I am lucky enough to have 2 bikes.

So a few weeks ago I lent the HT to a good friend in the hope she would like it enough to buy one.  She did-result.

Last Sunday a good friend asked if he could borrow the ht. for his wife to try out as she'd never ridden an mtb before.  No problem there.

 A few evenings ago I was chatting to my neighbour, who is very sporty and fit.  She said she had an mtb (Ithink she mean't a hybrid by the sounds) which wasn't too good, and would like to join me on an easy ride, prehaps later in the summer.  Having gone on about how bad herbike was, I somehow found myself offering to lend her my ht. 

1) Should I make it clear from the start this is a one off loan ?

2) Not say anything in the hope that she either goes out and buys her own and never askes to borrow it again ?

So do you lend out your bikes.

I am sounding a bit mean spirited, but we live in a very gritty muddy place so parts wear out quite quickly and are expensive to replace.  

I have lent my bikes only to fellow MTB'ers/sporty types I trust to not break anything on it. I wouldn't lend them to any old 'gringos'. I agree they are damned expensive, one bad wet gritty ride near me and it can mean going through a full set of pads on the one ride.

I think I would go with point 2 and if she says anything lie sweetly saying something terminal has happened to it.

Yup lend my bikes out, let people have a go at races/events (even kids..... although the sound of gears crunching does make you bite your lip a bit, but the smile on their faces as they are trying to do bunny hops and wheelies on a "grown ups" bike is just great)

Have had a few broken chains, but they are easily fixed. These friends have then either gone and bought their own new mountain bike or got their old battered ones fixed.

Then again they are my best mates and would lend them anything. Its just nice to have new riding buddies rather than pootling round on my own.

I too would go for option 2.

I've lent my HT out to my mate when we've been on group rides - she has now bought herself a full-susser, so result there.

I would only lend to people I am on a ride with, but if it was a good mate, I would lend out my HT anyway.

I'm more precious about my full-susser though.