Bike frame damaged while at bike workshop

Bike frame damaged while at bike workshop

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alolympic

Original Poster:

700 posts

203 months

Wednesday 31st March 2021
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So, had an unfortunate phone call from the bike workshop today.
While test riding the bike, after completing some work for me, the carbon frame was sheered, around the rear brake caliper.
I haven't been sent photos yet, but wondering where I might stand.
Bike was bought 2nd hand a few years ago and the frame is past its warranty period.
Frame is carbon. Many aftermarket changes to components etc.
I trust and rate the bike workshop so do not suspect negligence.
However, the frame was showing no signs of damage when I took the bike in for the work, and now I have either a frame which is fit for the scrap heap, or needing an expensive repair.
Do I have any opportunity to claim on business indemnity insurance that the workshop must have?

Paul Drawmer

4,940 posts

273 months

Thursday 1st April 2021
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You can't claim on their insurance. Your claim would be against the bike shop; it's up to them how they deal with it.

The cover they should have (legal requirement if a Ltd Co.) is Public Liability. This would not cover damage to customers' property.

ecsrobin

17,744 posts

171 months

Thursday 1st April 2021
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Was the work being carried out in the area of where the damage occurred? Or just coincidental.

IJWS15

1,914 posts

91 months

Friday 2nd April 2021
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What have they offered....

I would expect an equivalent frame with components all swapped over - labour doesn’t cost them anything.

ecsrobin

17,744 posts

171 months

Friday 2nd April 2021
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IJWS15 said:
What have they offered....

I would expect an equivalent frame with components all swapped over - labour doesn’t cost them anything.
So if you dropped your bike off for new forks and then on a test ride the rear of the bike snapped you’d expect them to replace it? If it’s this scenario I think it’s fair the shop saying they’ll swap of the bits to a new frame you provide as it happened on their care but imagine if you were going for it and that had happened. It’s potentially saved some nasty injuries.

If on the other hand they were fitting a rear mech and the rear snapped then I’d be expecting something as the work is potentially linked.

bigandclever

13,924 posts

244 months

Friday 2nd April 2021
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Paul Drawmer said:
The cover they should have (legal requirement if a Ltd Co.) is Public Liability.
It’s not a legal requirement. Sensible, yes.

Bill

53,927 posts

261 months

Friday 2nd April 2021
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IJWS15 said:
What have they offered....

I would expect an equivalent frame with components all swapped over - labour doesn’t cost them anything.
That's optimistic IMO.

A well used frame failed which may well have absolutely nothing to do with what they did. It could just as easily have failed the day before or the day after.

gazza285

10,097 posts

214 months

Friday 2nd April 2021
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IJWS15 said:
What have they offered....

I would expect an equivalent frame with components all swapped over - labour doesn’t cost them anything.
An equivalent frame to a second hand one of unknown provenance? Who's labour doesn't cost anything

joshcowin

6,885 posts

182 months

Friday 2nd April 2021
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IJWS15 said:
What have they offered....

I would expect an equivalent frame with components all swapped over - labour doesn’t cost them anything.
Completely un realistic! It goes without saying labour costs them, in fact in this scenario it costs them more than usual as they can't charge for the work, they now have to spend time rectifying that could be spent on a paying customer, their labour cost has probably doubled!!

The OP has said he trusts the shop, so he should probably just ask what the route forward is? They may pay for a repair on the bike or split the cost of the repair!

alolympic

Original Poster:

700 posts

203 months

Friday 2nd April 2021
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People seem to be getting more emotive about this than me!
The workshop was doing a few jobs on the bike, including fitting a new rear rotor via a 6 bolt to centrelock adaptor on to new wheels. They had to shim the adaptor to fit the rotor properly. The frame failed at the rear caliper mount. I can't see how their work has led to the damage but they working on a connected part of the bike. Their only guess is that the new lightweight rotor, which they say is very grabby and fluttery has been the final end to a fatigued area of a poorly designed mount. It is more than likely just coincidence that it happened on their watch. And lucky it didn't happen in a situation that would have caused injury.

joshcowin

6,885 posts

182 months

Friday 2nd April 2021
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alolympic said:
People seem to be getting more emotive about this than me!
The workshop was doing a few jobs on the bike, including fitting a new rear rotor via a 6 bolt to centrelock adaptor on to new wheels. They had to shim the adaptor to fit the rotor properly. The frame failed at the rear caliper mount. I can't see how their work has led to the damage but they working on a connected part of the bike. Their only guess is that the new lightweight rotor, which they say is very grabby and fluttery has been the final end to a fatigued area of a poorly designed mount. It is more than likely just coincidence that it happened on their watch. And lucky it didn't happen in a situation that would have caused injury.
You seem far to sensible for PH wink