Philip Lavery's new €8,000 bike vanished on Aer Lingus. And the airline says it is only liable for a fraction of the value. Above, in happier times winning the Raparee Cup in Co Tipperary last month (Photo: Sean Rowe)
Philip Lavery blasts Aer Lingus after €8,000 bike vanishes
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Irish cyclist Philip Lavery has blasted Aer Lingus after his €8,000 bike was lost in transit.
The airline has told him it will only be liable for a fraction of the bike’s value if it does not turn up.
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While the bike is valued at €8,000, under the Montreal Convention the airline's liability for the missing bike is €1,357.43.
Aer Lingus added that sum would only be paid out when he produced a receipt.
Lavery's bike went missing on June 24th last in the US. It was not put onto a connecting flight at Newark as he was travelling from Portland, Oregon, to Dublin.
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The bike has not turned up since it went missing, almost two months ago.
And in the intervening period the 27-year-old Dubliner has been forced to use an old bike.
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He has been racing with Canadian Continental team H&R Block Pro Cycling of late.
He told The Irish Independent the loss of the bike had impacted his life greatly. And he expressed his frustration at what he said was his very poor treatment by Aer Lingus.
"This has caused untold disruption and damage to my performance and personal life,” he said.
“I was unable to enjoy the limited time at home with my son ahead of the tour of Portugal.
"I had to prepare on an older bike and race the tour of Portugal over two weeks on equipment that is not from the team's backers.
"The equipment was not up to standard and I was physically in pain with changes of position and physio needed.”
He added he was “ashamed that Aer Lingus carry an Irish flag and Shamrock”.
But he was adamant he would not let the airline treat him so poorly. “I will pursue it to the last out of sheer stubbornness,” he said.
“I have sacrificed too much to have it taken away by a company that operates in such a way."
Can't compete in Canada
Philip Lavery added he was now set to miss the Tour of Alberta "because I can't compete without that bike from the sponsor.”
He had planned to use the bike for the Cascade Classic, Tour of Alberta, Tour of China and Tour of Hainan.
However, Lavery said the bike was a specific size for him and would be very hard to replace so late in the season.
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