Advice needed about problematic new hybrid mountain bike.

[ancientmariner]

Evening,

My wife bought me a new hybrid mountain bike at the start of june. I had been using an older bike prior to that and found it quite hard going so my wife bought me a Carrera Subway 1 Mens Hybrid Bike from halfords (£300)

http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bike...ns-hybrid-bike

From the moment I started using it, it felt like a much better bike but after a few minutes use I noticed the chain crunching and popping everytime i put any pressure on the pedals ..ie cycling up a small hill etc, this was on the 2nd gear on left and 8th gear on right. So I moved to 7th gear and proceeded. The problem remained and after a couple more runs on the bike, the 7th gear started doing the same thing...crunching and popping etc, so I shifted to the 3rd gear on left and noticed the problem would occur less but still would happen. I cycle 20k a day on the same route...a dual carraige way with a slight incline, so no off road etc. I found the 7th and 8th gears were ideal for the route i take and with no sign of the problem dissapearing I took it back to halfords where they informed me the bike hadn't been set up correctly. So i left it with them and collected it 2 days later. The problem reoccured almost immediately and although slightly better, within days was back to being unusable in either 8th or 7th gear. The following weekend I took it back down and they, again, set it up. This has went on since june with every 2 weeks or so me taking it back down for yet more setup work. Each time the bike has been unusable after a week or two. In total it has been back to them 5 times and shows no sign of improvement.

As I am a bit clueless with bikes I wanted to know, is this something I should just accept and live with or should I ask for a replacement etc? I have never experienced this kind of recurring problem with any of my previous bikes and the route I take is hardly demanding on the bike. I am at the stage where it is affecting my daily journey and I kind of feel I shouldnt have to accept this.

Is this a common issue thats easily resolved or should I be asking halfords to fix/replace/refund etc as 7th and 8th gears are unusable?

thanks for reading

 

[lordrobs]

It will just need setting up. Start by making sure your chain is clean and lubed and then watch this - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bbk5RcH0bbQ

It is a key skill to have but TBH once you get it right it should be OK for some time. Perhaps there was a lot of cable stretch over your first months of ownership or maybe the Halfords crew did a bit of a numpty job on it each time.

 

[ancientmariner]

Thanks for the reply, I will check out that link. What concerns me is the reoccuring nature of the problem combined with 6 setups from halfords in total. The problem is as bad as ever so maybe let them have another go or take it to somewhere competent.

 

[Deleted member 66701]

Hmm, if they've had it back to set up the gears (I'd expect even Halfords mechanics to be able to set up gears - aren't they all Cytech trained?) and it's still skipping it could have a gear bent gear hanger - when worked as a cycle mechanic I'd say one in ten bikes we got in had damaged gear hangers resulting from shipping and we'd have to correct them.

I'd take it to a reputable local bike shop and let them have a look.