Oh no! My brand new Ruby :(

[azfiddle]

My husband offered to drive me to work so he could have the car and I could ride home. Sounds good, right? Beautiful spring weather. Sure.

He put my bike on the bike rack but... apparently didn't check to make sure that the rack was locked in place.

A mile or so down the road there was a horrible "thunk" and he pulled over. The lower part of the rack, which angles down to let us open the hatchback had not been locked and bike had stayed on the rack but hit the road when the rack fell. At a minimum it was clear that the rear wheel had hit and was bent.

When we got to my work, we checked over the frame and it looks like there is damage to the frame as well.

I'm trying so hard not to be mad at him because I'm sure I could just as easily have overlooked something like that... but I'm pretty upset right now.

[ZoneFive]

OH NO! That's my worst fear when my bike's on the rack. I'm so sorry -- and I'm sure your husband feels horrible about it too. I think this deserves a furious shrieking fit, somewhere quiet and alone, to get it out of your system for a while. And I hope this uses up your allotment of bad luck, too.

[Crankin]

So sorry about this! Perhaps to be filed under sh!t happens.

[Aromig]

I'm so very sorry, I want to cry and it's not even my bike.

I commute an hour to work on an interstate, and bringing my bike to work scares me to death for this very reason.

[Pax]

That sucks! So sorry about your new bike, hopefully insurance will cover it.

[cosc]

So sorry about your Ruby. My bike had accident about 10 years ago that very same way to my bianchi eros. She still has 2 different shifters and a different handlebar but didn't hurt the frame. My hubby still hasn't lived that one down. No really we don't talk about it anymore- but now always double check when bikes are on a rack.

[OakLeaf]

Oh man. That stinks! I think ZoneFive's right about the furious shrieking fit, I know I'd be having one. Hope you can get a replacement ASAP ... at least you've already done the shopping ...

[ny biker]

Ack, that does suck. +1 on the shrieking or maybe some serious deep breathing.

Hang in there.

[emily_in_nc]

OH NO! That is horrible! And this is just another reason why we have never had a bike rack but have always figured out a way or a vehicle we could store the bikes inside. I watched my friend's bike fall off her rack once as we left a ride, and it traumatized me for life!

So very sorry. I would be so upset! :(

[azfiddle]

Thank you so much for the kind words. I just needed a place to vent. DH took it to the shop and they confirmed the frame is cracked in two places and has to be replaced. I'm pretty sure the wheel will need replacement too, but I'll know more later. I will call this afternoon to find out the details. In the meantime, I still have my touring bike- the Surly LHT but my spring break starts this weekend and I was planning so many rides :(

[lauraelmore1033]

That is a tough one! I'm sure your husband feels horrible about it and your anger is perfectly justifiable, but .... that private shrieking fit is probably a very good idea. Is this the new ruby that replaced the stolen one? So frustrating!!!

[Blueberry]

I'm so sorry. :( You've definitely had more than your share of bad luck lately.

[Catrin]

Oh my, so sorry, that was always my concern with the bike rack on my car. I agree with the private shrieking fit to release some of that tension, I know your DH has to be feeling SO bad and your anger is indeed justifiable. So hard and frustrating for you.

[rebeccaC]

well, you do get that new bike feeling twice in a little over a month:)

this too will pass and you'll be riding with giant saguaro's in your view soon!!!!!!!!!!!

[azfiddle]

Well.... guess it was cracked in not two, but three places. Bike shop guy said he wouldn't recommend, and wouldn't be able to guarantee safety if we sent it for repair, which would cost at least $825. There were two options for a replacement frame, (and he spent half an hour on the phone with the Specialized rep to try to figure out the best solution!)- so the less expensive choice is about $1200 for a 2015 Ruby frame, with matte black and blue. About $1200. I need a new rear wheel- he said it was completely trashed (about the worst he'd ever seen) but he thinks the brake will actually be okay, but they have to look at it. He hopes to get it ready by Wednesday- less than a week. I don't the think the $1200 includes the wheel :(

So... it will be about half the cost of replacing a bike. My husband is definitely feeling bad- apologetic - and kind of staying out of my way.

The only silver lining- the new frame is a better color. Small consolation... matte black with cyan (blue).

[Helene2013]

Wow. Sorry to read this. I know it is a bad thing. But hey...nobody died and material can always be replaced at some point. I know it's maddening/frustrating but I could not and would not start a "fight" or never-ending argument for this. Just take this as a learning experience. Either check 3 times the rack to see if locked, or keep it safely IN the car. hihi

Good luck with the 3rd Ruby and hoping many miles on that newest ones.

[Blueberry]

Did you, by chance, pay for your bike with a credit card? If so, some (Amex) offer damage replacement within 90 days. It's limited to 1k, I think, but it might help?

[Helene2013]

Good point. Forgot about that one with credit card. Never would have thought of using it.

[azfiddle]

hmmm- didn't think about the credit card. Maybe I can look into that.

And Helene, I was upset but I know that it could just as easily have been me that screwed up... I've gotten in a few car accidents over the years and he never has. I can't really hold it against him. I know he feels bad about it.

Honestly, I was more angry at him the time he nearly wrecked my fiddle. He was trying to be helpful and humidify it, but instead of leaving the case open in the bathroom after a hot shower, he left the shower dripping and the water splashed all over the fiddle and ruined the finish.
I was reminded that there are much more important things to focus tonight. One of my riding buddies called me tonight and told me that a close friend of hers who was visiting from Colorado had just dropped dead while hiking in a canyon out here, her 89 year old father was in the hospital in Virginia and her husband was in Texas with his brother who has terminal cancer.

All in all... it's just a thing.

[emily_in_nc]

All in all... it's just a thing.

That's right. AND, the new frame colors sound lovely! Silver lining...

[Trek420]

That's right. AND, the new frame colors sound lovely! Silver lining...

Yeah. We meant to do this, for the new colors.

At least you did not forget the bike was on the roof rack. Yeah. I did that with the full custom Mondonico.:eek:

[laura*]

There were two options for a replacement frame, (and he spent half an hour on the phone with the Specialized rep to try to figure out the best solution!)- so the less expensive choice is about $1200 for a 2015 Ruby frame, with matte black and blue.

Does the $1200 include a fork in the matching colors? A carbon fiber fork alone can be several hundred dollars. I fear your $1200 is only getting you the frame itself.

[azfiddle]

Hi Laura,

I'm stopping by the bike shop today to get all the details, hope to be back riding again as soon as Weds. I actually don't know if the fork was damaged. My initial perspective was that main force of the impact hit the rear wheel and was transferred through the frame.

[azfiddle]

Ok- looks like I'm paying about $1385 for the new frame, 2 wheels, a new bottle cage and Garmin mount- both of which also broke- and I start from scratch with a warranty from Specialized. The wheels are just slightly heavier than the ones I had.

[Crankin]

Sounds like you got a good deal. Hopefully, you'll be riding soon.

[ny biker]

Yeah that's not bad at all for a frame and wheels. How long before you'll be able to ride it?

[azfiddle]

It was supposed to be ready tomorrow, the frame is in, but they had to order a different bottom bracket. So... it will be ready Thursday but I'm playing music all day for St. Pat's so... Friday. Meanwhile, the Surly has gotten a lot more miles than usual.