Visit to LBS leaves bike in worse condition?

[screenman]

This is why in the UK we often get poor service, take it back! they should be your first port of call. The more we brits complain about poor service the better service will become.

 

[Globalti]

Take it back

I took my bike in to these muppets to have my bottom bracket replaced only for the bastard to be looser than when i took it in

And it creaked and clicked on every turn of the pedals

The muppet had the nerve to chage me in excess of over £50 and suggested i wear a ****ing walkman if i didnt like to hear the creaking

utter scumbag, and i noticed when i walked back in the shop (as had went for a walk round while the peb "repaired" it) he was banging the crank with a ****ing mallet

ive seen the dork round and about this dork mechanic and a really felt like throwing my bike at the ****er for taking my money and the piss at the same time

my advice learn to do as much as you can in terms of repairs

You would enjoy a book called Zen and the Art of Motorcycle maintenance, it's about the philosophy of maintaining machinery. Well, you'd enjoy the motorcycle maintenance bits anyway.

 

[apollo179]

Sods law says i would feel the bike was worse than before if i took it to any lbs just because i would have that nagging uncertainty if anyone else touched my bike. Theres nothing like doing it yourself.
Anyway - very unsatisfactory.
Take it back.

 

[Paulus]

Once this problem is sorted out 128K, I would suggest to you that you invest either in the Haynes bike book http://www.amazon.co.uk/Bike-Book-Fred-Milson/dp/1844254216/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1317114439&sr=1-1

Or Zinn and the art of bicycle maintainence http://www.amazon.co.uk/Zinn-Art-Ro...=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1317114523&sr=1-1

Start off with a basic set of tools and teach yourself the basics and work up from there. You will save a lot of money.

 

[Scilly Suffolk]

Thanks for all the advice and help so far guys. Looks like i'm taking it back then! One of my work colleagues is really into biking, so i'll see if i can get him to have a look over it. I'm glad i wasn't worrying over nothing then.
I do hope to be able to sort all this stuff out one day, i love riding my bike, and i do agree that really you need to be able to repair and set it up yourself. I'd never thought of looking on youtube for guides though, i had been thinking more along the lines of books and stuff. At least now i have somewhere to start!

Definitely take it back and ask your colleague to go with you: they can't give you a load of BS if you have someone who knows the score with you.

Everyone makes mistakes, it is how they are dealt with that is important. I had my bike serviced by a LBS and, like you I wasn't happy with their work; I took it back and politely explained to the owner why I was unhappy: the faults were corrected and I was refunded the cost of the service.

LBS are like any other kind of business, some are good, some are bad: you might have to kiss a lot of frogs.

Local clubs/riders will have good advice if you don't do your own servicing.

 

[guitarpete247]

This is excellent advice. If you really get into cycling and do things like regularly commute, then when you develop a problem you can deal with it immediately instead of waiting two weeks. Bikes are not hideously complicated and their ways can easily be mastered. There are some good videos on Youtube; check out Bicycle Tutor.

Bicycle Tutor used to be free but he's now charging to watch his videos. Can't blame him really but try Park Tool's site. They're still free as it's part of their advertising to get you to buy their equipment and tools. You can get tools cheaper and just build up your knowledge and tool kit as you need to.


I bought the Lidl tool kit. A little basic but I found it a reasonable stating point. I'm adding more tools as and when I need them. They are not professional quality but I thought at the price a good place to get a lot of kit cheap. Look out for it when it comes up. I got mine about this time of year 2 years ago.

 

[alp1950]

Time for some tough love.

You've got what I guess is an entry level bike (maybe one level up from a bike shaped object) bought over the internet knowing little about bike set up & maintenance. You commute for 5 months before taking it to a "pro" to check on whether it is set up right. You've posted previously that at least one of the problems (the creaking handlebars) was present before the service. LBS make their living selling bikes and although they'll take your money to service a cheap, internet-bought bike don't expect their hearts to be in it. The job will probably be delegated to the junior apprentice & the profit margin will be minimal. You've now ridden the bike for a few more days before detailing the specific faults. Who's to say that the wheel hasn't gone out of true in that time because of a pothole?

Aspects of the service do sound unsatisfactory and you should return to the LBS if you're unhappy. However you can't expect them to make a silk purse out of a sow's ear & it may be that some of the problems are integral to the bike.

Next time you buy a bike make friends (if you're still speaking) and buy from your LBS. You should get decent advice, the set-up will be checked & your first service should be free. They'll also have a commitment to you & your bike to ensure trouble-free riding as far as possible. Sure they may not be able to match internet prices but it's a bit a false economy if you're spending perhaps ~25% of the purchase price on things that the LBS would have done as standard had you bought from them originally.

Bit harsh perhaps, but all bikes need regular tweaking and if you know next to nothing about maintenance them you have to build a relationship with your LBS and that relationship should start at conception, not when you're 5 months following delivery.

 

[davefb]

Time for some tough love.

You've got what I guess is an entry level bike (maybe one level up from a bike shaped object) bought over the internet knowing little about bike set up & maintenance. You commute for 5 months before taking it to a "pro" to check on whether it is set up right. You've posted previously that at least one of the problems (the creaking handlebars) was present before the service. LBS make their living selling bikes and although they'll take your money to service a cheap, internet-bought bike don't expect their hearts to be in it. The job will probably be delegated to the junior apprentice & the profit margin will be minimal. You've now ridden the bike for a few more days before detailing the specific faults. Who's to say that the wheel hasn't gone out of true in that time because of a pothole?

Aspects of the service do sound unsatisfactory and you should return to the LBS if you're unhappy. However you can't expect them to make a silk purse out of a sow's ear & it may be that some of the problems are integral to the bike.

Next time you buy a bike make friends (if you're still speaking) and buy from your LBS. You should get decent advice, the set-up will be checked & your first service should be free. They'll also have a commitment to you & your bike to ensure trouble-free riding as far as possible. Sure they may not be able to match internet prices but it's a bit a false economy if you're spending perhaps ~25% of the purchase price on things that the LBS would have done as standard had you bought from them originally.

Bit harsh perhaps, but all bikes need regular tweaking and if you know next to nothing about maintenance them you have to build a relationship with your LBS and that relationship should start at conception, not when you're 5 months following delivery.

so , your saying its the owners fault?

sorry but thats rubbish and frankly snobbish... also worth saying that if that was the attitude of the lbs 'we only treat those who spend money here well' then they should be out of business swiftly..

also surprised that you think wiggle is a cheap internet shop, from my personal perspective those bikes seem expensive

 

[128K]

Time for some tough love.

You've got what I guess is an entry level bike (maybe one level up from a bike shaped object) bought over the internet knowing little about bike set up & maintenance. You commute for 5 months before taking it to a "pro" to check on whether it is set up right. You've posted previously that at least one of the problems (the creaking handlebars) was present before the service. LBS make their living selling bikes and although they'll take your money to service a cheap, internet-bought bike don't expect their hearts to be in it. The job will probably be delegated to the junior apprentice & the profit margin will be minimal. You've now ridden the bike for a few more days before detailing the specific faults. Who's to say that the wheel hasn't gone out of true in that time because of a pothole?

Aspects of the service do sound unsatisfactory and you should return to the LBS if you're unhappy. However you can't expect them to make a silk purse out of a sow's ear & it may be that some of the problems are integral to the bike.

Next time you buy a bike make friends (if you're still speaking) and buy from your LBS. You should get decent advice, the set-up will be checked & your first service should be free. They'll also have a commitment to you & your bike to ensure trouble-free riding as far as possible. Sure they may not be able to match internet prices but it's a bit a false economy if you're spending perhaps ~25% of the purchase price on things that the LBS would have done as standard had you bought from them originally.

Bit harsh perhaps, but all bikes need regular tweaking and if you know next to nothing about maintenance them you have to build a relationship with your LBS and that relationship should start at conception, not when you're 5 months following delivery.

Thanks for the advice there... I don't know much about bikes, but i've seen a fair bit of bike snobbery on the internet so far; i wouldn't class my bike as a 'Bike Shaped Object' or 'Entry Level' As it cost me over £300 on Wiggle, maybe you would? I'm just a beginner, i'm guessing you're far from that. But thanks anyway, for calling my bike (Which I love, by the way) 'A Sows Ear'... I bought my bike off the internet, because it was convenient for me to visit, and because the only bike shop i was aware of at the time, was Halfords, who sell what i would call Entry Level Bikes. My colleague (Who as i said before, is a keen cyclist) recommended Wiggle to me, as reliable and providers of good quality bikes.

Anyhow, I didn't say i'd fallen out with my LBS, far from it in, fact. I simply came here asking for a bit of advice, as i didn't know what the situation was with the bike. I didnt know if it was the norm, hence my asking. I am the first to admit i know very little about bikes, but i thought buying one, getting used to it and learning how to look after it myself, would be the ideal way to get into cycling. I didn't realise the only way i could learn about my bike and be confident in riding it, would be to forge a close relationship with my local bike shop, before i even dare ride the bike.

Thanks for suggesting the wheel ruing may be due to a pothole though, i didn't realise that could be a cause.

Thanks again everyone for the sage advice, everyones comments are welcome, constructive or otherwise And thanks Paulus, the Haynes bike book looks right up my street.

 

[128K]

What make/price point of bike is it, did you check the bike over with a fine-tooth comb before satisfying yourself it was safe to ride or is this the state of the bike after 5 months of use? Difficult to pin this one on the LBS but a decent one will have access to wheelbuilding/trueing facilities even if they don't do it themselves.


What kind of stem is fitted to the bike, is it a threadless stem or a traditional quill stem? Is there any play in the bearings if you pull up and down/sideways? I've experienced this myself but could never isolate the cause.


Turn the bike over and spin the pedals, if it's only doing it under load it could be a bit of play in the rear mech. The front d/r sounds like a cable may have stretched or needs adjusting. Again, without knowing whether it was doing this before, it's hard to say if it's the LBS's fault.


This concerns me more than anything but is it the manufacturer's/retailer's or LBS's fault? I've had an inner tube pop on a new bike which when I examined it wasn't much thicker than a party balloon. Unless the LBS have removed the tyre, which is unlikely, and they haven't pushed the stem in before inflating the tyre I doubt they are to blame. My LBS is always telling me to put more air in my tyres, but they should check that the pressure is correct for the tyres.

If you had bought the bike from your local bike shop, they would deserve to have the book thrown at them. As it is you don't seem that happy with the bike before taking it in for a service.

Thanks for the detailed breakdown The bike cost me £310 from Wiggle, its this bike (And it costs miles less now!): http://www.wiggle.co.uk/raleigh-urban-2-2010/. I had my friend check it over when i first got it pre-assembled, and he (and I) was happy with it. The wheel certainly didnt wobble like it does now. I've taken the wheel out and reseated it (As it is a QR) but it is still the same.

The stem is a normal quill stem fitting (I think), but is adjustable. It had creaked previously, and then stopped after i'd re-tightened the clamp holding the handlebars on. I tried it this time, but its still the same. I guess its just something to do with that being refitted again. There is definately no play in any part of the stem/handlebars etc, its pretty solid.

As you suggested, the creaking/rattling noise only happens under load, not when i spin the pedals freely. I've applied some Lubricant spray to the mech as my friend recommended, so i'll see in the morning if that has helped at all.

I'm unsure about the tyres, but having a look at them this evening, it does seem as though the valves don't stick through the hold in the rim as much as they should. I wonder if perhaps letting some air out, tightening the valve clamp up more and then refilling the tyres would help?

I don't think the indexing of the gears was spot on before, and it isn't now, thats the real bit i wasn't happy with before i took it in. I've been having a look at how to adjust the gears using the barrel adjuster as well, so i may try that at the weekend.

Thanks for all your help a_spanner_short

 

[apollo179]

My handlebars creak as well when i hang off them , unconcerting but nothing to worry about (so far).
Wobbly wheel might be the hub bearing - you woudnt expect a lbs to get this wrong as it pretty basic.
The thing with the tyres sounds like the kind of scenario where the lbs apprentice mechanic has over inflated them and actually caused some kind of problem and the junior mechanic has just made it as best he can rather than admit it to his boss and put it right / replace damaged parts. Probably wrong but i kant think how else you could possibly get problems with tyres.
Let us know how you get on when you go back to lbs.

 

[rusky]

Just a note about the bars creaking. Looks like the bike has an adjustable rise stem, the Mrs has one on her decathlon bike & that creaks too. I can see it move if I try!

I took it apart & regreased it & it still creaks!

 

[BSRU]

I don't know much about bikes, but i've seen a fair bit of bike snobbery on the internet so far;

I hope your not seeing any of this on CC, the perpetrators should hung drawn and quartered.
My first commuting bike was a Woolworths special for just £60, which lasted a couple of years, although not many miles but you have to start somewhere.

 

[MarkF]

Take it back and complain, good luck.

My LBS closed down so I used another in Shipley for a service last year, normally I do my own but changed my mind about which bike to take touring...................the day before I went. Dropped it in on my to work and collected it on my way home.

Gear cable snagged.
Brakes pads loose.
Front wheel on back to front.

On removing the wheel I found both axle springs on one side..................removed rear wheel and found the same.

 

[apollo179]

Without wishing to alarm anyone I've just been reading a few horror stories of alloy handlebars snapping under load over at the ctc forum! http://www.ctc.org.u...aspx?TabID=3812 Warning signs are a ticking or creaking noise so I'll be checking my handlebars a little more often...

Coming back to the bike a Raleigh Urban 2 should be perfectly OK for commuting, the wheels are double-walled so they should be able to take a bit of a bump. The Altus gears should be tough enough for the job though they wouldn't cost the earth to replace or upgrade.

I carry a bit of extra weight so a well-built double-walled rim isn't a luxury, it's a necessity. 26 inch wheels are a bit tougher purely because of the reduced diameter though so this is a consideration when I choose my bikes.

I bought a cheap Raleigh commuter a few years ago and I've had two rear wheels on it since then. I bought a pair of much stronger wheels for about £100 which were definitely a good investment, although the rear one still needs an occasional tweak on the odd loose spoke. Bearing in mind my initial expenditure on the bike was less than £200 the price of the wheels came as a shock but they'll probably outlast the bike. The bottom bracket failed within a couple of weeks but its replacement under warranty, a sealed bottom bracket, is still going strong

I do think if the roads aren't very good in your area or you ride on uneven or off-road surfaces front suspension is a must for commuting and reduces wear and tear on the bike not to mention your wrists and hands.

With regards to bike snobbery I had seriously thought about buying my latest bike on the internet because I don't think the aftersales service is any better at my local bike shop for having bought a bike off them. Both my local bike shops have supplied bikes which weren't fit for the road. The first didn't fix the problem and I ended up sorting it out myself. To give the second his due he did put it right but it tarnished the experience somewhat.

As for the so-called BSOs and entry level bikes most bikes are made in the Far East or China so what's the big deal? Many of the retailers will be supplying bikes made by the same manufacturers as the BSOs sold by supermarkets, albeit at a different price point.

Suitably alarmed - thanks.
Allways worth checking though. Id emphasise checking the steering column tightening bolt. Nothing worse than that working loose and loosing control of your steering and ploughing straight into a hedge although luckily not into oncoming traffic.