ARGH!!!!!!!! (Bike Fridays - Long)

[Triskeliongirl]

5) They are willing to work with a LBS regarding cable re-routing, etc. Triskeliongirl - you are correct about minor adjustments, and I'm comfortable fiddling with barrel adjustments, etc. However, brake digging into the frame is a little beyond my mechanical skill

Absolutely. The brake digging into the frame is indeed apalling. But, with any travel bike you are also going to have to learn how to do a bit more than turn a barrel adjuster, just a word of warning. If I were you guys, I would be sure to get them to guarantee in writing, that if they get it wrong on try 3 that you can still return the bikes, and also be sure to take that certificate for a paint job. When my bike friday arrived, it also had damaged paint on the seat stay and the top tube was too long. They remade the half that the top tube is on, with the correctly sized top tube, and then the fit was perfect. They repainted the seatstay, but you could see that it had been touched up and while this was OK, it always bugged me that if I were to want to sell it one day it would decrease its value, so that is why I suggest taking the touch up paint, but also the re-paint certificate. I think what happened to you, and me, has to do with the fact that they are a small family business. That has pluses and minuses. It means maybe there is more room for screw ups like this, but there is also more opportunity for them to give folks really personal service. Buying a bike friday is buying into a community, and it is a damn good community, both the people that make these bikes and the people who ride them. So, I think it is worth working with them on this, but just make sure you protect yourself if they don't get it right next time. Good luck and keep us updated.