[Closed] Loan Bike Returned Damaged - Did It Need Saying Beforehand?

I'd also think that the average man in the street has some idea of how much a nice bike can cost nowadays - given road bike racing gets much more mainstream coverage and I've seen plenty of articles mentioning the cost of high end bikes in the non-specialist press.

'The chat' should always happen when its not a close friend or someone who doesn't understand the value of said loan object.

OP.....hopefully your pristine bike didn't have a mechanical that caused the crash?

My original and only real question was: Is it widely accepted that you return something in at least as good condition as it was loaned or does it need to be agreed in advance?

Summary answer being as lenient as possible to the colleague seems to be if it is scratched and functional (wear and tear) you may have to accept it, it something is functionally damaged (as it sounds like the bike is) then the colleague shouldn't need to be asked to make good on the damage, it should just happen.

OP, if it is any consolation I don't think there is much you could have done differently as even a great friend can give you a few surprises where money and morals are involved unfortunately 😕 It's too late to say don't lend it so all you can do is calmly try and get the bike back in one piece.

"you're not going to like it".

That sets off alarm bells but I hope that you've had a good day at work today and the colleague is doing the decent thing.

Possibly, but then I'm guessing that if I lend you my phone it'd be reasonably evident that it's a £10 phone, and if the OP lends someone a lightweight carbon fibre bike it'd probably be reasonably evident that it's not a £150 Asda special.

Also lots of use of "wrecked" and "smashed" in the various examples given. From the ops description it sounds like a few scratches.

Likewise, if you asked 20 of your friends and family how much your fox forks would cost to replace, I bet they'd be a country mile short. I know I always get exactly the same reaction from none bikists. Even some of my MTB friends are completely clueless as to the cost of anything above deore level.

Well, anyway, my point was really that it's beside the point. I don't see how the price tag, and/or someone's failure to realise what it is, means it's ok to hand back damaged stuff. Or, rather, not even bother to hand it back but let someone else do it for you.

(And, reluctantly being drawn into the specifics, if the OP's description "sounds like a few scratches" I think we've been reading different threads. Or maybe you don't ever use your shifters and you're happy riding gouged carbon frames, I dunno. If someone borrowed your car and handed it back with the gearstick snapped off and a big scrape down one side, maybe you'd call that "a few scratches" and shrug it off. I salute your carefree nature and I'd love a puff on whatever you're smoking.)

Are you that Bez off the front page?

Are you that Bez off the front page?

Please, please, please let it be this Bez.

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No way a layman could tell a carbon bike was worth 20x an asda special.

The OP didn't say why he lent out the bike ( charity event ? )
But I'd find it impossible to believe that the value of the bike didn't crop up somewhere in a conversations leading up to the loan.

Non-bikey people do struggle with the cost of bikes. I have found it useful to offer an equivalent e.g. "would you lock you laptop up outside?", or "if you borrow a car and smash a light/wing mirror you pay up".
You could offer to split the cost - half for the damage and half to teach the OP not to lend stuff to colleagues...

The OP didn't say why he lent out the bike ( charity event ? )
But I'd find it impossible to believe that the value of the bike didn't crop up somewhere in a conversations leading up to the loan.

I agree, presumably it as lent for some cycling specific challenge and the borrower wanted a good bike, you wouldn't lend a carbon framed bike for someone who needed something to pop down the pub on?

The suspense in waiting for the pictures is killing me. OP, please post them up.

Neither a borrower or a lender be.

No update yet, OP told the guy he expected him to pay and how much he wanted, and promptly got a bike wrapped around his head?

No way a layman could tell a carbon bike was worth 20x an asda special.

Do you really believe that? I'm not saying you're wrong but that's very much at odds with my experience. They might not be able to price it to the nearest £100 but I suspect most of the public would know if a bike is worth closer to £2000 than £200.

Borrow for sorrow ....... and I avoid lending out for that reason too.

Where's the OP?

The suspense is killing me.

His work is done here, probably off elsewhere

Think he's chinned the bloke and been nicked for it

Superficial - Member
No way a layman could tell a carbon bike was worth 20x an asda special.
Do you really believe that? I'm not saying you're wrong but that's very much at odds with my experience. They might not be able to price it to the nearest £100 but I suspect most of the public would know if a bike is worth closer to £2000 than £200.

OP had 'scuffle' with the MD and was escorted from the building.

Do you really believe that? I'm not saying you're wrong but that's very much at odds with my experience. They might not be able to price it to the nearest £100 but I suspect most of the public would know if a bike is worth closer to £2000 than £200.

No way a layman could tell a carbon bike was worth 20x an asda special.

Do you really believe that? I'm not saying you're wrong but that's very much at odds with my experience. They might not be able to price it to the nearest £100 but I suspect most of the public would know if a bike is worth closer to £2000 than £200.

Sometimes not only the public don't but traders don't either! 🙂

http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2015/sep/13/vuelta-bike-secondhand-sale-police-recover

On a positive note a mate borrowed my bike last week. Turned up today with the front wheel well and truly out of true. He's ordered a new rim and will build it Wednesday (bike mechanic) all ordered before telling me it was bent.

nairnster - Member

No update yet, OP told the guy he expected him to pay and how much he wanted, and promptly got a bike wrapped around his head?

People asked for photos so he stopped posting?

This thread is still crashing along nicely..

He was mucking about when he came off apparently. "Being a right tool" was one description. When he was getting off the bike he was "dropping it from waist height....just letting go....wham". When it was pointed out to him that his lack of care was causing damage, his general response was "F- it, I'm knackered". Other colleagues on the work sponsored (kind of) charity/local club fundraising ride were quiet astonished and very unhappy with his manner all day.
He was quite bullish this morning but (I'm not afraid to say, I was quite relieved that) he was bullied by the rest of the guys into apologising and half heartedly offering to "fix it". He tried to play the tough guy and front it out when I told him that a new frame and parts are probably going to run to around £800. Things got quite heated with the others and the manager overheard the commotion.
A few people hauled in the office, I was spoken to as well. No real belief that he will pay for the damage. He's already suggesting he pays some off each month as he doesn't have any savings.
I was and still am quite gutted. A very severe lesson learned.
Thank you for the supportive comments, my apologies if I've been aggressive. That's not my normal way. I was and still am quite stressed and utterly fed up. I'm not a huge contributor to this forum and I think I'll go back to reading the odd thread now and again at most.
Thanks again.

He sounds like a complete bellend 🙁

and still no pics 😐

Still don't understand why you lent a good carbon bike to a guy you don't know that well....

Sorry, shitty situ for you. lesson learned, but obviously at least most others in your office sided with you. The guy has obviously done himself no future favours from others and won no friends acting like he did. Put it down to experience and move on, hopefully he'll get his comeuppance at some point.

TBH, op, I don't think that even if you had the conversation beforehand it would have made any difference to the result. You obviously lent the bike to a complete tool. Feel sorry for you, but it is something of an eye opener.

Do you have any insurance that might cover this? Does work?

my apologies if I've been aggressive. That's not my normal way. I was and still am quite stressed and utterly fed up. I'm not a huge contributor to this forum and I think I'll go back to reading the odd thread now and again at most.
Thanks again.

Don't think you have been too aggressive tbh. Also, if that is the kind of behaviour he has shown when using your bike - he deserved some aggression and it would be no surprise if a little leaked out while you posting here. I think he deserves a smack to be honest. That kind of attitude towards your generosity is despicable. I wouldn't care if he had savings. He should take out a loan to pay you back.

Hey cyclepathologist,

Don't take the comments to heart mate. Certainly don't let it put you off posting on here that's for sure.

Anyway, wow.

The guy sounds like a complete... I'd better not say! Lol

I would get the frame sorted now and go from there. Still feel for bad for you. I would genuinely feel sick too if I had, had the same misfortune.

How bad is the damage to the carbon, is it a deep scrape?

Im surprised you didn't try and brake his legs..
Id keep on at the prick and get him to pay even if its monthly

iainc - Member
Still don't understand why you lent a good carbon bike to a guy you don't know that well....

I'd expect someone working in an office with just 8 others, regardless of friendship, would have a bit of respect for a co-worker's property, especially one who had done him a favour.

To have acted the way he did is exceptionally ignorant. The OP assumed he and his property would be treated with common courtesy - that's presumably why he was ok to lend the bike. I'd do the same.

This is a work issue, he damaged your property at a work event. Don't let it drop, cause a commotion again! Get a quote and give it to him in work in front of colleagues/manager.

But do not resort to violence!

Still don't understand why you lent a good carbon bike to a guy you don't know that well....

Because some people are generous and have faith in others? Sadly, occasionally a total cockwomble comes along and bites them in the arse for it.

Still don't understand why you lent a good carbon bike to a guy you don't know that well....

Because some people are generous and have faith in others? Sadly, occasionally a total cockwomble comes along and bites them in the arse for it.

Absolutely my thoughts.

Where's the pictures? Everyone is doubting this ever happened until we see some evidence.
Otherwise, well done OP for an excellent troll for sympathy.

Where's the pictures? Everyone is doubting this ever happened until we see some evidence.

Are they?! 😯

ok, not everyone 😆 Well I am. Anyone else?

If he pays you in dribs and drabs you'll never get it back. Give him a figure and set him a date, cash advance from a Cc or a small loan or borrow off mum n dad.... Whatever just make it clear that paying it off you bit by bit is not acceptable at all.

njee20 - Member
Where's the pictures? Everyone is doubting this ever happened until we see some evidence.
Are they?!

Oh come on; it's perfect trolling!

That is shocking behaviour. Tell him to either go to his bank for a loan or borrow money from elsewhere, regardless you should not be out of pocket. Actually put it in writing and personally hand over the letter with him signing to acknowledge receipt. He needs to see that you mean business and paying off a few quid here and there is not acceptable.

If someone describes themselves as "a bit of a tool" then there's a pretty good change they are a complete jebend!

Sounds like peer pressure at work may be the way to get this resolved especially if the charity event had any connection with work