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Flood damage to bikes
On Sunday I had the misfortune of a flooded garage. This was basically caused by all the heavy rain late at night. If you are interested, here is a video of the flooding:
http://youtu.be/K9InRk-oz-w?hd=1
Im trying to get the insurance claim done. Does anyone know anything about water damage to bicycles? The bikes were completely submerged in muddy water overnight, I pulled them out in the morning. (Giant Roam ladies, Commencal Meta 5.2 and a custom built hybrid/racer)
Assuming I should get the bottom brackets and hubs cleaned up and rebuilt? What about the long term damage to the inside of the frame and front or rear shocks?
Does anyone have any experience with this? Do you think its too much to claim the whole cost of the bike? (considering everything is covered in mud) Do you think the insurance company will even pay for the repairs of the hubs or bottom brackets?
Does anyone have any advice? I have to submit the repair/replaced cost to the insurer.
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real insurance have insurance for bikes maybe give them a call & see what they can tell you , it is a start or go to the local boys at TBSM .
Perhaps in line with the previous comment; take the bikes to your local bike shop and have them do an assessment and quote on restoring the bikes to going condition. The workshop should be able to determine whats required. At a guess though, depending on how deep the bikes were submerged, you may be in for only a clean. Shocks should be good, as they're sealed units. Bottom brackets could easily - and cheaply - be opened up and re-greased if they're suspect and not rolling smoothly. The shop could at the same time assess whether any water has entered the frame. Lift out the seat post, turn bikes upside down ad check for dribblage! (Most frames I've seen have drainage holes; in the chain stays or under the bottom bracket. Drainage holes do of course become entry points under the wrong conditions!)
As said, definitely get it all checked out and serviced, parts needed replacement attention done so. Having said that, flood water as dirty and seedy as it is, really isn't that bad considering what we put them through. As said, forks and shock are sealed units and even 1m under water really shouldn't be a problem. Bearings should be fine as they weren't being moved or recipricated and the seals should've done thier job, the frame would definitely have been inundated with water, though should've drained if the frames have a clear drain hole. Simply turning the bike upside down with seatpost removed for a day or two is the best way to dry it out. Having said that, possibly a good fluch out with clean fresh water before this would be wise to get rid of any sediment left behind. If the headset bearings are traditional caged type and not sealed bearings then these would definitely need servicing. Possibly the brake rotors will need a clean and worse case a new set of pads (though they 'should' be fine).