from this point, it might get ugly

[mimitabby]

Well, this morning I composed a letter and sent it to my lawyer, who rewrote it, making me sound brilliant. I am going to ask for my money back & ask him to send me a return authorization.

I then went to the shop that built my husband's bike (Elliott Bay Bike) and let him see the frame.

He said; "well, you got a nice race bike" He showed me how even if they had put brazeons where you need them for fenders, that there was not enough clearance anyway between the back of the seat tube and the rear tire. He then took me all around his shop (which is filled with race bikes, custom bikes, cyclocross bikes and antiques) and showed me how some bikes have barely a finger's clearance there and others have 3 fingers clearance (what you need for fenders)
He laughed when he saw the forks, again he said they were great, but not for folks that might want fatter tires and fenders. So that sort of clinched it for me. He did explain that there was not an Italian bike on the market that was made the way I want. (and he's right, I've been looking!) and it's not like HE doesn't like Italian bikes. He has a big assortment of Colnago's Masi's and Bianchi's. He likes Italian bikes. They just don't make them for us webbed footed Seattle folks. So now I'm going to send my polite, succinct letter to smart cycle and hope that he is reasonable and takes the bike back without me having to use force (credit card, etc)
thanks all, I'll let you know.

[KnottedYet]

Not that I'm saying a custom Mondonico couldn't do this but...

Flosshilde-the-Waterford-Cyclocross has *easily* 3 fingers space in the front fork and the back. (that's why her head tube is so darn short!)

Good luck with Mr. Lying-thru-his-teeth-Dumpster!

[mimitabby]

Not that I'm saying a custom Mondonico couldn't do this but...

Flosshilde-the-Waterford-Cyclocross has *easily* 3 fingers space in the front fork and the back. (that's why her head tube is so darn short!)

Knot, Waterfords are really one of the nicest bikes around! What kind of fork do you have on yours?

[snapdragen]

Mimi - don't wait to long, you have a limited amount of time to contest a charge on your cc bill.

[KnottedYet]

Whatever came on the X-12 in 1997. Steel.

Waterford's current cyclocross have different numbers. I think X-22 and X-14. http://www.waterfordbikes.com/site/designs/x.php

It wouldn't hurt to go to the Waterford owners forum and start a thread. There is at least one Waterford dude on there who answers questions. http://www.waterfordbikes.com/board/viewforum.php?f=1

[mimitabby]

Snap, I'm not waiting. THe bike came friday, I sent the letter 10 minutes ago
and Tomorrow morning, I will call the credit union. (I'm not very good at waiting, you might have noticed by now.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Waterford will make you a custom bike fairly quickly, and they can build fender clearance and make other fit adjustments. They are GOOD bikes, and I have been reading some recent reports from very happy customers about their attentiveness to getting your bike exactly the way you want it.
Rivendells ALWAYS have fat tire/fender clearance. But their customs have a 2 year wait list. But they do have stock bikes for various uses, including road, touring, and cyclocross. My Rambouillet is their road/litetouring model. Their Bleriot is a less expensive version of the Rambouillet. Veronica has a beautiful red Legolas cyclocross bike from them.

[mimitabby]

I'm going to pay a 10% restocking fee instead of a 25% one.
and he'll refund everything else.
Buyer beware.

I'll let you know when the charges show up paid back.
It's so good to have friends, thanks all.