Jack's Bicycle - 11/6/2015

This morning when I went to ride, and sat down on the trike, I heard it SNAP, as the center joint collapsed to the ground, and immediately once I was able to get up I could see that the clamp had come detached. So, thanks to Michelle's schedule flexibility, and the assistance of my friend Doug Tidd who ran me out to Michelle's school so I could get our car, I was able to take it to my good friends at Jack's Bicycle in Dearborn.

I was hoping for a quick repair, since something similar had happened once before—but they quickly took a look and told me this was something more serious. Due to metal fatigue, the frame around the hole where the pin for the center clamp seats itself had broken completely, so the whole rear end of the frame would have to be replaced. They took a picture and sent it to TerraTrike, to set that process in motion.

Following is the somewhat unbelievable list of all the problems that have caused me to return to Dearborn since researching the purchase on March 28, test riding it on April 11, and then actually buying the trike on May 2.

Tues., 5/12/15     Problems with center joint

Wed., 5/13/15      Shredded front tires caused by misalignment

Mon., 5/19/15      Flat tire

Sat., 5/30/15        Getting replacement bolt for seat clamp

Mon., 6/1/15        Further problems with center joint

Tues., 6/2/15        Damaged derailleur—had to replace it

Thurs., 6/11/15    Another flat tire

Tues., 6/16/15      Damaged plastic tubes that encase the chain

Mon., 6/22/15      Need new tires, after front left blowout

Mon., 8/10/15      Several issues (seat, lights, computer)

Tues., 8/11/15      Center joint would not fold out; minor NC adjustment

Sat., 8/22/15        Center joint “broke” after Kal-Haven ride;

                                    Got it back on 8/31/15 with new frame

Thurs., 9/3/15      Flat tire

Fri., 9/25/15         New front tires and realignment

Thurs., 10/8/15    Derailleur issues

Mon., 11/2/15      Clips on pedals, and reworking center joint (which wouldn’t fold; clamp was bent)

Fri., 11/6/15         Frame broke, middle clamp fell out

Numerous friends have told me that they ought to give me a new cycle, given the long number of problems. I don't necessarily disagree, but I don't see any way to force their hand on this issue, so for now I continue to exercise what Michelle calls my "gift of patience," and hope that we are slowly, gradually, exhausting the list of possible problems as we work our way through them. And, to be fair, while TerraTrike (the manufacture) may be culpable, Jack's Bicycle has been exceedingly good to me, doing the work expeditiously and usually at no cost; and when it's working (which is obviously somewhat rare) I like the trike a lot.