Cannondale Warranty FAIL

Just as an update to this - for those that are interested.  First - it's great that Cannondale Australia have read my blog, it is just a pity about the customer service they show.  Prior to the Noosa Triathlon, I took my bike in for a service, and was notified by the mechanics that they wouldn't service the bike as they believed there was a crack in the frame.  I then took the bike up to Noosa (raced on it) and also showed the staff at Cannondale (they had a stand at the expo).  Both Cannondale staff members informed me that they also thought the frame had a crack in it - and it was an area that frames often crack and that I should take my bike to the local Cannondale dealer in Melbourne (the bike shop where I purchased the bike, King of the Mountain Cyclery went bankrupt in 2011).

The two mechanics in the local shop also agreed that the bike had a crack in it and that agreed that it would not be serviceable due to the duty of care they have.

To my amazement, Cannondale Australia rejected the bike and said the crack was likely to be a paint crack (which I'd be ok with, if three bike mechanics, from two shops, and two of their own staff hadn't advised me not to ride the bike as it was cracked).

Further to this point (and completely contradicting their statements on the paint), I was advised that Cannondale Australia had read my blog, and decided that I was not in possession of my bike for over two years.  There were no questions asked of me about this, just simply a broad assumption that the time between posts on this site was the time I didn't have my bike.  For Cannondale Australia, the bike was out of my hands for a little over three months, at which time the bike was not ridden (Queensland police interviewed the person trying to sell the bike who signed a statement saying that the bike had not been ridden while in his possession).

So the moral of the story, Cannondale will effectively void warranties for bikes that are not in the owner's hand 100% of the time.  I look forward to the VCAT hearings (and will keep posting) and I guess that new matte black SuperSix Evo I was looking at, just became a Trek Madone 7.9...

The bike is back...

For those that are interested, I happened to recover my bike.  It's been a while since I posted on here, but thought I would add a final update.  The bike was listed on Gumtree (on the Gold Coast), so I flew up and recovered it.  Quite nervous (basically rocking up to a random house to ask for a bike back), I didn't get the full story on how and who stole it (I just wanted to bike back).  So it's back riding, and I thought I would post some photos of me back on it.  I also happened to get it across to Bussleton this year for the Half (back in May) and the full (earlier in December).  I also got it up to Noosa for the Olympic distance race there (first in the Clydesdale division).  

Another Photo…

Just another photo I found of my bike.

Bussleton Ironman Photos

Well – its only taken me three months post race to post some photos – but better late than never.  These are the photos from my first ironman event on a borrowed bike due to someone stealing my Cannondale Slice 09 XL.

$500 reward still on offer to any leads.

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Some more photos… …Still no bike

Here are some more photos I found from the last race I did on my Cannondale Slice XL (2009).  These are from the 2010 Port Macquarie Half Ironman.  This was my first long(ish) race.  Port Macquarie has a bloody hard tri course with the bike course on a rough surface with rolling hills (and two absolute walls to get up).  The run was very challenging with a killer hill to get up.  Not being the lightest guy in the world (105kg – see photos) I’m not sure if I would run back to that course in a hurry. 

While the new bike is up and running (see photos below) – I still miss my old ride.  $500 reward is still on offer to any information leading to its return.  Finally thanks to all the emails of support – please continue to keep an eye out for me at all those tri events.

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New bike arrives – old one still missing

I finally received my new bike yesterday (thanks Bike Spec in North Balwyn).  My old Cannondale Slice is still out there somewhere.  I still have faith (I may be stupid) that it will show up somewhere.  It is just very unique (I have never seen another XL slice and certainly not one with a full Zipp Vuka head unit – including stem).  Other unique features 177.5mm SRAM Red cranks, S60 / S80 wheel (various scratches on the stickers).  As much as its nice to get a new bike – I still miss my Cannondale terribly – it was my first tri-bike and so great to ride.

There is still a $500 reward for anyone that returns or provides information that leads to its return.

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Ironman completed – still no bike…

Well my first ironman is now complete.  Unfortunately my bike is still in the hands of thieves and has not shown up.  I was lucky enough to borrow a bike from a good friend in Melbourne (thanks Dave) and despite being a few inches too small – but was a great bike to ride (4:55 bike time) – I’ll post some pictures shortly.

The reward of $500 is still up for grabs – so please email me with any information that you may have.  I really don’t like my chances (now six weeks since it was stolen), but as stated on previous posts – it is quite a unique bike, so I’m sure it will be seen at a triathlon or time trial event in the near future.

Thanks again for the all help from the cycling and triathlon community – great to see people that care.

Still no bike or Helmet… VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL