shady trek dealings

"Ryan Fisher" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

just thought id share my recent experiences with Trek with everyone in

case

Quoted message said:

you were thinking about purchasing one of their carbon frames.

(snip)

So which is it? You started out talking about a crack. You then started talking about a snapped
chainstay. Trek OCLVs have always gotten insignificant hairline cracks at the lugs. So did your
crack? or snap?

I've owned OCLV frames since about 1995. I had one that developed a crack in the wishbone seatstay
above the rear brake. Trek took the bike back and rebuilt it. I was without the bike for about ten
days, but it never cost me a cent. Then one day I noticed the rear wheel wasn't straight in the
frame. Somehow the bike had gotten out of alignment. With absolutely no questions asked, they sent
me out a brand new US Postal frame. This was back in 1998. So after putting about 30,000 miles on
the old one, they just up and sent me a new one. Shoot, the old one was rideable and I was able to
keep using while I waited a week for the new frame to be delivered.

One of my training buddies developed a problem with his bottom bracket threads about two years ago.
He worked through the same dealer as I did and he ended up with a brand new frame at no cost to him.

I understand that a great deal has to do with the local Trek rep you deal with. You may need to
find another. But I've got to stand up for Trek based on my experience with their warranty. They're
just awesome.

Bob C.

not at the lug. it was a crack on the inside of the chainstay which (right behind where the big ring
overlaps), at the time i noticed it went about 180 degrees around from the top to the bottom.

"psycholist" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"Ryan Fisher" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:c0tq7v$gjo$1@news-
int2.gatech.edu...

Quoted message said:

just thought id share my recent experiences with Trek with everyone in

case

Quoted message said:

you were thinking about purchasing one of their carbon frames.

(snip)

So which is it? You started out talking about a crack. You then started talking about a snapped
chainstay. Trek OCLVs have always gotten insignificant hairline cracks at the lugs. So did your
crack? or snap?

I've owned OCLV frames since about 1995. I had one that developed a crack in the wishbone seatstay
above the rear brake. Trek took the bike back

and

Quoted message said:

rebuilt it. I was without the bike for about ten days, but it never cost

me

Quoted message said:

a cent. Then one day I noticed the rear wheel wasn't straight in the

frame.

Quoted message said:

Somehow the bike had gotten out of alignment. With absolutely no

questions

Quoted message said:

asked, they sent me out a brand new US Postal frame. This was back in

1998.

Quoted message said:

So after putting about 30,000 miles on the old one, they just up and sent

me

Quoted message said:

a new one. Shoot, the old one was rideable and I was able to keep using while I waited a week for
the new frame to be delivered.

One of my training buddies developed a problem with his bottom bracket threads about two years
ago. He worked through the same dealer as I did

and

Quoted message said:

he ended up with a brand new frame at no cost to him.

I understand that a great deal has to do with the local Trek rep you deal with. You may need to
find another. But I've got to stand up for Trek based on my experience with their warranty.
They're just awesome.

Bob C.

See Below

Ryan Fisher said:

just thought id share my recent experiences with Trek with everyone in case you were thinking about
purchasing one of their carbon frames.

It seems that even if you have been a trek dealer for 6 years, and buy their top end bike (5900),
which supposedly has a lifetime warranty, and never crash the bike, they will still not warranty
the frame if it develops a crack. apparently the drive side chainstay, approx 4" from the BB, is
"not a high stress part of the frame." so if it cracks there, chances are you either "stepped on
the bike," or "picked up a stick or something on a ride which cracked the frame." it seems that in
the course of normal riding a magical stick can be unnoticably kicked up from the road with enough
force to snap a chainstay, while somehow not damaging the wheels, or getting caught up in the
drivetrain.

Even though they wont warranty the frame, the nice folks at trek will be happy to charge you
to repair it (plus shipping no less) so you can be back on the road and riding in only 4-6
weeks. awesome.

I am now riding a Specialized frame (allez pro) which i have been more than pleased with thus far,
and from recent experiences through the shop, specialized will indeed warranty a cracked driveside
chainstay, and have a frame for you within a week. word.

In conclusion if anyone wants to buy a newly repaired trek 5900 frame/fork (56 cm) in 4-6 weeks,
drop me a line or look for it on ebay because i will never ride (or sell) another one of their
bikes again. thank you and have a nice day.

Try a CALFEE. Lighter, stronger, can build you a custom one. Let's see TREK do that one for anyone
other than Lance! Plus a 25 year warranty.

Although there frames have only won one Tour de France.

Basil P said:

See Below

Wrong group.

Ryan,

Is it a fine, straight line or a jagged one? Usually a jagged one is a true crack and a thin,
straight one is a cosmetic paint or finish crack. Also, is it growing? If you can continue to ride
the bike and are doing so, put a couple of dots, one at each end of the crack, with a Sharpie.
You'll be able to tell if the crack is growing from that. I was sure I had a crack in the headtube
of my 1998 Postal frame they sent me. Turned out to be just a scratch that I'm guessing I acquired
courtesy of the transfer trucks at the Assault on Mt. Mitchell.

But when I actually DID have a crack, it was quite jagged and it grew rather rapidly. (Yes, I was
stupid enough to continue riding it up 'till the day my LBS sent it off to Trek.)

I'm not trying to insult your intelligence, but if you're new to owning OCLV, you might not know
some off these things.

Bob C.

its definately a crack. since when you flex the chainstays you can see it open up.

"psycholist" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Ryan,

Is it a fine, straight line or a jagged one? Usually a jagged one is a

true

Quoted message said:

crack and a thin, straight one is a cosmetic paint or finish crack. Also, is it growing? If you
can continue to ride the bike and are doing so, put

a

Quoted message said:

couple of dots, one at each end of the crack, with a Sharpie. You'll be able to tell if the crack
is growing from that. I was sure I had a crack

in

Quoted message said:

the headtube of my 1998 Postal frame they sent me. Turned out to be just

a

Quoted message said:

scratch that I'm guessing I acquired courtesy of the transfer trucks at

the

Quoted message said:

Assault on Mt. Mitchell.

But when I actually DID have a crack, it was quite jagged and it grew

rather

Quoted message said:

rapidly. (Yes, I was stupid enough to continue riding it up 'till the day my LBS sent it off
to Trek.)

I'm not trying to insult your intelligence, but if you're new to owning OCLV, you might not know
some off these things.

Bob C.

"Ryan Fisher" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

just thought id share my recent experiences with Trek with everyone in case you were thinking
about purchasing one of their carbon frames.

It seems that even if you have been a trek dealer for 6 years, and buy their top end bike (5900),
which supposedly has a lifetime warranty, and never crash the bike, they will still not warranty
the frame if it develops a crack. apparently the drive side chainstay, approx 4" from the BB, is
"not a high stress part of the frame." so if it cracks there, chances are you either "stepped on
the bike," or "picked up a stick or something on a ride which cracked the frame." it seems that in
the course of normal riding a magical stick can be unnoticably kicked up from the road with enough
force to snap a chainstay, while somehow not damaging the wheels, or getting caught up in the
drivetrain.

Even though they wont warranty the frame, the nice folks at trek will be happy to charge you to
repair it (plus shipping no less) so you can be back on the road and riding in only 4-6 weeks.
awesome.

I am now riding a Specialized frame (allez pro) which i have been more than pleased with thus far,
and from recent experiences through the shop, specialized will indeed warranty a cracked driveside
chainstay, and have a frame for you within a week. word.

In conclusion if anyone wants to buy a newly repaired trek 5900 frame/fork (56 cm) in 4-6 weeks,
drop me a line or look for it on ebay because i will never ride (or sell) another one of their
bikes again. thank you and have a nice day.

Just as a counterpoint. I asked my roommate about this (he owns a Trek dealership), and he has never
had any issues or problems getting busted up OCLV frames replaced. Even ones that had been destroyed
in races and other frames that were in "misuse" situations. Did you try to warranty the frame
yourself or did you go to your local shop?

Tom

Basil P <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

See Below

Ryan Fisher said:

just thought id share my recent experiences with Trek with everyone in case you were thinking
about purchasing one of their carbon frames.

It seems that even if you have been a trek dealer for 6 years, and buy their top end bike (5900),
which supposedly has a lifetime warranty, and never crash the bike, they will still not warranty
the frame if it develops a crack. apparently the drive side chainstay, approx 4" from the BB, is
"not a high stress part of the frame." so if it cracks there, chances are you either "stepped on
the bike," or "picked up a stick or something on a ride which cracked the frame." it seems that
in the course of normal riding a magical stick can be unnoticably kicked up from the road with
enough force to snap a chainstay, while somehow not damaging the wheels, or getting caught up in
the drivetrain.

Even though they wont warranty the frame, the nice folks at trek will be happy to charge you to
repair it (plus shipping no less) so you can be back on the road and riding in only 4-6 weeks.
awesome.

I am now riding a Specialized frame (allez pro) which i have been more than pleased with thus
far, and from recent experiences through the shop, specialized will indeed warranty a cracked
driveside chainstay, and have a frame for you within a week. word.

In conclusion if anyone wants to buy a newly repaired trek 5900 frame/fork (56 cm) in 4-6 weeks,
drop me a line or look for it on ebay because i will never ride (or sell) another one of their
bikes again. thank you and have a nice day.

Try a CALFEE. Lighter, stronger, can build you a custom one. Let's see TREK do that one for anyone
other than Lance! Plus a 25 year warranty.

Although there frames have only won one Tour de France.

Lance rides stock frames.

Ryan Fisher said:

just thought id share my recent experiences with Trek with everyone in case you were thinking about
purchasing one of their carbon frames.

It seems that even if you have been a trek dealer for 6 years, and buy their top end bike (5900),
which supposedly has a lifetime warranty, and never crash the bike, they will still not warranty
the frame if it develops a crack. apparently the drive side chainstay, approx 4" from the BB, is
"not a high stress part of the frame." so if it cracks there, chances are you either "stepped on
the bike," or "picked up a stick or something on a ride which cracked the frame." it seems that in
the course of normal riding a magical stick can be unnoticably kicked up from the road with enough
force to snap a chainstay, while somehow not damaging the wheels, or getting caught up in the
drivetrain.

Even though they wont warranty the frame, the nice folks at trek will be happy to charge you
to repair it (plus shipping no less) so you can be back on the road and riding in only 4-6
weeks. awesome.

I am now riding a Specialized frame (allez pro) which i have been more than pleased with thus far,
and from recent experiences through the shop, specialized will indeed warranty a cracked driveside
chainstay, and have a frame for you within a week. word.

In conclusion if anyone wants to buy a newly repaired trek 5900 frame/fork (56 cm) in 4-6 weeks,
drop me a line or look for it on ebay because i will never ride (or sell) another one of their
bikes again. thank you and have a nice day.

They should be more to the story here. Trek has been awesome with their warranty and service.

??

Dave Lettieri FasTrack Bicycles 118 W. Canon Perdido Santa Barbara, CA 93101 805-884-0210
775-248-7632 Fax

www.fastrackbicycles.com

Ryan Fisher said:

just thought id share my recent experiences with Trek

Please don't post this in rec.bicycles.racing - it's off-topic for this group.

JT

he works at the local shop.

david

"Tom Arsenault" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"Ryan Fisher" <[email hidden]> wrote in message

news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

just thought id share my recent experiences with Trek with everyone in

case

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

you were thinking about purchasing one of their carbon frames.

It seems that even if you have been a trek dealer for 6 years, and buy

their

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

top end bike (5900), which supposedly has a lifetime warranty, and never crash the bike, they
will still not warranty the frame if it develops a crack. apparently the drive side chainstay,
approx 4" from the BB, is

"not a

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

high stress part of the frame." so if it cracks there, chances are you either "stepped on the
bike," or "picked up a stick or something on a

ride

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

which cracked the frame." it seems that in the course of normal riding

a

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

magical stick can be unnoticably kicked up from the road with enough

force

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

to snap a chainstay, while somehow not damaging the wheels, or getting caught up in the
drivetrain.

Even though they wont warranty the frame, the nice folks at trek will be happy to charge you to
repair it (plus shipping no less) so you can be

back

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

on the road and riding in only 4-6 weeks. awesome.

I am now riding a Specialized frame (allez pro) which i have been more

than

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

pleased with thus far, and from recent experiences through the shop, specialized will indeed
warranty a cracked driveside chainstay, and have

a

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

frame for you within a week. word.

In conclusion if anyone wants to buy a newly repaired trek 5900

frame/fork

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

(56 cm) in 4-6 weeks, drop me a line or look for it on ebay because i

will

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

never ride (or sell) another one of their bikes again. thank you and

have a

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

nice day.

Just as a counterpoint. I asked my roommate about this (he owns a Trek dealership), and he has
never had any issues or problems getting busted up OCLV frames replaced. Even ones that had been
destroyed in races and other frames that were in "misuse" situations. Did you try to warranty the
frame yourself or did you go to your local shop?

Tom

Ryan Fisher said:

which cracked the frame." it seems that in the course of normal riding a magical stick can be
unnoticably kicked up from the road with enough force to snap a chainstay, while somehow not
damaging the wheels, or getting caught up in the drivetrain.

Are there any warranty reports from a Texan rider who damaged his Trek 5900 in similar fashion in
France last summer?

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

They should be more to the story here. Trek has been awesome with their warranty and service.

??

exactly. all ive heard form other people is good things about trek warranty etc. which is why i
wasnt too worried when i noticed the crack. but all the people i talked to in the warranty
department were complete a-holes and treated me like id ridden the thing off a 30 foot drop or
someting. I honestly never crashed the bike etc. and have had it for a shade less than 3 years (it
was bought new). Youd think theyd at least try to please a dealer and not [censored] them off.

On 17 Feb 2004 18:19:35 -0800, [email hidden] (Tom Arsenault)

Quoted message said:

Lance rides stock frames.

They become stock frames after designed for LANCE. At least the 5.9 and the TT frames.

FasTrack <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Ryan Fisher said:

just thought id share my recent experiences with Trek with everyone in case you were thinking
about purchasing one of their carbon frames.

<snip>

Quoted message said:

They should be more to the story here. Trek has been awesome with their warranty and service.

??

Dave Lettieri FasTrack Bicycles 118 W. Canon Perdido Santa Barbara, CA 93101 805-884-0210 775-248-
7632 Fax

www.fastrackbicycles.com

Dave,

Couple questions:

- Does the Trek warranty apply only to the original owner? If so, do you need proof that you are the
original owner?

- Would riding the bike on a trainer contribute to the kind of crack this guy's frame had? (been
wondering if a mag or wind trainer is bad for the rear triangle, and possibly the cause of my
cracked frame.)

Mark

p.s. FWIW, I know of probably 10 people that have had Trek frame problems and, in all cases,
Trek was very helpful in replacing the frame or repairing the problem. I guess that is both
good and bad!

Tom Arsenault said:

Basil P <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

See Below

Try a CALFEE. Lighter, stronger, can build you a custom one. Let's see TREK do that one for
anyone other than Lance! Plus a 25 year warranty.

Although there frames have only won one Tour de France.

Lance rides stock frames.

Exactly. It's not necessary to fine tune custom the frame, unless you have abnormal dimensions.
Length of the stem and where the seat post contacts the rails make a large contribution to fine
tuning the position on a stock frame.

It's about racing bikes isn't it? Where would YOU prefer that he post this?

"John Forrest Tomlinson" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Ryan Fisher said:

just thought id share my recent experiences with Trek

Please don't post this in rec.bicycles.racing - it's off-topic for this group.

JT

Rick Roof said:

It's about racing bikes isn't it? Where would YOU prefer that he post this?

Right. As John was saying, racing bikes are off-topic (RTFFAQ)

[email hidden] (Mark Fennell) wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

FasTrack <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Ryan Fisher said:

just thought id share my recent experiences with Trek with everyone in case you were thinking
about purchasing one of their carbon frames.

<snip>

Quoted message said:

They should be more to the story here. Trek has been awesome with their warranty and service.

??

Dave Lettieri FasTrack Bicycles 118 W. Canon Perdido Santa Barbara, CA 93101 805-884-0210 775-248-
7632 Fax

www.fastrackbicycles.com

Dave,

Couple questions:

- Does the Trek warranty apply only to the original owner? If so, do you need proof that you are
the original owner?

- Would riding the bike on a trainer contribute to the kind of crack this guy's frame had? (been
wondering if a mag or wind trainer is bad for the rear triangle, and possibly the cause of my
cracked frame.)

Mark

p.s. FWIW, I know of probably 10 people that have had Trek frame problems and, in all cases, Trek
was very helpful in replacing the frame or repairing the problem. I guess that is both good
and bad!

Our squad is sponsored by Trek, and our warantee program...although good - is not of the "no
questions asked, no fees collected" variety. I'm guessing that since Ryan works at the shop - he
probably gets a similar deal and has to live with similar warantee limitations (fees for frame
fixes/paint/replacement).

I agree with the prior post that there's probably something more to this. Perhaps he has a "history"
with returning frames, perhaps he has been associated with some bad practices at his shop, perhaps
his shop is in bad standing as an account, - who knows. I'm guessing he's just using the R.B.R.
vehicle to try and dirty the air over at Trek.

Trek: Best bike I've ever ridden - Best folks to work with when there's a problem. Period.

-a