Bike woes... and its a new bike too.

[downfader]

Just bought a Genesis Croix de Fer off a local shop on Saturday, its a lovely looking bike - disc brakes and drops so I thought this would be better for my commute in and out of work. Keep with me on this....

Monday morning came and went to get on it and ride into work and suddenly realised there were quick release skewers on the wheels - cant use those at work - the wheels WILL go within the day. No problem I thought, I've got some "security" ones, I'll just change them over. Went to push the bike through the house and the front wheel locked up. At first I thought I'd probably not seated the wheel right, so untightened, pushed down and tightened.

Spin wheel.

Wheel stops at the disc brake. What the..?

Plan was yesterday, get home, bike upside down and reseat the wheel so it balances in the brake as before. Then I would ride back to the shop today and ask them to see what the problem was. Obviously I rode to work quite carefully and made sure the wheel wouldnt slip.

Then I realised how shoot the pedals were. For a £1100 bike I found this quite annoying. They were cage style with straps/clips. Try as I might I could not get them to open up, the plastic toe section just flopped shut, shutting out my feet.

Got to the shop this afternoon. Drenched. Showed them the issues, guy even changed the pedals over for me to a decent DMR flat pedal (due to feet problems I'm far more comfortable with this). He and his maintenance guy had a good look at the front wheel and fork, agreed with me something wasnt right. It seems the fork isnt quite symmetrical.

He said the solution to this is to take the bike back on my 8 week service and redo the wheel.

They reseated the wheel and I set off home. Only I got within 3 quarters of the way there and the front started to snake like crazy. I got off and spun the wheel, cant see anything wobbling. Got back on, I'm starting to weave all over the road. Just isnt right. Also the steerer feels very tight - I cant find any play in the headset.

I walked the last 2 miles. What would you guys and girls do? I'm going to take it back and ask that Genesis sort it. It feels dangerous.

 

[hellymedic]

Just bought a Genesis Croix de Fer off a local shop on Saturday, its a lovely looking bike - disc brakes and drops so I thought this would be better for my commute in and out of work. Keep with me on this....

They reseated the wheel and I set off home. Only I got within 3 quarters of the way there and the front started to snake like crazy. I got off and spun the wheel, cant see anything wobbling. Got back on, I'm starting to weave all over the road. Just isnt right. Also the steerer feels very tight - I cant find any play in the headset.

I walked the last 2 miles. What would you guys and girls do? I'm going to take it back and ask that Genesis sort it. It feels dangerous.

Take it back. It is 'unfit for purpose' under Sale of Goods Act.

You are within your rights to demand a full refund. If you opt for less, that's up to you.

 

[Hip Priest]

Sorry to hear that mate. I too had recent problems with a new bike, and my despairing rant can be seen elsewhere on this forum! It's so frustrating. The problems you describe seem as if they could be quite serious, so I think you're right to take it back and get the manufacturer to look at it.

I'm sure in a few weeks or months it'll all be sorted, and you'll love the bike.

 

[ecotype]

Send it back. My Equilibrium has been excellent, but even if yours started off excellent that doesn't mean it hasn't been damaged/twisted/jammed somewhere during transit. I once saw two bike shop employees run frantically across a busy road to stop a delivery driver from throwing some bubble-wrapped frames onto the adjacent pavement (from a considerable height). I spoke to them later: too late apparently. Fractured fork crowns on two of them.... but at least that was visible. If Genesis are difficult (let's hope not) you could perhaps suggest that there may have been transit damage en route to the shop. Either way it's pretty obvious the problem was there before you got the bike...

 

[BSRU]

A Genesis Croix de Fer should come with Shimano SPD pedals as standard

 

[Jaco45er]

I was told manufacturers put rubbish pedals on, because the customer always likes to change them. Well of course the customer likes to change them, manufacturers keep putting rubbish pedals on. Stop peddling rubbish pedals you pesky manufactuers !!!!

For me it's simple, if you are not happy, and it does seem that there is some defect, I would insist on an exchange or money back.

We all work hard for our cash, and I would expect a brand new bike to ride perfect and true.

 

[downfader]

Thanks for the replies.

I will be taking it back sometime this week. I have a back-up bike (my Fathers) but stuff like this is a bit disheartening. Already lost the Jake, Kinesis is in another shop awaiting the right sized spoke and a wheel build.

Yeah, BSRU, it is listed as being SPD. I did say to the guy (since left) I needed flat pedals so perhaps either Genesis or the shop have switched them over. The manager in the shop today did seem to suggest they came with the bike so perhaps the latter.

 

[BSRU]

Thanks for the replies.

I will be taking it back sometime this week. I have a back-up bike (my Fathers) but stuff like this is a bit disheartening. Already lost the Jake, Kinesis is in another shop awaiting the right sized spoke and a wheel build.

Yeah, BSRU, it is listed as being SPD. I did say to the guy (since left) I needed flat pedals so perhaps either Genesis or the shop have switched them over. The manager in the shop today did seem to suggest they came with the bike so perhaps the latter.

The pedals with the Croix de Fer are SPD one side and flat the other side, the flat side has the orange reflectors.

 

[BSRU]

I was told manufacturers put rubbish pedals on, because the customer always likes to change them.

Not completely true, my Ridgeback Panorama came with some decent Shimano SPD pedals(M324's) and my Croix de Fer came with Shimano SPD pedals(M520's).

 

[Leodis]

I would ask for a refund or replacement bike, you sound like the confidence in the bike is gone. Might as well get a Kaffenback and save £300

 

[HLaB]

I've no experience of such things but I would take it back now and get it sorted rather than down the line, when it'll innevitably end up in an arguement about wear and tear, etc

 

[Rob3rt]

I was told manufacturers put rubbish pedals on, because the customer always likes to change them. Well of course the customer likes to change them, manufacturers keep putting rubbish pedals on. Stop peddling rubbish pedals you pesky manufactuers !!!!

For me it's simple, if you are not happy, and it does seem that there is some defect, I would insist on an exchange or money back.

We all work hard for our cash, and I would expect a brand new bike to ride perfect and true.

People will still change them to the type that suits them, i.e. if you have Look brand pedals as your preferred brand and a bike comes with Shimano, you are going to change them! So it is better they supply cheap pedals, it keeps costs down.

 

[downfader]

I would ask for a refund or replacement bike, you sound like the confidence in the bike is gone. Might as well get a Kaffenback and save £300

We're intending on getting a Kaff for the old man

 

[Jaco45er]

People will still change them to the type that suits them, i.e. if you have Look brand pedals as your preferred brand and a bike comes with Shimano, you are going to change them! So it is better they supply cheap pedals, it keeps costs down.

Supply no pedals, keep costs down further and no waste, no pedals were supplied with my EX9, so no pedals went in the bin

 

[youngoldbloke]

One should have the option of being able to specify no pedals, as you should be able to specify no saddle. In a perfect world you would be able to specify tyres as well.