we took the Via train to Montreal a couple weeks ago… this is what happened to my boyfriend’s bike when we checked our bikes in…
the report said that instead of putting the bike on the baggage car, they leaned it against the car and then backed into it with their baggage truck!
still trying to sort out compensation from them. and the whole purpose of our trip was ruined, as we went there to ride around. i hate to say it, but should have rented a car. you can’t trust others with your beloved bikes.
the fork and headset were damaged beyond repair. the frame is probably destroyed too, the seatstays are scraped and bent. the handlebars and stem were bent, brake lever snapped off. the cranks appear to be ok, but we’re not sure. the rear wheel seems to be the only thing that came out without damage, amazingly.
7 responses so far ↓
1 Eric // Jun 30, 2010 at 11:29 am
I mean, it’s only a Schwinn
KIDDING! That sucks…boo Via, and boo Montreal, I’m disappointed in you both.
2 Kathleen - Toronto // Jun 30, 2010 at 11:42 am
sorry if i wasn’t clear- it was Via in TORONTO that broke the bike, we were on our way to Montreal
and it was a rad early 90′s schwinn supersport and superhot too. it was the bike that lead to us meeting actually. so supersad =(
3 Meg // Jun 30, 2010 at 2:58 pm
Errgh!! I would totally lose my mind if that happened to my bike, what a nightmare, I feel for ya
4 Samantha - Chicago // Jun 30, 2010 at 10:56 pm
oooouuucccchhhhh!!! ouch ouch ouch.
They better pay you enough to get a new bike AND give you a free trip back.
5 Nova // Jul 1, 2010 at 1:17 am
That’s awful, I’m so sorry for his loss
I love the frame colour!
Hope this all gets sorted out soon, good luck!
6 Paul // Jul 2, 2010 at 6:26 am
It will buff right out!!
Seriously though- what muppets. I hope you are rolling again soon.
7 Jean // Jul 10, 2010 at 7:42 am
Sorry+to+hear+about+this+bike+damage.+Such+a+headache.
I\’ve+travelled+with+my+bike+using+trains+for+different+trip+segments+over+the+years+–this+includes+several+times+in+VIA+rail+train+between+Toronto+and+Maritime+provinces,+Amtrak+(Vancouver+-+Seattle-+Eugene,+Oregon)+and+most+recently,+last+month+we+used+several+trains+in+different+trip+segments+in+Europe.
See+article+on+our+mulitmodal+cycling-train+experiences+in+Europe:
http://thirdwavecyclingblog.wordpress.com/2010/06/22/enhancing-the-cycling-experience-cycle-out-as-far-as-you-want-to-go-return-by-train/
I+will+confirm+that+I+had+a+folding+bike+while+in+Europe+.+It+survived:
1.+Air+Canada+flight-+Vancouver+to+Calgary,+2.+with+switchover+onto+Luftsana+Air+from+Calgary+to+Frankfurt.
3.+2+European+train+rides–+just+so+we+could+get+around+the+problem+of+2+out+of+5+different+European+train+trips+where+the+train+bike+car+was+each+time,+full+already.+Allowed+to+ship+bikes+as+baggage,+not+as+a+bike.+
then+return+flights:+4.+Copenhagen+to+Toronto
5.+Toronto+to+Vancouver+which+happened+several+days+later+after+segment+#4.
The+minor+problems+that+the+bike+has+now+has+nothing+to+do+with+baggage/storage+handling.+More+probably+related+to+the+mud/dirt+that+the+bike+has+which+is+making+some+parts+not+easy+to+screw+/align+some+nuts+and+bolts.+I+have+quick+release+pedals+which+I+think+the+threads+are+abit+dirty…
I+am+pleasantly+surprised+about+level+of+risk+that+the+bike+took+in+the+whole+transportation+handling/baggage+segment.+Yes,+it+did+cost+some+shipment+fees.+But+renting+a+bike+would+have+been+a+headache+for+me,+since+I\’m+short/small.
Just+saying+all+this+so+that+it+doesn\’t+deter+folks+from+combining+cycling+and+rail.+:)
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