street and ride it without checking to make sure everything is put together correctly?
Why people so damned focused on getting money when they didn't check for themselves...
don't know the whole story here.
but, it sounds like the general consensus is...
an lbs (and presumably a qualified mechanic) sets up a bike for you to test ride. first thing i should do (despite no training as a bike mechanic) is 2nd guess every mechanical setting of the bike? if a tech doesn't notice a problem, i'm supposed to?
**** that!
lbs hands me a bike. i give it a quick once-over. then i test ride. i don't pull out a torque wrench and check every nut/bolt.
would i litigate? i can't see myself doing so. but you can damn well bet i'm not paying for that bike! lbs calls the cops on me...i do one of two things, give them a credit card number (to avoid going to jail)....then call my credit card company, explain what happened and dispute the charge. if the people at the lbs are real *******s about it....yes, i consider threatening them with a lawsuit (because i can afford it....one of my best bud's is a lawyer).
09-12-07, 10:24 AM
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This wasn't a LBS. It was off of craigslist. A LBS you would have more trust, but I still would do a simple "drop check" on the bike and check the wheels. Make sure everything seems ok.
It has nothing to do with the LBS not being good mechanically, but that I value my bones and don't want needless injuries...
It has nothing to do with the LBS not being good mechanically, but that I value my bones and don't want needless injuries...
09-12-07, 10:28 AM
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This wasn't a LBS. It was off of craigslist. A LBS you would have more trust, but I still would do a simple "drop check" on the bike and check the wheels. Make sure everything seems ok.
It has nothing to do with the LBS not being good mechanically, but that I value my bones and don't want needless injuries...
It has nothing to do with the LBS not being good mechanically, but that I value my bones and don't want needless injuries...
if i hadn't paid for it yet, i probably wouldn't be too keen on paying for the whole thing.....i'd offer him/her a fraction of the cost and let him/her keep the bike ........OR........ i'd offer to meet him/her in the middle somewhere and buy the bike off of him/her.
afterall, we both screwed up.
the getting hurt part....i'd chalk that up as an experience to learn from.
09-12-07, 11:09 AM
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*^#**! This is exactly what is wrong with AMERICA! Litigate, litigate, litigate, hamburger.
Your friend didn't check the bike he was about to ride so I hope he doesn't follow this advice and accepts the responsibilities for his own actions (or inaction in this case).
Your friend didn't check the bike he was about to ride so I hope he doesn't follow this advice and accepts the responsibilities for his own actions (or inaction in this case).
09-12-07, 12:56 PM
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Whatever happened to personal accountability?
When you forget to tighten the wheel for yourself and crash, do you sue the skewer maker because there is no warning light telling you to check it?
While I believe there is a certain amount of trust that should be involved, would you pick up a bike off the street and ride it without checking to make sure everything is put together correctly?
Why people so damned focused on getting money when they didn't check for themselves...
When you forget to tighten the wheel for yourself and crash, do you sue the skewer maker because there is no warning light telling you to check it?
While I believe there is a certain amount of trust that should be involved, would you pick up a bike off the street and ride it without checking to make sure everything is put together correctly?
Why people so damned focused on getting money when they didn't check for themselves...
09-12-07, 03:02 PM
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It's apparently much easier to point the finger at others. Litigate - schmitigate. Use a bit of something called "common sense" and do a once-over on the bike. People need to man-up and quite blaming others for their personal lack of intelligence. 
09-12-07, 03:10 PM
#16
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I thought this was going to be a story about an axe murderer! In all seriousness though, one of the reasons I have never sold or bought off of CL is the weirdo factor. There are just too many of them out there.
As for the OP, thats just really unfortunate.
As for the OP, thats just really unfortunate.
Last edited by FizzyPop; 09-12-07 at 04:02 PM.
