Discovery Cycle Normal Adjustment Policy

When you buy a new bike from Discovery Cycle for normal retail prices, we provide "normal adjustments" for free for a year. A new bike should need adjustments after it is used for a while. "Normal adjustments" include keeping everything running under normal treatment conditions, subject to the small print:

"Normal adjustments" do not include our cleaning your bike, fixing home repairs or other shop's screw-ups, fixing or adjusting parts you bought elsewhere, changing flat tubes, replacing non-warranty items, suspension maintenance, or repairing damage caused by crashes, collisions, bike abuse, or failure to have a problem fixed while it is minor.

Some closeout bikes are sold without the free normal adjustments policy--this policy does not apply to all bike purchases.

Please be nice to us--if your bike is dirty, please--pretty please--clean it before you bring it to the shop.

 Bicycle Warranties

The bicycle industry has excellent warranties, far better than almost any other consumer product. If you buy a bike from Discovery Cycle (and most other bicycle specialty stores--as opposed to multi-sports box stores), you will be getting an excellent bike that is serviced by professional mechanics.

Warranties in General

Most bicycle warranties are similar. This information is general--it may not apply to your bike. Warranties are from the manufacturer. Consequential damages are not covered. In other words, there's no compensation for not being able to use your bike while it is getting fixed.

Frame Warranty

Most aluminum and steel bike frames are warranted to be free from manufacturer's defects for the lifetime of the original owner. Carbon frames often have shorter warranties. Labor charges are usually not covered. Consequential damages are excluded.

The warranty only applies to the original owner. The manufacturer may refuse to warranty a frame unless you present the original receipt.

No one guarantees that you cannot break a frame--only that the frame is free from manufacturer's defects.

If a frame breaks at a weld, most manufacturers will warranty it. If a frame bends or breaks where there is not a weld, most manufacturers will not warranty it.

A frame is not defective if it breaks or bends because it is used for a purpose it was not intended. Examples of unintended purposes are:

using a road bike on a BMX track

off road cycling on a road bike

large jumps on any bike other than "big hit" bikes

banging any object (curbs)

running into things, like trees, rocks and cars

dropping it

Defective frames are rare. A few frames break after repeated stress. These breaks will be at welds.

If you believe your frame should be warranted, contact the vendor where you bought it. If you bought a bike in a bicycle specialty store, you can probably take a warranty claim to any store that sells the same brand.

Your bike store can tell you what to expect from the manufacturer. Some manufacturers will send a new frame at a store's request, and others require the store to send the frame back to the manufacturer for it to decide if the frame is defective. Bike stores usually charge for labor necessary to remove the original parts from the frame. The process can take a few weeks or a few months.

Manufacturers normally send a replacement frame. Sometimes it is impossible to get a new frame that exactly matches all the old components. The manufacturer may, but may not, pay for needed component changes. Bike stores usually charge for labor to rebuild the components on the new frame. Naturally, the shop that sold you the bike will be more motivated with warranty claims.

Sometimes the manufacturer will offer the consumer a credit against the price of a new complete bike or an upgraded frame. If you are interested in an upgrade, ask your shop to try to negotiate one. You can often get a super deal.

Bike Forks

Rigid steel and aluminum forks usually have the same warranty as the frame, but some companies limit the time period. Carbon forks are sometimes warranted for a shorter period, because they are more fragile.

Suspension forks are usually warranted against manufacturer's defects for either 1 or 2 years. Most bike manufacturers require the bike owner to refer suspension warranty issues to the fork manufacturer.

Suspension forks are warranted more frequently than bike frames and other components.

Most suspension manufacturers are good about replacing broken products. The major manufacturers will usually send a part or fork on a bike shop's request, but a few require the shop to send in the fork for the manufacturer to evaluate the problem. Freight to the manufacturer is the consumer's expense. Labor is not covered.

Components

Bike components are usually warranted for 1 year against manufacturer's defects. Valid warranty claims by consumers are very rare, although we sometimes replace broken parts that were not defective, to be friendly to our customers.  A bad component is usually noticed and corrected by the bike builder. If a component is installed incorrectly, it is the mechanic's (shop's) responsibility.

There is no warranty that you won't bend or break something, but only that the part is not defective. You can break anything on a bike. Everybody wants a light bike, and durability and weight have to be balanced.  The consumer is expected to operate the component within the component's tolerances.

Component manufacturers can be real horsey. Shimano, for example, requires the claimant (at his expense) to send the component to an authorized service center. If--and a very big IF at that--Shimano agrees that the part is defective, it will repair or replace it, but it will not cover any shop labor.

Component warranties do not cover misuse.  Examples of misuse are:

bent chain link (don't shift under load)

bent chain ring (don't shift under load)

crossed threads (may be your mechanic's responsibility, but not manufacturer's)

stripped threads (don't over-tighten)

pedal broken by contact with ground or rocks

bent derailleurs and derailleur hangers

bent stems and handlebars

taco'd wheels

broken spokes (However, we've recently found some wheels with defective spokes. You can tell when they appear corroded and will break when you pull them.)

damage caused by loose bolts and incorrect installation (may be your shop's responsibility--if the damage is not caused by your procrastinating to fix an obvious problem)

damage caused by not fixing a problem before the part was ruined--a loose hub, headset,  or crank arm bolt

damage caused by dust, dirt, water, rust, or corrosion--particularly damaged hubs caused by immersion in water

Normal wear and tear is not a manufacture's defect. Examples include:

punctured tubes

worn tires

wheels out of true

chain stretch

worn gear teeth

over-stressed freehub body

exhausted springs

stretched cable

Contact the vendor that sold you the bike for warranty issues.

Mechanic Relations

We want to help you. Our customers are the lifeblood of our business and we want you to be happy. Almost all our customers are nice, but a very few are abusive.

The person who processes your warranty claim is just like everybody else--being nice gets the best service.

Be straightforward. If you say, "I was just riding along and my fork broke...", no bike professional is going to believe you. They'll make fun of you when you leave. Metal does not spontaneously bend. Be square and accept that the bicycle operator is part of the equation.

If you are a newbie, learn how to finesse your bike. It's not the bike's fault if you shift under load and bend the chain or chainring.

So, be polite, be honest, take responsibility, and you will get the best possible service.

If it's not really a warranty problem, but you broke something and need a financial break, ask for it: "I was just riding along and hit a pothole--my fork broke! Man I'm busted--lousy tips all month. Please can you help me out?"  That works with us--we'll do our best to help you.

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