Are these things meant to happen on a MTB?

[dr.richtofen]

Okay so after the whole thing with Halfords I popped down my local bike shop to have a browse. I said to the guy what I wanted, front suspension mtb, and he measured my inside leg, well I did the top bit measuring, and then he showed me a variety of bikes. I eventually settled on a Barracuda Fajana? (something like that) because the frame was pretty cool, not round but like hectagonal. He also mentioned something about quick fire? gears, something about the wheels and tyres and about the brakes being good or something, "disc brakes, similar to what you would get on a car".

So I rode it up and down the high street, about 20 metres in total, and it seemed perfect. Nice size, nice looking an all that.

Because I don't have a car big enough to fit the bike in the guy said he would pack it up and get it delivered to me. He said all I would need to do when it arrives is to put the handlebars and front wheel on and pedals. It arrived fine and everything was there to put it all together - no problem.

I took it out for a little bike ride, just up to the post office, around the park, for about half hour in total, just to get the feel of it riding on road surfaces and to get comfortable on the bike before going offroad. Didn't go out for another couple of days because it was raining and went to go out today for a ride around when I noticed some rather odd things...

The wheels seemed like they had gone down a bit but that wasn't really a problem, I just pumped them back up again.

I went out for like 5 minutes and then whenever I pulled the back brake the lever wouldn't spring back to its starting position. So without a back brake properly working I went back home.

The instructions that came with the bike, like a bike owners manual kind of thing, said that the rear brake might need adjusting using this red sort of dial. So I gave that a few turns clockwise and counter clockwise - Didn't help. The guy at the bike shop told me that the brakes sometimes will rub when they are fist being used because they need to be "worn in". The next problem was that the actual brake cable which attaches to the brake lever came off. I can't seem to put it back on. The brake cable protector thing also came out of the twisty bit where it connects to the brake lever and I can't get that back in.

I also noticed, that the chain by the big cog, where the pedals are, was rubbing against the piece that changes the gears, you know where it goes either 1, 2 or 3. That bit which moves it into 1, 2 or 3 is rubbing against the chain.

Also gear 5 on the back wheel cogs seems to slip, it will click click click and try to move up a gear.

Plus, while trying to adjust the rear brake pads with the red dial thing I also noticed that the set of rear cogs wobbles a bit as well as the rear wheel itself. Could that be the reason why gear 5 is "slipping"?

Are all of these things meant to happen or have I just been mugged off again?

 

[addictfreak]

I think first of all you go back to your LBS and tell him to sort it out.

Having had a quick look at Barracuda Bikes, they look to me not to be of the greatest quality. I think the old adage is true 'you get what you pay for'

 

[addictfreak]

No you have been mugged off, back brakes should NOT rub becuase they need to wear in - that's bollox.

If I was you I would take the bike back and get the above adressed, if not then demand a refund.

Sounds like the rear cassette needs tightening up, and the gears need indexing in addition to the brakes getting sorted.

Barracuda are a shoot make of bike as well, in future if you want a new bike then be prepared to spend at least £200-£300. If you do want a cheap bike then ironically you could have gone to Halfords and bought one of their Subway bikes that seem to be quite good or go to Decathlon.

Thats what I was saying but not quite as blunt

 

[dr.richtofen]

For real? That really does jeffing suck. I will give the guy a call tomorrow because I could cycle the bike down there but at the moment it is a bit of a deathtrap, plus I have to stay in the gears where you cycle loads but go nowhere, I don't know if they are high or low, but the gears where you go up hills and stuff.

I always thought barracuda were alright bike makers because they had some alright bmx's.

Are Giant any good? I know my step mum has had a Giant MTB for like 10 years and she's never had a problem with it - apart from punctures.

 

[dr.richtofen]

Thats what I was saying but not quite as blunt

Lol.

 

[dr.richtofen]

Erm, not sure what the bike shop is actually called but as far as I'm aware he only owns that one bike shop. It's been there since I can remember.

 

[Crackle]

If it's from the LBS he should sort it out but you'll have to get the bike back to him but Brakes don't need wearing in. It sounds like he's just shipped you the bike without setting it up which makes me wonder what kind of LBS it is.

After your last thread I think you should probably have asked on here before you bought again, however if the bike is not fit for purpose and he has other makes, I'd strongly suggest telling him you're not happy and would like to upgrade and I'd strongly suggest you spend a touch more and ask us before you buy it: Giant are a good make, Barracuda look a bit iffy.

 

[addictfreak]

For real? That really does jeffing suck. I will give the guy a call tomorrow because I could cycle the bike down there but at the moment it is a bit of a deathtrap, plus I have to stay in the gears where you cycle loads but go nowhere, I don't know if they are high or low, but the gears where you go up hills and stuff.

I always thought barracuda were alright bike makers because they had some alright bmx's.

Are Giant any good? I know my step mum has had a Giant MTB for like 10 years and she's never had a problem with it - apart from punctures.

Best option is too try and get a refund. Then take a bit of advice and shop around, go to a few different bike shops. Im sure someone on here will be able to recommend a good LBS in your area.
As for Giant, I owned one a few years back (before it was stolen) it was an xtc3. Great bike, I was gutted when it was nicked.
A lot will depend on your budget, even with the better makes you get what you pay for.

 

[mickle]

Barracuda are low-end bikes. Not a bad thing in itself, there's nothing wrong with cheap bikes in principle. Trouble is the low-end bikes shops they are often sold through.

Take it back, put your foot down with a firm hand, mention 'sale of goods act', be nice.

If no joy get a refund and buy a Giant.

 

[dr.richtofen]

Well there goes my idea out the window of "go with that bike because it looks alright and I recognize the brand name".

I will try looking at Giant bikes and if I see one I like I will ask what you guys think before buying a bike.

Thanks for all your comments though.

 

[02GF74]

Jacana maybe? £ 250 for front suspension, 21 speed, cable disc brakes.


tbh you are looking at the low end of the market so can expect some compromised but your shop really sort them out.

I have seen cassette wobble so a little bit of movement is nothing to be concerned about but question is how much are you seeing?

Not having experience of cable disc brakes, I cnanot help too much but from what I read/hear, they should do a preetty good job - I suspect yours need to be set up correctly,