Usually I service my bikes myself, but as I was away for a few weeks, I put it into my local garage to sort the new grips along with splicing in a power cable for a new Garmin XT2 (I am useless with electrics) and changing the chain and sprockets; plus some new tyres. So, all in all, nothing too taxing or so I thought. Once back in the UK I went and picked up the bike and set off to scratch in the new tyres.
I headed out of town to my favourite twisty B-road and as I went round a sharp left-hander, my left handlebar grip slipped about two inches left. Thankfully, it got stuck on the bar end. If not, I think it, and I, would have been off the bike. I turned around promptly, headed to the dealer and did my biscuit. He was very apologetic and said the apprentice had done them and clearly forgot to use the glue. He sorted it there and then and offered to refund half the bill for the inconvenience. I told him he could shove it, and I would be instructing solicitors. My view is I could have been killed. I also take my wife on the back, and she could have been killed. As such, a few hundred pounds doesn’t really cut the mustard where life and death are involved, and I don’t think a judge will either. Do you agree?
Answer
No, I do not agree and neither will a judge. In simple terms, compensation is to compensate you for your actual loss. Therefore, if the handlebar grip had fallen off and caused you to fall off and die, then the dealer would be liable to compensate you/your Estate for the applicable losses. However, whilst I agree it is pretty shoddy workmanship (and I suspect the apprentice got ripped a ‘new one’) thankfully, you did not fall off or die and neither did your wife. Therefore, your loss is very little, especially as the dealer then rectified the mistake. My advice is accept the apology (we all make mistakes) and accept the offer of a partial refund. You will not do any better in front of a judge in my opinion.
Andrew ‘Chef’ Prendergast
More Bikes – July 2025
