Evans Cycles... Have you bought a bike from them?

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

I just took that as being normal tbh.

Sadly it is the norm unless you are purchasing a bike that includes being fitted to you and then you pay a lot of money. St John Street Cycles do that sort of service, but you do pay the difference between their costs for the parts that you change (out get a refund) and they offer (think they still offer it) a 100 day no questions asked exchange on any part. Both my OH and myself used it several times on our expedition bikes. It was a very useful service but you pay for it on other ways like the overall cost of the bike, however their support is second to none.

 

[SpokeyDokey]

Seems a bi


Seems a bit stupid that you can get more personalisation buying a bike off the net, than at a LBS doesn't it!? If I owned a bike brand, I would ensure that every shop kept a supply of components to ensure at least basic fit, i.e. stems, handlebars etc. You shouldn't have to pay for it either. Already paying an extra 30% to buy from a shop, so this sort of service should be the least they do to add value.

Giant stores have different stems etc available.

A decent LBS will sort stem/saddle/tyres/cassette/rings for you if you want different to standard.

Evans - no chance. They will happily sell you the different parts but will not allow for the redundant parts. For this reason i would not buy from them.

 

[Roadrider48]

Sadly it is the norm unless you are purchasing a bike that includes being fitted to you and then you pay a lot of money. St John Street Cycles do that sort of service, but you do pay the difference between their costs for the parts that you change (out get a refund) and they offer (think they still offer it) a 100 day no questions asked exchange on any part. Both my OH and myself used it several times on our expedition bikes. It was a very useful service but you pay for it on other ways like the overall cost of the bike, however their support is second to none.

Similarly I was offered a Retul fit at half price from Planet X when I bought my TT bike last year; although it was £4000, I think you get that option on all of their bikes. Or they used to do it, haven't used them for a bit so I can't be sure just now.
Plus, as I said earlier I had to pay for the different parts for my BMC when I bought it from Evans and they gave me the stock stuff they replaced in a bag. A proper bike fit is something you have to pay for separately unless, as you said, you buy an expensive bike. Or you end up paying for it one way or the other.
How are you getting on with that trike btw? I was reading your threads a while back. Hope your health is improving.

 

[vickster]

This is all why I've stopped buying off the peg bikes, cost and hassle associated with getting narrower bars, thicker tape, shorter stems, ergo flat bar grips, a wsd saddle etc negates any potential cost saving (even more so as I want SRAM shifters, Evans barely have a Non shimano bike, let alone a choice of non black ones). All good if you are a 'standard size' for your height but as a tall woman I struggle to get what I require

When I got my Pearson, they measured me before building the bike, it did transpire that those bars were a little wide, but it was my first roadbike so I didn't really notice the issue...until I got tendonitis in my wrist!

 

[Roadrider48]

This is all why I've stopped buying off the peg bikes, cost and hassle associated with getting narrower bars, thicker tape, shorter stems, ergo flat bar grips, a wsd saddle etc negates any potential cost saving (even more so as I want SRAM shifters, Evans barely have a Non shimano bike, let alone a choice of non black ones). All good if you are a 'standard size' for your height but as a tall woman I struggle to get what I require

When I got my Pearson, they measured me before building the bike, it did transpire that those bars were a little wide, but it was my first roadbike so I didn't really notice the issue...until I got tendonitis in my wrist!

Funny you should say that about Shimano and Evans. Because Planet X seem to be doing predominantly SRAM lately.

 

[The Jogger]

I think I would prefer them over my LBS Cycleworks in Petersfield. Just for the customer service.alone.

 

[vickster]

Funny you should say that about Shimano and Evans. Because Planet X seem to be doing predominantly SRAM lately.

Yep great isn't it I expect they are getting a better deal...hence the recent rt58 with rival 22 for £500 deal...that groupset is now on my carbon bike and the RT58 has flat bars and SRAM apex!

Although unless in S Yorks buying from PX isn't ideal if you aren't sure on sizing, and not just the frame

It's not only Evans, but few of the major and indeed minor brands offer SRAM STIs anywhere in their range. Boardman used to more, but have now gone shimano on their roadbikes

 

[Roadrider48]

Yep great isn't it I expect they are getting a better deal...hence the recent rt58 with rival 22 for £500 deal...that groupset is now on my carbon bike and the RT58 has flat bars and SRAM apex!

I have never ridden SRAM so I can't make a judgement. Have heard good things about SRAM red though.

 

[vickster]

I have never ridden SRAM so I can't make a judgement. Have heard good things about SRAM red though.

I like it because I can actually stop the bike from the hoods, unlike shimano, quite a nice facility to have!

 

[Moe]

Thanks for all your replies!... In fairness, no, I didn't ask, again, I just thought that's what they did so I need to ask ... It would make sense to me, but then again common sense is rare these days! lol! Lesson learned I guess!! I know I can do and will do adjustments myself along the way so I guess it's OK!

 

[RoubaixCube]

bought a bike from them - Honestly wish id saved my money till i joined CC. The wealth of knowledge in this place would have gotten me a much better bike. In this case i paid well over the odds for something that was probably worth around half as much (Hoy Shizuoka 001.) though I did keep asking them if they could show me a better bike for the money and they all kept telling me it was a good bike. Never asked me about the type of riding i was going to be doing etc etc.

Come to think of it - I have no idea how i came around to the idea about buying that HOY Shizuoka. If i had just taken that price and compared it to 5 others in the same price range i could of done a hell of a lot better.

 

[newfhouse]

I collected my new bike from Evans today. Unfortunately my firm's cycle to work scheme is only available through Evans, otherwise I would have gone elsewhere because of the lack of attention, manners and knowledge. I've bought bikes from Evans before and had a fair experience once and indifferent or poor service on every other occasion.

By contrast, there's a new Cycle Republic in my town. I went for a browse on Saturday, not to buy anything and not really expecting much - it is only a rebranded Halfords after all. I was very pleasantly surprised to be greeted but not hassled. I came out with a pair of Marathon Plus tyres discounted to the same price as Chain Reaction and Wiggle. I'm likely to go back if my needs are simple.

 

[J1888]

I collected my new bike from Evans today. Unfortunately my firm's cycle to work scheme is only available through Evans, otherwise I would have gone elsewhere because of the lack of attention, manners and knowledge. I've bought bikes from Evans before and had a fair experience once and indifferent or poor service on every other occasion.

By contrast, there's a new Cycle Republic in my town. I went for a browse on Saturday, not to buy anything and not really expecting much - it is only a rebranded Halfords after all. I was very pleasantly surprised to be greeted but not hassled. I came out with a pair of Marathon Plus tyres discounted to the same price as Chain Reaction and Wiggle. I'm likely to go back if my needs are simple.

The few Cycle Republic stores I've been into have been excellent - customer care is clearly something that their management are hot on...Evans not so much

 

[BikeCurious]

I've bought 2 bikes from Evans, 1 online and 1 in store. For the one bought in store they did the standard "How tall are you?" then recommended a size. They then got me the bike I wanted in that size, put it on a trainer and set the saddle height by measuring my knee angle and adjusting until it was within a certain range. No adjustment of fore/aft was made and no adjustment of stem/handlebar reach. That was pretty much it. I was allowed to take a test ride and the saddle was way too high. The guy serving me was doing his best but had a BMX background and no idea about road bikes. I resigned to adjust the bike fit myself and left with the bike.

For the next bike I buy I will insist on a real bike fit before I take it.

 

[Absinthe Minded]

...an emergency purchase on a bank holiday when very few other ships were open...

You bought a bike from a ship? Well, you obviously just don't care where you get your bikes from.