mark st1
Plastic Manc
- Location
- Leafy Berkshire
You have been to the Maidenhead 1 aswell
gutted with my recent experiences with them. i would have been better off going to the zoo and chucking it in to the monkey enclosure to get my bike done !
First Service on road bike, should I take it to Halfords??
- Thread starter Irishrich
- Start date
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You have been to the Maidenhead 1 aswell
gutted with my recent experiences with them. i would have been better off going to the zoo and chucking it in to the monkey enclosure to get my bike done !Yet, perversely, we bought a bike from there a few weeks ago and it was wonderful. I watched the guy doing the final checks and tweaks before letting it out of the shop and I doubt that i would have taken more care if i had done it myself.You have been to the Maidenhead 1 aswell
mark st1
Plastic Manc
- Location
- Leafy Berkshire
Lucky you mate i dont suppose you caught the mechanics name did you ive had a couple of phone conversations with a bloke there he seems to say the right things and has assured me he will sort my problems. Pm me if you dont wish to say on the open forum.
Thanks
No, sorry, Mark, I didn't get a name. Besides, it was three weeks ago, he's probably either been sacked or promoted to area manager by now.
mark st1
Plastic Manc
- Location
- Leafy Berkshire
Your probably right i will just have to cross my fingers and hope my new bike will be better set up 
sorry to abuse your local knowledge do you or have you used the bike shop in the Maidenhead high street (im not sure if you are in Maidenhead) think its DNA Cycles ???
Many thanks
sorry to abuse your local knowledge do you or have you used the bike shop in the Maidenhead high street (im not sure if you are in Maidenhead) think its DNA Cycles ???Many thanks
Yes, I bought my Giant Talon 3 from them in 2009. I haven't used them since, though, as they firstly suggested that I should throw away my 32 year old bike (with a bit of sentimental value) rather than fix it up, and secondly they wouldn't let me take a Giant Defy out of the shop for a test ride.
So I went to Stows in Dedworth, where the manager got me the bits I needed for the old steelie (which turned out to be just a new rear tyre, after all that!) and then let me out for "as long as I needed" on a Spesh Secteur. I've bought 4 bikes and a heck of a lot of odds'n'sods from Stows since then.
So I went to Stows in Dedworth, where the manager got me the bits I needed for the old steelie (which turned out to be just a new rear tyre, after all that!) and then let me out for "as long as I needed" on a Spesh Secteur. I've bought 4 bikes and a heck of a lot of odds'n'sods from Stows since then.
mark st1
Plastic Manc
- Location
- Leafy Berkshire
Excellent thanks for the tip I shall pay them a visit and buy some goodies I'm getting the impression having a good relationship with an lbs is a big help.
Yup, and Stows have been good to me.
For example, my rear tyre blew on Thursday morning as I was near the Centrica place, so I walked the bike to Stows, bought a new tyre and tube and borrowed their stand and pump to fit them myself, having a chat whilst there and even being offered a coffee. Now, I'm not sure that Sam would offer the same to anyone - there's a risk / liability in letting my use their kit - but I've helped out there a few times in the past so they're confident that I can change a tyre without blowing the place up. Whether that confidence is well-founded or not...
For example, my rear tyre blew on Thursday morning as I was near the Centrica place, so I walked the bike to Stows, bought a new tyre and tube and borrowed their stand and pump to fit them myself, having a chat whilst there and even being offered a coffee. Now, I'm not sure that Sam would offer the same to anyone - there's a risk / liability in letting my use their kit - but I've helped out there a few times in the past so they're confident that I can change a tyre without blowing the place up. Whether that confidence is well-founded or not...
mark st1
Plastic Manc
- Location
- Leafy Berkshire
That's pretty decent of them to let u do that u obviously have a very trustworthy face although its good that they clearly appreciate ur loyalty so I will definitely give them a whirl next time I need to relieve myself of some more cash !
although its good that they clearly appreciate ur loyalty so I will definitely give them a whirl next time I need to relieve myself of some more cash !
mrandmrspoves
Middle aged bald git.
- Location
- Narfuk
I have seen a bicycle released from my local Halfords branch that was assembled with the front fork put on backwards......hard to believe and the fact that it was a suspension fork with hydraulic brake makes it even harder to believe....but totally true!
I am certain that some Halfords staff are excellent with bicycles.......but I would certainly not recommend taking a bike to them.
However, a friend took his bicycle to the LBS and asked them to give it a service and replace the rear tyre. He was charged £45 for this and there was absolutely no evidence that they had done any work on the bike whatsoever.....apart from swapping the tyre. Amazingly they had not even recognised that the pinging coming from the rear wheel was due to the fact that the axle had broken (see picture). So not all LBS's are worthy of support either!
I am certain that some Halfords staff are excellent with bicycles.......but I would certainly not recommend taking a bike to them.
However, a friend took his bicycle to the LBS and asked them to give it a service and replace the rear tyre. He was charged £45 for this and there was absolutely no evidence that they had done any work on the bike whatsoever.....apart from swapping the tyre. Amazingly they had not even recognised that the pinging coming from the rear wheel was due to the fact that the axle had broken (see picture). So not all LBS's are worthy of support either!
