Help with insurnance fun and games

Chris`I

Hey guys,

Looking for a quick bit of advice if you will.

Coming back from a ride on Sunday, we (well the missus) has a slight mishap involving her car, the bikes on the roof and a low slung archway that leads up to our house. As you can imagine that is not a good combo, so the meeting of the three meant a slightly bent car roof, some knackered bike carriers (Thule 951s) and our bikes.

Amazingly the bikes came off pretty well, only my bike sustaining what looks like a buckled wheel. The arch struck about 2/3 of the high of the wheel, so bent it in from there, and the whole lot (2 bikes, racks, bars and fittings) were pushed off the car backwards :shock: Fortunately due to the fittings, they slid back without too much effort. So bar bent racks and all, the bikes seem ok other than this one wheel.

Car insurance is covering the car, but wont cover the bikes/wheel. House insurnace is covering that. They want us to take the bikes to a "specialist" to get them check out. They wont dictate who this is, but will pay for it.

We have 2 options then -

(1) dont bother claiming as the bikes look fine other than the wheel. A new wheel will cost slightly more than the excess on the insurance, so just buy a new wheel (good excuse for some new Hope hoops!)

(2) Take them to a specialist and get them checked out. Any ideas on where to go near Basingstoke? I dont know of any good local shops and the place we got the bikes from didnt fill me with confidence. The bikes look fine, other wheels are true, brakes work fine, forks work fine, no obvious damage anywhere. Whereever I take them will need to have a very keen eye for any small imperfections and may have to strip the bikes down, at least the front ends to make sure there is no damage.

So what do you think? Get them checked out or admit they are harder than the car rack and havent taken any damage other than the wheel, in which case get a new one?

EDIT: I will try to get a pic up of the wheel, but its not even that bent, I have seen much worse from failed hucks or even smallish drop offs. I would imagine the wheel is totally rebuildable with just a new rim and spokes.

Dr S

Try Pedal On at Tadley, they are probably the best local shop.

Good Luck

Nick

Chris`I

Thanks for the suggestion Nick, didnt even know they were there! I have sent them an email, hopefully they can fit us in

Chris`I

Bikes booked in with Pedal On for an Accident Inspection and Report for next Wednesday. Will have to make do with the HT RH for the weekend 8)

BorisSpencer

I'm curious about how you're intending to transport them to the inspection. :?

Chris`I

BorisSpencer wrote:

I'm curious about how you're intending to transport them to the inspection. :?

Well we have my car... no wait.... 2 bikes dont go in a 370z :shock:

They both *just* fit in boot of the accident scarred Ibiza. If not we have plenty of mates that have estate cars, and I'm covered fully comp to drive any car.