Just purchased a starter bent from PCF based on readings here.  Intent was and is to get my family of TV watchers and computer nerds off their collective and excessive bottom pads (including me, the worst offender).    
 
Sunday I take the wife out to a local and large vacant parking lot to try it out.  Miracle of miracles, she really enjoys it.   Then she asks me to demonstrate the proper way to ride the bike.  I promptly try a figure 8 and quickly figure out I should have selected a figure little L 'cause I'm going down (there was wet pavement though).   Naturally. being left handed and in general unlucky, I land on my right side.  Pick the bike up, grin sheepishly, wife responds with a very superior smile, and I proceed on around the lot with no problems.   Wife rides a bit more then my son hops on and can't get it to pedal.  The derailler idler/swing arm is folded back on itself.   The parallel pieces of cut sheet metal holding the two small sprockets are no longer true and exhibit considerable curve.    
 
The question for this group is: what are my options?   Do I have to replace the entire derailler, just that small swing arm/idler, or can it be straightened out with no problem?  
 
Another question: are all deraillers designed so that a RH side fall destroys them?   As an engineer myself, that seems ridiculous after 100 years plus of bike technology but maybe that's reality.  

They probably would.  However it's an 80mi roundtrip for me to do that.   Even though the bike is only 3 days old and has less than a mile on it, it's not worth the effort - roughly $20 in gas and 2 hours in travel.   An LBS is the likely fix.   Thanks.

Quote from mindbent on Jun 30^th, 2008, 7:31am:

 
Welcome to the group board, sorry you're not posting under better circumstances.
 
What bike did you purchase?  Some rear D's are VERY close to the ground as well as vulnerable from the side, specifically those on the Sun EZ-1 bikes and EZ trikes -- the ground clearance is about 1 to 1-1/2 inches -- so you don't want to go off the edge of a sidewalk, either.

Quote from FlyingLaZBoy on Jul 1^st, 2008, 1:20pm:

 
It's a Bacchetta Cafe.  I met you exiting PCF Saturday after your long ride.  You came up and gave me your rbent card.    
 
I think the ground clearance is quite reasonable.  I was just on a wet surface trying a figure 8 and lost it.   Now I have to find an LBS with an SRAM X.4 or equivalent rear derailler.    So far no luck after 5 calls or so in the FW and Arlington area.   Looks at best that I'll be sans bike for another week or so.

Mindbent,
 
Just so you don't feel alone in your derailluer woes. Whilst riding my home made with goldrushdave a year or two ago (no clipless pedals) I dodged a rock and put my right foot down to catch myself. My leg swung back and hit the derailleur sending it right into the spokes. Soo sad, crunck crack off goes the derailleur in a contorted wad and out went a couple spokes tweaking the rim pretty good. Bent the drop out up pretty good too. My first SAG ride. The old home made lives yet. I rode it Father's day. Evereything can be fixed. Well, maybe not Gregs Caero.
 
RichardC