Bike Concerns

[stewartbradford]

Hey guys and gals,

Just getting back into cycling after being away from it completely for 5 years or so. I bought a Claud Butler Urban 300 hybrid a fortnight ago from my LBS, and overall it's been quite a good experience, started with the 6 mile ride home from the shop and spent the next few days doing 4.25s over a good little loop with two "climbs" - i say climbs but they are just bridges over railway lines (quite steep though).

The past few days I've upped both my pace and the distance, I've done 10 miles each of the past 3 days and did 12 today (split into 8 and 4), pace wise I think I've actually been pretty reasonable considering the wind - 10 miles in 40 minutes (43 including red lights and junctions) combined with a 25-40mph headwind for 75% of the ride.

My concern is that the bike isn't up to the forces I'm putting it through, which is a real concern when I'm only 6ft 1 and 75kg. I like to get out the saddle on the climbs and when I'm really battling against the wind however it feels like the frame is bending, I've not had the chance to get out with a mate and get a proper idea of how the frame is reacting. I'm 99% sure it's not the wheels and the front shock is absorbing a lot of energy.

Part of what makes me think the is the problem frame apart from the bend is that as I really press on the bike creaks, I've checked the seat post and the handle bars and both are nice and tight and aint moving. The pedals seem to be properly seated as well so I'm at a bit of a loss.

I'm planning on taking the bike in for it's "free service" sometime this week but I'd love to know if "bending" is normal for an aluminium bike at this price range (£315 paid but rrp is £380). I certainly don't feel particularly confident about running the bike at full chat over a more sizeable distance (20mi)

Any thoughts?

Thanks,

Stew

 

[Gerry Attrick]

Hi Stew, welcome to the forum.

The first thing that strikes me is that given the bike is so new, take it back to the LBS and get them to sort it. New bikes do frequently suffer from strange creaks and groans from all manner of places.....pedals, bottom bracket, stem, bars etc. It can be a real pain tracking them down as the sound is often transmitted through the tubing.

If you are really intent on sorting it yourself, try this link: http://www.jimlangley.net/wrench/keepitquiet.html

Often, all that is needed is dismantling the affected part(s), lubricating and re-assembly.

 

[stewartbradford]

Hey Gerry,

Thanks for the welcome and thanks for taking the time to reply.

Had a quick look through the link you gave me, I think a trip to the LBS will be much easier.

 

[Gary D]

Stew,
I bought a CB Urban 300 as my first bike about 3 years ago now.

It is prefectly adequate for starters - I was well over 100kg when I first started and am about the same height as you
I haven't broken anything on it yet! Just go for it

With regards to the frame flexing - yes they do. Try holding both brakes on hard and then putting your weight hard on one pedal - you will see the whole bottom bracket area move

The creaking may be the handlebars - mine do it as well. Do you have the ones with the adjustable angle stem? I can never seem to get them tight enough. Once you are happy with your position, it may be of benefit to replace the stem with a fixed one -they are not that expensive. I also replaced the suspension seatpost on mine for a fixed one.

I don't ride mine much now as I have since "acquired" 2 more bikes

I wouldn't mine betting you will have another one in about 1 year?

Your average speed is pretty respectable as well - certainly much better than I could manage when I first started. Although I hadn't ridden a bike for about 30 years!

Good luck and keep at it

Gary.

 

[Gerry Attrick]

You are most welcome. FWIW I think you are making the right decision as if you try to sort it yourself and fail or mark/damage something, the lbs will surely wash its hands of the problem.

 

[stewartbradford]

You are most welcome. FWIW I think you are making the right decision as if you try to sort it yourself and fail or mark/damage something, the lbs will surely wash its hands of the problem.

Yeah, last thing I want to do is break something myself, theres a few other niggles to get dealt with that I could do myself - front derailleur needs adjusting along with a few other bits and bobs.

 

[simongrant]

Yeah, last thing I want to do is break something myself, theres a few other niggles to get dealt with that I could do myself - front derailleur needs adjusting along with a few other bits and bobs.

Welcome stewart,this is what the free service is for,let the lbs deal with and save yourself the trouble,also mention your concerns about the frame flex etc.I have been riding clauds for years and apart from wear and tear parts like brack blocks etc they have served me wellFyi i have a 2008 claud butler legend(hybrid 2183miles)and a san remo(road bike).

Simon

 

[fossyant]

The lbs will most likely grease component's up - the bikes get delivered to the shop and it's 95% built anyway. You can guarantee the manufacturer won't have put grease on most of the components.

 

[jig-sore]

just to note, my bike developed a creak soon after i bought it. turned out to be the chain-rings on the crank. i just removed, cleaned, lubricated and re-fitted them and the noise was sorted.

and yes, adjustable stems do have a habit of creaking as well, i changed mine

 

[stewartbradford]

Stew,
I bought a CB Urban 300 as my first bike about 3 years ago now.

[...]

Good luck and keep at it

Gary.

Hey Gary,

Glad to know that the bike has lasted you for so long.

Mine doesn't have an adjustable handlebar stem, just a fixed position which seems to be in about the right position for me.

I'm intrigued by the fact that you went from a suspension post to a fixed one, I've noticed my post doesn't actually give much cushioning and I have had to extend it quite a way up - not past the "Minimum Insertion Mark" but pretty damn close to it I'm sure. Would a carbon post be worth the extra money over a normal steel one? I've read about carbon forks being softer than steel ones so presumably this extends to seat posts as well.

As for going a second bike, oh I'd be surprised if I don't have another by next summer - most likely a road bike.

Fossyant - not sure on the amount of grease on the bike, it does seem pretty well lubricated, the seat stem had a helluva lot of grease on it.

Thanks for all the comments guys, I'll be sure to post back when I get the bike serviced sometime this week.

 

[Gary D]

The reason I removed the bouncy seat post is that it didn't really work!

If you start reading more of the posts on this forum in depth - particularly those relating to comfort and fit - you will note that one of the common themes is making sure you get the saddle height correct. I could not see how I could possibly achieve that if the saddle was "moving" up and down
(To be honest, I think they are more of a sales gimmick meant to appeal to beginners thinking it will be kinder on their botty's And please, I am not intending to be disrespectful when I say that - because I fell for it as well. )

Saddle height is critical. When I went for a bike fitting on my latest bike, the guy put my saddle up quite considerably from where it was. He said that if I found I was getting aches or pains at the back of my legs, then it was possibly too high. Conversely, if it is too low you tend to get pains in the front or in the knees.
Sure enough, started to get pains in the back of my leg so I dropped the saddle height by about 4mm - problem solved

I actually replaced mine with a carbon one but I can't honestly say it would be any better than an Alu one as I've never used one.

Gary.

 

[stewartbradford]

If you start reading more of the posts on this forum in depth - particularly those relating to comfort and fit - you will note that one of the common themes is making sure you get the saddle height correct. I could not see how I could possibly achieve that if the saddle was "moving" up and down

That's just made a little light bulb go off in my head, after a few bumpier sections of road my knees start to get a little bit sore until I go over another set, it's entirely possible that the seat is dropping a tiny amount and getting stuck. Interesting... something to look at when I next get paid - this certainly is an expensive way to spend money, went into Evans today to buy a bottle and cage and came out with a pair of gloves as well.

Which carbon one did you get? I had a wee nosey earlier on and there is quite a selection out there are various different prices.

 

[jig-sore]

if a suspension seat-post is set correctly it will NOT go up and down when you ride but WILL absorb the shocks from the big ruts in the road.

 

[stewartbradford]

Hey guys,

Took the bike in yesterday to get serviced, spoke with the guy about my concerns and he gave the bike a good check over, lubricated a fair few bits and said that the flex was normal with an aluminium frame of this type.

About to head off out for a 15 miler so I should find out fairly quickly if the lubricant has helped.

Thanks guys.

 

[mickle]

The lbs will most likely grease component's up - the bikes get delivered to the shop and it's 95% built anyway. You can guarantee the manufacturer won't have put grease on most of the components.

WTF? You can pretty much guarantee that those components which require grease leave the factory with it.