Any Advice/Help...Ribble?!?!

[Jon Bon]

Hi,

About 6 weeks ago i bought my first road bike, a Ribble Sportive Bianco. I only managed to get out on it a few times and did no more then 60 miles when 2 weeks ago, while i was out for a gentle ride and changing up a gear the rear mechanism hanger snapped clean in half, twisting the rear mech into the wheel, damaging it. I rang Ribble straight away but didn't manage to speak to anyone for 2 days. Eventually when I did they said they would send a box to collect it so they could inspect but the earliest would be in over a weeks time so i decided to drop it off at my own expense (Drive to Preston from Lincolnshire). The following day I got a call from them saying that the damage WOULDN'T be covered as i must have knocked it at some point since receiving it to cause it to fail like it did. I can categorically confirm that I have never knocked the bike, it is my pride and joy and is stored in a basically empty double garage. In my eyes, the failure of the rear mech hanger (which is supplied by Ribble and not with the components SRAM) and the fact that the bike is still basically brand new, Ribble should repair any damage caused by this failure. Having spent £1100 on this bike i cannot afford to now pay for a new rear mech, wheel and the labour to repair it.

Any advice on how i should proceed with this would be very much appreciated.
Thanks

Jon

 

[gbb]

I can't help you with much constructive re Ribble Jon, but i'd be looking at the following...and even then, it may not help you persuade ribble to accept responsibility.
Bearing in mind, it may even damage your claim with Ribble if you go stripping things off, i'd look at the mech hanger where its broken. Can you see any signs of fractures that have aged ? Look at the break itself, are any of the surfaces discoloured, it can indicate the hanger was previously damaged. Unlikely to help, but it can be a sign of previous damage.

Also, is the hanger secured properly to the dropouts ? Is the screw/nut tight ? If it were loose, that may have allowed the mech to move into the wheel, that would indicate it wan't tight, installed incorrectly, therefor Ribbles fault/responsibility.

Good luck with it all, you must be gutted. I feel for you

 

[CopperCyclist]

Perhaps it was knocked when it was delivered to you, or whilst in storage. Don't see how they can pin this one on you, I'd do my best to fight it. Did you pay for the bike on credit card? If you did contact your credit card company as some offer you aid in situations like this.

Write a letter to the managing director for Ribble in the UK if I were you. Best of luck!

 

[Jon Bon]

Thanks GBB,
That all sounds good. The problem i have at the minute though is that the bike is with Ribble and they said that they are going to inspect it properly again so that will most prob mean dismantling it, or at least the rear mech, wheel and components.
If they still continue with their stance then I'll ask to be put onto a manager and then maybe take it to a small claims court.
Its a shame because its a lovely bike and has been my pride and joy up to now but this has really tarnished my opinion of Ribble. I think next time I'll got for a Planet-X bike.

Thanks again.

I can't help you with much constructive re Ribble Jon, but i'd be looking at the following...and even then, it may not help you persuade ribble to accept responsibility.
Bearing in mind, it may even damage your claim with Ribble if you go stripping things off, i'd look at the mech hanger where its broken. Can you see any signs of fractures that have aged ? Look at the break itself, are any of the surfaces discoloured, it can indicate the hanger was previously damaged. Unlikely to help, but it can be a sign of previous damage.

Also, is the hanger secured properly to the dropouts ? Is the screw/nut tight ? If it were loose, that may have allowed the mech to move into the wheel, that would indicate it wan't tight, installed incorrectly, therefor Ribbles fault/responsibility.

Good luck with it all, you must be gutted. I feel for you

 

[Jon Bon]

They were my feelings also. I said to the person I spoke to that I can categorically guarantee that i have not knocked the bike or damaged it in any way. In fact when i dropped it off with them I showed the guy who booked it in that other then the damage that had been caused by the rear mech failing, the rest of the bike was still immaculate. The bloke ive been dealing with refuses to acknowledge the fact that either the bike could have been assembled incorrectly, damaged in transit (which would be their responsibility as they choose which courier to use) or that the hanger was faulty which has been infuriating.
But yes, if they continue to wash their hands of all responsibility then I'll be onto the managing director (whoever they may be, I'll have to try and find out some how).

Thanks for the advice.

Perhaps it was knocked when it was delivered to you, or whilst in storage. Don't see how they can pin this one on you, I'd do my best to fight it. Did you pay for the bike on credit card? If you did contact your credit card company as some offer you aid in situations like this.

Write a letter to the managing director for Ribble in the UK if I were you. Best of luck!

 

[DCLane]

My rear mech failed after the same time period on the Ridgeback - in my case again I wasn't sure how.

Evans were better however, and replaced the part with me only paying for the part itself, not the labour. I've now bought another as a spare.

 

[Cyclist33]

Sale of Goods Act. Quote it to them. Any defect within six months of sale are deemed to be inherent on the product. the suppliers have the burden of proof to show it was your fault, which they won't be able to do. They would be then obliged by law to replace or refund. Your contract is with the Supplier not with sram, so this all applies regardless of warranty.

Read up on it online. Good luck!

 

[Jon Bon]

Thanks,
Someone has mentioned this Act to me so I'll get my facts straight about it and quote them if they continue with their stance. Hopefully i won't have to take things down the Smalls Claims Court route but will if needs be, its just not on.

Thanks again Cyclist33

Sale of Goods Act. Quote it to them. Any defect within six months of sale are deemed to be inherent on the product. the suppliers have the burden of proof to show it was your fault, which they won't be able to do. They would be then obliged by law to replace or refund. Your contract is with the Supplier not with sram, so this all applies regardless of warranty.

Read up on it online. Good luck!

 

[McStumpy]

Does anyone know how this played out? My brother is in the same position with Ribble, hanger on rear mech snapped on 2nd ride under normal use, taking a chunk out of the frame. He's been waiting over a week for a box and ribble are already positioning this as user error. Thanks.