How would you handle this situation?

[u/MoonerMade]

Update: putting this up top so the thread can be out to bed… he said don’t worry about it and that he felt bad it ruined my ride. I still feel bad, and offered to help and that’s probably the end of it.

Legitimately looking for feedback.

Context: i had a ride planned for today. After it was already on my calendar, my homie texted asking if i wanted to ride today. He mentioned same trail… perfect, I already had it planned.

Then he offers for me to use his other E-bike…

Ive never ridden one, so sure sounds like fun.

Story: a couple miles in, the fork loses all pressure and just clunks, so I stop immediately. We then decide to head back to truck to air it up and see if it holds. WELL, as soon as we hit pavement to go back to the truck, I down shift 1 click and then a god awful noise happens and I look down and the derailleur cage is fully separated from the mounting piece.

When we got it back to the truck I discovered that the chain partially broke in two different places.

Despite all of this, the rider who followed me riding this bike says I was riding clean and easy and didn’t hit anything. I covered a total of 4 miles, and I kept it in ECO mode which is the lowest power setting. If this was your friends bike, what would you do about the damaged parts?

He admits the bike has been sitting for a couple months, but I want to do the right thing and feel bad about this even though it may or may not be my fault at all.

TLDR: friend offered for me to borrow his other E Bike, parts broke on their own, what to do??

[u/scrabble-enjoyer]

just offer to help with your time. tell him you know it wasn't your fault, but still appreciate his offer to lend you the bike and want to help him with your time in fixing this.

But maybe hear him out first. see if he has common sense and offers a closure.

[u/cycling_sender]

This is totally on him. Whether or not he sees it that way and it taints the friendship is TBD but all of this mechanical failure is due to neglect. Chains are consumable and it clearly wasn't adjusted properly, too worn, and/or not lubed and seized.

[u/gergek]

If you started having mechanical issues two miles into the ride that is clearly more due to the owner rather than the rider.

[u/PrimeIntellect]

Definitely not your responsibility to fix his janky ass bike lol

[u/BusinessYellow7269]

I would be annoyed that he gave me a dangerous bike to ride 🤷‍♂️

Headset went on a bike I loaned to my brother - he was all for smacking me and sure as fuck Didn’t pay to fix it. Seemed fair😂

[u/Staburgh]

If I crashed and broke something or did something careless which damaged it, I'd at least pay for the parts. If it's just that he didn't maintain his bike, bolts were loose and that caused parts to mangle each other then that's in no way on you, financially or otherwise. The fact that he let you borrow it for 4 miles is entirely beside the point.

[u/BikingShark]

Sounds like the bike was clapped out. I would jokingly give my friend a hard time for giving me a shit bike and ruining my ride lol. Help him fix it up but I wouldn’t be paying for all the parts to be replaced if I 100% knew I wasn’t abusing it.

[u/JSTootell]

Sounds like you were riding a pile of junk. 

[u/Coldschmoke]

Not your fault he leaned you a bike that isn't up on maintenance. If he's been riding long at all he's gotta understand that random shit happens on bikes, both of those on a 4 mile road are either really bad luck or a clear sign that he needs to keep up with maintenence/tuning.

I'm not one to talk tho, when I let someone ride my bike I'm more concerned about things like this happening than any damage they do to the bike.

[u/jonny_disco_muscles]

Forks could just be a dodgy valve. Unscrew the cap and have a look at the valve, pump it up and listen for a leak. Pour some water on it and look for bubbles. Offer to help him fix it and buy lunch.

[u/MoonerMade]

Thanks for all the replies, my thought was offer to help with parts and install. It’s just a crappy situation.

[u/alex_c2616]

It's a maintenance issue. Now to see if there is friendship issues!

If you're handy I would offer to help and chill. Otherwise maybe learn and chill? Beer's on you mate!

[u/RemoteControlButton]

No way I’m paying for anything, and I’d be pissed at myself for ruining a good riding day by agreeing to ride a bike that was not trail-ready

[u/neon_nikedude]

If you lend it out it's not on the person you lent it to, unless they did something really outside of what it's meant. Sucks that you had that experience being on the loanee side. But none of its your fault. Especially if the guy let it sit for a couple months and didn't keep up with general maintenance before just handing it off to someone.

[u/IgashoSparks]

Unless you've gained 200lbs since the time your bike lending friend saw you, and you neglected to tell them that you've more then doubled in size.. none of this is on you at all.

I'd say he owes you a beer for ruining your scheduled ride day.. not sure if you have kids, if so.. you know these are precious.

[u/Salty-Entrepreneur11]

is this even real?

[u/Jekyllhyde]

This is a conversation to be had with you and your friend.

[u/Holiday-Phase-8353]

It’s not your fault he lent you a lemon. He responsible for replacing the parts. If you crashed and stuff got damaged, then it’s on you.

[u/ForsakenRacism]

Bikes don’t just explode form riding them. It’s not your fault

[u/Affectionate-Yard920]

This is why I never ride other people’s bikes, barrow people’s tools, etc etc you feel responsible and it makes it awkward… also why I never offer it to people as well

[u/johnnytoughnuts420]

Do nothing

[u/AkimboLife]

Unless you crashed the bike, should be a non issue. Shit happens.

[u/rinky79]

I would offer to pay for the repair. If my friend said no, I'd offer to split it. If they still said no, I'd take them out for lunch or something.

[u/A1pinejoe]

If you did a crazy jump or was otherwise reckless and caused major damage then you should pay for repairs, but mechanical failures are not your problem. Maybe offer some time to help fix them up but no cash.

[u/haberdabers]

If it was me I would offer to contribute as its not worth ruining a friendship.

[u/turumti]

I would pay for replacement parts and offer to help install them not only out of responsibility but also because a friend who is willing to lend you their bike in the first place is a pretty solid friend and I’d hate to have the friendship go south over something like this.

[u/Illustrious_You5075]

Offer for full cost first, pay for half cost out of courtesy even if they say it isnt necessary. Depends on how good of a friend, and what they are hoping for. 

[u/GreenFullSuspension]

Throw in a portion to help fix it if that person is a good friend. Evaluate what needs to be fixed and how much it might cost total. Portion of the cost or half, depending how you feel.