Halfords Help Carrera Virtuoso

[Peter Armstrong]

Can any1 help, so this is my new bike, i have messed about with the seat height etc, and played with it on the turbo.



First thing is the gears at the front don’t change smooth, I’ve messed with the all the correct stuff and I can’t get it working properly. it’s started to mark the gear cogs. I’m taking it back for this to be fixed.



The problem is I want the handle bars lower, On my old bike I just had to loosen and it dropped down, with these new types you loosen, then take the top off, and pull out the spacers. Problem is when you do this it exposes the metal tube. Does this need to be cut off or something. Halfords say they won’t do it because it voids the warranty? How do these new handle bars work, why can’t it simply be lowered?

 

[Kestevan]

You sound to be on the right lines, but you don't actually need to cut the steerer down to lower the bars.

Loosen the top cap, and undo the stem clamp. This should allow the stem and bars to be removed. Under the stem you have a number of spacers, slide these off the fork steerer (the metal tube) and hang on to them. Replace the stem on the steerer and simply replace the spacers you've removed on top of the stem.

Gently tighten up the top cap bolt to put some tension in the fork, and then tighten it all back up with the stem clamp bolts.

 

[HovR]

Regarding the height of the bars, you need to either take the spacers off and put them above the stem, or cut get the steerer tube cut down. I'd advise just putting them above the stem for now until you are sure that it's at the height you want.

I'd also recommend not taking it back to Halfords but taking it to a proper bike shop. If they couldn't get it set up correctly initially then I doubt you'll have a lot of luck a second time around.

Edit: Cross posted with Kestevan

 

[Peter Armstrong]

Arrrr ok, that makes sence, DOOHH!!
Im not happy that the gears are not smooth, I read plenty of reviews on this bike (non halford) and they are all very positive about the gears. Im confused.

 

[cyberknight]

When you say the front changes are messed up in what way ?
Are they slow to change or does it overshift/undershift and drop the chain?
Finally when you say marking the cogs at the front do you mean the black is wearing off because its liable just to be paint /coating and it does wear off fairly quickly .

 

[Peter Armstrong]

I have only put the bike on the turbo to test the gears, Im waiting for my new clipless pedels and shoes.

Anyway, firstly I only change gear on the front when the back gears are around the middle ( I learnt this from somewhere to reduce chain stress).
At first it took a while to get the gears to get on the big cog, So I tweeked the little things on the changer and it wouldnt work.
So I then had to tighten the wire. Anyway I got it working.

But to get it up on the big cog I have to push the brake to the side once, it clicks, then again, it clicks but to get it up I have to push it once more, and hold it there.
It then jumps up to the big cog and I leg go of the brake handle gear changer.

Yes it has took the paint off but also some metal. i think because of the way im forcing it to change.

 

[fossyant]

Sounds like your limit adjustment screw is stopping the mech shifting fully. It's the two screws on the top of the mech. You need so adjust the outer one.

 

[Peter Armstrong]

Sounds like your limit adjustment screw is stopping the mech shifting fully. It's the two screws on the top of the mech. You need so adjust the outer one.

I think it’s the actual position of the mech on the frame because i used all different permutations’ of screws in out, out in, middle out, half quarter etc etc and changed the tension of my cable. I’ve don’t this loads on my old bike and had no problems.

The jump from the lower cog to the higher cog is freaking huge!!!

 

[Crackle]

Fossy may be right but the other thing that occurs to me is the height it's been set at may be wrong. There's a good article on the Park Tools website

 

[Peter Armstrong]

Fossy may be right but the other thing that occurs to me is the height it's been set at may be wrong. There's a good article on the Park Tools website

"If the derailleur is too low, it may scrape against the chainrings or jam the chain when shifting."

Sounds like what its doing

 

[Peter Armstrong]

I Hope halfords sort it out and dont try and bullshit me that its supose to change like that.

 

[Cycleops]

The front deraillieur cage should be between 1.6mm and 6.3mm above the outer (largest chainring).

 

[Peter Armstrong]

Shall I just try and do it at home?

 

[Peter Armstrong]

So I took it to halfords, and told the guy about the gearing issues. He put it on its work clamp thing and it worked with no problems what so ever. he gave it a little tune, let me test it, all was fine.

But as soon as I got home, put it on the turbo it DIDNT WORK, SAME PROBLEMS!

Is gearing different when under load? on a stand vs a turbo or when cycling hard.

 

[Peter Armstrong]

Read up peeps,