Repeat problems with new bike, advice?

Tesla · 18 May 2018 at 21:54

Evening chaps,

Bought my first bike a couple of weeks back, a Voodoo Marasa from Cycle Republic. Have ridden it to/from the office around 10 times so have done about 50 miles now.

Had to drop it back to the store for the third time today.

When I picked it up it had a bolt missing from handlebars and no dust caps. I noticed this at hand over so the guy in the shop took it back in to the workshop then brought it out with added bolt and dust caps. A little alarm bell did go off when this occured.

When I got it back to the car I noticed the bolt they fitted was a different size to the other 3 in the handlebars, so took it back in and got them to fit correct bolt, they couldn't find it so I suggested they remove it from the display bike and then find it in their own time, which they did.

About a week later the pedal started coming off, crank arm threads were ruined so wasn't a case of simply tightening it back up, took it back in and they re-tapped the crank arm and also adjusted the gears since dropping in to the smallest front gear would cause chain to come off (I've since educated myself on adjusting gears properly, setting L & H positions and cable tension so did tweak it to perfection myself after all of this)

Today, pedal came off again, pedal literally falls out, no threads at all to tighten it in to. Was told store manager would call me to offer a solution such as replacement parts and/or some kind of discount, which I feel is justified. I never received a call, so I called them near end of the day and didn't get an answer.

I'm really enjoying cycling and on occasion when I've had to take the car have missed going in by bike. I'm overall happy with the bike but having not owned one for 15 years and never anything other than £100 mountain bikes as a kid I've not a lot to compare it with.

My feeling is that it's a good bike but was poorly built which resulted in all of the above. The bike shop have fired the guy who built my bike as have had other issues with other customers. The staff I've dealt with have been friendly and seem knowledgable and interested in cycling.

I'd appreciate your opinion on if I should just push for a full refund and purchase a different bike from elsewhere (will have to be different since only Cycle Republic/Halfords stock this bike), like an independent bike shop (loads of bike shops in Bristol so will find out which are best) or give these guys another chance to put it all right.

The bike was £400 with a 10% off promo day so £360, I'm not wanting to spend any more than this at present.

Tesla · 18 May 2018 at 22:17

Thanks. My other thought is that the majority of other cyclists I see on the commute in ride drop handlebars (cycle path almost all of the way, an old railway line) so am wondering if I missed a trick going for flat bars? I've never ridden a drop bar bike before so just went with flat, plus more road orientated hybrids, ("cyclocross" ?) started way beyond my budget. If this time next year I am still regularly cycling I am all up for upgrading the bike but don't want to jump in at the deep end for it to end up in the garage gathering dust once novelty wears off. Initial thoughts are it won't since cycling is actually quicker and more enjoyable than sitting in the morning traffic.

Tesla · 18 May 2018 at 23:10

Thanks for your reply, I bought it 01/05/18.

Tesla · 18 May 2018 at 23:35

1st May 2018

Tesla · 19 May 2018 at 12:03

Thanks for input guys.

Still no call from the store. I’ve called them a couple of times today but no answer. Have messaged them on Facebook.

Will update if/when I hear anything.

Tesla · 19 May 2018 at 22:01

Have heard back from the shop via my Facebook message. They’ve apologised, are replacing the damaged Suntour chainset with a better Shimano part and also supplying a a 1 year service.

There’s a Shimano Deore 9-speed triple chainset on their website. It’s £80. Is it likely they’d fit that (appreciate cost price to them is lower but still more than I’d of thought)?

Assuming they do use this part, it’s different sized gears to the existing, what’s the impact of that? (Existing = 38/36/26, Shimano = 44/32/22). I’m thinking the larger difference of the Shimano would equal an overall wider range of usable gears?

I think the existing chainset has a square centre hole and Shimano round, what’s the impact of this?

Thanks again.

Links:

https://www.cyclerepublic.com/bikes/hybrid-bikes/voodoo-marasa-men-s-hybrid-bike-2018.html

https://www.cyclerepublic.com/shima...design-chainset-9-speed-44-32-22t-170-mm.html

Tesla · 22 May 2018 at 15:01

Thanks for the helpful info and links chaps, I will find out for certain which part has been fitted.
I have been riding to work on the big ring since it's slightly downhill for most of the way so can sustain decent speed even in my unfit state.

Tesla · 22 May 2018 at 20:02

Had a reply from the shop:

"Hi Chris it’s a FC-M361 chainset, square taper - 48 / 38 / 28T - 175 mm in black, which will give you the same ratio as the original, I’ve checked with the disubtutor and it should be here tomorrow and fitted as well."

Couldn't have really asked for a more informative reply, I am coming round to thinking that they are overall a decent bunch of guys and I just had the monkey of the pack build the bike.