First bike in 10~ years - Hybrid?

Apparently the CX team used to be a nightmare to try and get mudguards on the front, but they've release updated forks recently which solve the issue. (Found this online)
 
Nice work. The carbon fork will make quit a difference to your riding comfort. I haven't used SRAM Apex but it should be decent enough and I *think* is the equivalent level to Tiagra rather than Sora which you would have had on the Comp.
 
I've just picked up a 50cm CX Comp from the Huddersfield store. The staff there were really helpful and I can't wait to give it a whirl when it's a bit drier outside. I wasn't going to sit on the bike in jeans and fall off in the shop:)

I have had some different pedals fitted as the supplied ones looked awful, plus a bottle rack. What does everyone recommend for lights instead of the current reflectors?
 
Depends what you want.

Do you want to be seen or do you want to see

most lights are just flashing little things that do nothing to light up the road
 
Andr3w said:
I've had the phonecall to say my CX Team is ready to pick up! Working today so can't get it until tonight, today is going to drag now!

They suggested I go for some SKS Beavertail mudguards. (Like these I think http://www.halfords.com/cycling/parts/mudguards/sks-beavertail-xl-mudguard-set )

Good?
Click to expand...

Nope. They suck.

Tell them you want them to fit some SKS Chromoplastics (or failing that, Bluemels). If they don't have any in stock in the right colour and size then I'd suggest fitting some yourself. It's a bit fiddly and time-consuming but perfectly doable.

edit: That is, assuming the bike has mudguard eyelets, which I can't see any of on the pictures. If it doesn't you should shop around for SKS Raceblade Longs (*not* standard Raceblades) or get some p-clips and fit proper mudguards as I suggested above. I've messed around with various clip on mudguards for years and they're all kind of cack, which is why I refuse to buy a bike without mudguard mounts these days.
 
Last edited:
STILL NO BIKE.

I've lost all respect for Halfords now.

Picked up the bike from them, thought I would give it a quick ride around the car park before I put it in the car. Turns out the brakes don't work. I would be doing a slowish ride around the car park, slam the front or back brake on (they're discs) and it would stop me....eventually...maybe after 10-12~feet of holding the brake on full.

Had to leave it there for the mechanic to look at it in the morning, i've told them it's an absolute joke. I'll be complaining tomorrow.

On top of that the bike felt huge. It could just be because i've never sat on a road bike/cross bike before and they didn't even attempt to set it up for my height/reach.

Its a 57.5cm frame. I've checked online and it does say for 180-185cm height (im 184) you should go for a 57cm cyclocross frame, maybe a size smaller for a pure road bike.

I think maybe my seat was too high, it did feel a little stretched when holding onto the top of the handle bars, then when I held the underneath part it just felt unsafe!
 
First time riding a roadie/cx with drop bars? I reckon a large part of it feeling too big will be down to just not being used to the riding position. Mine (bought second hand) felt ridiculous at first but now I've got used to it and fine tuned the saddle and bar angle to be comfortable I'm very happy on it.

As for them entirely failing to put the brakes together properly, that's a poor show :( Could turn a bit of a blind eye to a few things not being perfect, but brakes not working?! Bonkers.
 
The test they carry out is picking the bike up and spinning the wheel, then grabbing the brakes hard.

Of course that's going to work, but try it with some weight and momentum ffs :(

I guess i'm just going to have to find somebody to help me set up a riding position. It's got me worried the frame might be too big!
 
Sadly I don't know nothing about the geo on road bikes, but I'm sure velvotile could help out with the setup. They are expensive though, and I'm not a fan of the shop. But from what I've read there the best road/triathlon type shop in the area. Or speak to Unit Cycles and see if he does setups.

Mechanical disc brake setup *shudders*.
 
It's not that hard to get mech discs working nicely. The issue is really just maintaining that.

There's also a period of bed-in when the pads and rotors will perform really badly but it sounds like your issue is worse than that.
 
TBF I've had one experience of a friends BSO (some argos thing) and I was at it for hours and got no where. But then they were no brand horrible things, as was the rest of the bike.
 
The manager did mention the bedding in, so I dragged him outside and road the bike towards him and slammed on the back brake....and kept going :(.

Even he admitted something was wrong.

Hopefully that will get sorted, and hopefully the 57.5cm bike they got isn't too big!

I'm thinking I should be alright once i've altered the seat both down a little and forward, as well as altering the handlebar height/position!

Still really angry at them :(.

Do you think it's worth a complaint?
 
Last edited:
They probably won't do much about a complaint I'd think, I'd have expected it anyway.

Brakes on a modern bike will stop you very quickly, regardless of how bed in they are.
 
I'm slowly turning to that nightmare customer you always hear about.

I'm going to try and see if they can get in the Large CX Team (55.5cm) as I want to compare it to the XL 55.7cm one they have sized me for.

I've looked online and they don't have it in stock, but they do have it in stock 12 miles from their store - hopefully they can get it sent down and built for tonight.


edit: I've asked them if they can get the Large sent to the store where I'm collecting the XL from so I can try it - they said no it's impossible :( . Their customer service is incredible. :(
 
Last edited:
post-53314-Im-not-mad-Im-just-disappointe-Ez7V.gif
 
No, i'd say I was pure raging :p

I've drafted my complaints letter, its currently a full A4 page and I have a feeling this isn't even over yet :(

Still waiting on a call back from them ref the brakes. I'm going to ask to speak to the manager, the guy I spoke to this morning didn't even attempt to try get the Large bike delivered to his store - even after the complete mess they've made of my order.
 
I'm surprised they didn't just adjust the brakes it takes like 5 minutes even if you are learning from a youtube guide as you do it

There's also a period of bed-in when the pads and rotors will perform really badly but it sounds like your issue is worse than that.
Click to expand...
Never experienced that. only the annoying zinging until the pad wears down a bit
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom