Anyone bought a bike and not got on with it?

[fossala]

I got in a crash a while back on my genesis equilibrium and it was wrote off so I went out to get a replacement. I ended up with a kona honky inc. There is nothing wrong with the bike as such. It shifts perfectly, brakes well. I just don't find I have a "connection" with it like with my equilibrium. It feels too soft and tame. I will have to stick with it now as I will get moaned at by the misses if I replace it for another bike just for commuting.

Going to get a new bike later this year, but not for commuting. Hope that will alleviate some of the numb feeling I have as then it won't be my only bike and I can just see it as a tool.

Has anyone else have this happen before? I think I was drawn in by the price and spec rather than the feel.

 

[ianrauk]

I have the same bike as you know.
That's a shame you aren't getting on with it.

I used to have a GT Legato. As soon as I took the first ride I knew it wasn't the bike for me. I was very disappointed. It was a nice bike with nice spec but just didn't feel right. After a couple of months I bought a new bike (Kona Dew) which felt much better and sold the GT on.

 

[vickster]

Yeah I bought another Sirrus to replace a stolen one - again, price driven. Could never get excited by it, even though it was the main commuter bike. Replaced with a Giant roadbike. I have now also bought a Whyre Cambridge - which is the bike I should have bought instead of the Sirrus (except I got this one on eBay for half the RRP)

I won't now buy another Spesh, the brand just leaves me cold - they are everywhere (probably as they are good bikes). Every time I now go in a concept store I wander around for 5 minutes, look at the clothing and walk out

However, I wouldn't hesitate to recommend one to a newbie (as long as they don't want to stand out from the crowd lol)

 

[biggs682]

looking at the amount of lightly used bikes for sale on this and other cycling forums i think there are a lot of people who buy new bikes for one reason or another then a short while later the same bikes are up for sale !

 

[2pies]

I bought a bike last year that falls into this category. It's not particularly comfortable and some of the components have performed worse than I assumed they would.

I considered selling and replacing it, at great cost, but have finally decided just to deal with it. It was my choice, no one forced my hand, so I have to live with the consequences. I'll upgrade some of the components e.g. wheels & saddle and once I feel I can justify purchasing another bike, be that next year or the year after, I will.

 

[Albert]

Funny. I too bought a Sirrus and got rid of it straight away.

 

[ayceejay]

In my youth whenever I bought a new pair of trainers I would exchange the laces from the old worn out pair, the new ones would look less conspicuously new and this ruse would serve as an aid to getting used to them. I just wonder if you took the saddle, say, off the old bike this would work the same for you.

 

[Crankarm]

Funny. I too bought a Sirrus and got rid of it straight away.

I bought one when they first came out, but my excitement quickly faded. It's OK but I don't love it as much as my other bikes. I have kept it though, upgraded it which has made a big difference but it still doesn't hit the sweet spot. It's just a bike. I have thought about selling it on occasions but I would get a fraction of the value it is now specced to - Shimano Ultegra and hand built wheels.

 

[Andrew_P]

Boardman CX was my duff buy, bought it for winter commuting to save my Roubaix for the summer, it did 2 months work before I gave up on it. It just didn't feel right.

 

[samsbike]

My current ride , genesis equilibrium, despite great reviews I just don't seem to fit it. Got a new stem which may or Kay not help.

 

[vickster]

Maybe the OP would like to swap

 

[fossala]

Just bought a croix de fer frame. I want to keep disc brakes for my commuting bike. Lets see how this goes.
If anyone wants a kona honky inc frame give me a shout Will be in the classifieds after I've rebuilt it with the croix de fer.

 

[inkd]

Another here with the same feeling for the Sirrus, Im fairly new to this cycling malarky and got one for commuting on the C2W scheme. Its OK, does the job but theres no smile factor, I changed the saddle to a charge spoon which is better (only had it a week). I just wish I tried a few road bikes when I was looking around. Got to stick with it now til December and then I can do C2W again.

 

[Biker Joe]

I should imagine there are lots of people who end up with a bike they won't like.
Some people will be impulse buyers who really don't have a clue. Others are persuaded by not so nice salespeople to buy something they end up hating,( as well as ending up hating the salesperson who sold it to them).
I should imagine the biggest reason people end up with a bike that is unsatisfactory is being too hasty from the outset.
It really pays dividends to take your time before deciding. Search the retailer websites, visit reputable LBSs, try out bikes for size etc. as much as possible.
Read as many reviews as you can on bikes that interest you. Make up a short list and ask on a forum or a reputable LBS for advice.
You may still end up with a bike you wont get on with but, at least, in my opinion, you've minimised the chance of that happening to quite an extent.
So far in my life, following my own advice and instincts, I have never had a bike I didn't like.
Perhaps I've been lucky

 

[postman]

I should imagine there are lots of people who end up with a bike they won't like.
Some people will be impulse buyers who really don't have a clue. Others are persuaded by not so nice salespeople to buy something they end up hating,( as well as ending up hating the salesperson who sold it to them).
I should imagine the biggest reason people end up with a bike that is unsatisfactory is being too hasty from the outset.
It really pays dividends to take your time before deciding. Search the retailer websites, visit reputable LBSs, try out bikes for size etc. as much as possible.
Read as many reviews as you can on bikes that interest you. Make up a short list and ask on a forum or a reputable LBS for advice.
You may still end up with a bike you wont get on with but, at least, in my opinion, you've minimised the chance of that happening to quite an extent.
So far in my life, following my own advice and instincts, I have never had a bike I didn't like.
Perhaps I've been lucky

During 2010 around ten of us on here bought a Spesh Secteur Elite 105 bits and bobs.i love mine so much so i sold my Dawes Super Galaxy because i did not enjoy riding it anymore,six years i had that bike.It went down to a good home in London.