Replacing carbon forks (or lack thereof)

[hanvyj]

I took my bike to Manchester Edinburgh cycles for a repair after a crash, the carbon forks are apparently bent and need replacing. They cost £100 and £30 for labor.

I thought I would be claiming it on insurance so I went along with it.

However, I decided not to and Edinburgh cycles have had my bike for a month without doing anything. I went in store twice and get the reply "part delivery can take this long" (seriously, more than a month??) Its cost me £45 in bus fairs waiting!

I'm getting fed up, and just want my bike back.

My question is: how hard is it replacing forks and how do I know how to get forks that will fit? Its a road bike, with mudguards, so they need clearance for that. Does the turning tubey thing come in different sizes? None of the carbon forks on ebay said whether they would fit mudguards or not...

Cheers for any advice!

 

[festival]

It maybe that 'those' forks are out of stock but there are plenty of carbon forks available.

Seems like no one is willing to take you problem on board and solve it.

But it may mean paying for a more expensive fork to get the job done.

 

[Globalti]

These are only £107: http://www.carboncycles.cc/?s=0&t=2&c=75&p=807&

 

[fossyant]

Look at wiggle/CRC etc.

Just go for forks with guard eyelets. It's most likely 1 1/8th. You just cut the steerer yourself, or get the LBS to do it.

 

[hanvyj]

These are only £107: http://www.carboncyc...t=2&c=75&p=807

Do you recon they have mudguard clearance? I don't think my mudguards need eyelets, they have little rubber straps.

 

[jugglingphil]

Have you told LBS that you are getting fed up and want it sorting? Get them to give you some options. If they are being unhelpful either speak to manager and complain, or take it elsewhere.
It's not in the shop's interest to sit on a bike for more than a month and make a customer unhappy.

 

[hanvyj]

I went in and talked to the manager again, they had ordered the forks but there was no estimated delivery time and they weren't in stock. Its a bit annoying it took them 5 weeks to look on the computer to tell me this (it took about 2 seconds to find out...)

They said I could buy a more expensive fork if it was in stock.

In the end I asked for my bike back, if they get one I can bring it in again. The thing is, it looks and feels in perfect condition - There are no cracks or anything in the carbon and it turns freely. No visible bend/distortion. How can I tell if its bent or not? I am considering taking to another bike shop and asking them what they think...

 

[fossyant]

Hmm. It's usual to recommend replacing carbon forks after a crash - they don't bend but the carbon and resin can de-laminate. What sort of crash did you have.

PS Bike Doctor is up the road, or you have Withington Cycles who will most likely have forks in stock as they sell lots of their own branded frames.

Go to Withington Cycles !

 

[hanvyj]

Hmm. It's usual to recommend replacing carbon forks after a crash - they don't bend but the carbon and resin can de-laminate. What sort of crash did you have.

PS Bike Doctor is up the road, or you have Withington Cycles who will most likely have forks in stock as they sell lots of their own branded frames.

Go to Withington Cycles !

I was thinking of taking it to bicycle doctor (2 min walk from my house)! I'll take a look at Withington cycles though cheers.

It was a front on collision - not toooo fast, into the side of a car... Looked over it and couldn't see any cracks :/

 

[smokeysmoo]

But it may mean paying for a more expensive fork to get the job done.

Or a less expensive set

 

[hanvyj]

Well, I decided not to replace them - I'm glad I didn't because a car pretty much destroyed my bike at a junction. Didn't see and turned straight into me.

Luckily it didn't destroy me - though I have no doubts if I wasn't wearing a helmet I would be dead... so wear helmets people!