fudgepanda
Active Member
- Location
- Manchester U.K.
I realise there are members of this forum who could order a bike on-line, have it arrive in a series of cardboard boxes then while supping a brew and chomping on a bacon sarnie knock it together in half an hour.....but, I'm a Bornagain (if there is such a thing in cycling) and the last bike I had boasted a massive FIVE gears.
After a fair amount of hummin' and ha-hin' I fell in love with a Bianchi Camalenonte 3 hybrid. I saw it in the Bicycle Doctor in Fallowfield Manchester which is a Co-operative. The young thin lad(s) who dealt with me were matter of fact, provided what seemed (and still does) good advice. I chose a helmet, mudguards and lock to be bought on the Cyclescheme. They fitted the 'guards and lock as well as the SPD pedals that came with it. At the time I picked it up I also chose some Shimano shoes and not only did the guy fit the cleats he also advised and helped me work out the best way of starting to use them. The front wheel had to come off to get it in the car, which he also took off and provided some cable ties to keep the tailgate down.
When I got home I didn't put the wheel back on properly, although it was secure enough. The next day I made my way the 6 miles back to the shop where they fixed it properly. At that time I bought a basic speedo. which the chap even set up for me in mph and fixed the device to the bars.
Mrs. F on the other hand picked a bike from a large chain and although I thought it wasn't a bad bike, but obviously not a patch on the mighty Bianchi. This also wouldn't fit in the car but as we put it in ourselves had to take off the wheel, and this time put it back on properly. When it came to fitting the 'U'-lock onto the frame it was too big.
To me, the Bike Doctor's service was outstanding whereas the chain was at best adequate. I was wondering how much service is important to others on here.
After a fair amount of hummin' and ha-hin' I fell in love with a Bianchi Camalenonte 3 hybrid. I saw it in the Bicycle Doctor in Fallowfield Manchester which is a Co-operative. The young thin lad(s) who dealt with me were matter of fact, provided what seemed (and still does) good advice. I chose a helmet, mudguards and lock to be bought on the Cyclescheme. They fitted the 'guards and lock as well as the SPD pedals that came with it. At the time I picked it up I also chose some Shimano shoes and not only did the guy fit the cleats he also advised and helped me work out the best way of starting to use them. The front wheel had to come off to get it in the car, which he also took off and provided some cable ties to keep the tailgate down.
When I got home I didn't put the wheel back on properly, although it was secure enough. The next day I made my way the 6 miles back to the shop where they fixed it properly. At that time I bought a basic speedo. which the chap even set up for me in mph and fixed the device to the bars.
Mrs. F on the other hand picked a bike from a large chain and although I thought it wasn't a bad bike, but obviously not a patch on the mighty Bianchi. This also wouldn't fit in the car but as we put it in ourselves had to take off the wheel, and this time put it back on properly. When it came to fitting the 'U'-lock onto the frame it was too big.
To me, the Bike Doctor's service was outstanding whereas the chain was at best adequate. I was wondering how much service is important to others on here.