Warranty on a Buckled Wheel?

thweylan@googlemail.com

I have something of an awkward dilemma.

A few weeks ago I bought a Genesis Skyline on my firm's Cycle2Work
scheme. Unfortunately, the scheme is set up through Halfords, so I
had to order the bike through them. Anyway, on getting the bike home
I discovered a relatively large dent in the top tube. Obviously it
was rather embarrassing to return a bike as dented after I'd already
ridden it, but Halfords were extremely good about it, readily agreed
that the lack of any scratches clearly showed this was an injury
sustained in the factory, and arranged for a replacement bike.

I've ridden the replacement about 3 times. Then today I had to stop
suddenly after a pedestrian stepped out in front of the car in front
of me. I didn't come off the bike, but it reared up and came down a
little awkwardly. End result: very slight bend in the front wheel and
a rear wheel that needs to be completely rebuilt (surprisingly, given
the rather light nature of the fall).

My problem is this: after taking a look at the rear wheel my LBS
consider the spokes to be far too tight and suggest returning the bike
under warranty. I'm not sure if I have the nerve to return a second
bike with a pair of bent wheels and demand they be replaced. Could
the spokes have become tight when the wheel bent? Is it unreasonable
to expect a replacement?

P.S. Chap in the car in front was a true gent. I brushed his car
with my bike (came to a stop as we touched - no real impact) and he
was totally unconcerned - just worried I might be hurt (I and his car
were both fine).

didds

On 28 Apr, 11:17, thwey...@googlemail.com wrote:

> *Is it unreasonable to expect a replacement?

Not at all.

The design of the bike is clearly not good enough to withstand what
one would imagine would be a "normal" procedure i.e. an emergency
stop.

You need a different model bike as much as the replacement.

ian

Mark T

thweylan writtificated

> I didn't come off the bike, but it reared up and came down a
> little awkwardly. End result: very slight bend in the front wheel and
> a rear wheel that needs to be completely rebuilt (surprisingly, given
> the rather light nature of the fall).

I can't imagine a properly put together pair of wheels failing like this.
Definately take 'em back and get 'em replaced or fixed.

Are they just out of true or is the rim dented?

> P.S. Chap in the car in front was a true gent [...] just worried I might
> be hurt

You know it was a cyclist behind the wheel when the driver leaps out to
check he's not damaged your bike.

Pete Biggs

thweylan@googlemail.com wrote:

> My problem is this: after taking a look at the rear wheel my LBS
> consider the spokes to be far too tight and suggest returning the bike
> under warranty. I'm not sure if I have the nerve to return a second
> bike with a pair of bent wheels and demand they be replaced. Could
> the spokes have become tight when the wheel bent?

No.

> Is it unreasonable to expect a replacement?

It would be reasonable to expect the wheel to be retensioned or replaced if
the spokes were so tight that it was already near to the point of collapse.
This is certainly possible.

It is also possible that your LBS is wrong in thinking the spokes are too
tight (some bike shops never tension highly enough). But if you don't have
a good reason to doubt them, you could take advantage and use their verdict
as an expert report if you get it in writng - which may help in any dispute.

~PB