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garyheiss
Joined: 28 Jul 2007
Posts: 3
Location: London
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 Posted Mon Jun 1, 2009 10:33 am |
I was bought on of these shiny black bikes by my wife as a wedding present. I's had the advert on my office wall after the 10/10 Cycling plus review.
Firstly let me say its a light, lean machine with fantastic gears in the SRAM Rival groupset. very positive drivetrain (especially as my other bike is a Giant SLR Ltd with Tiagra 9 spd).
I took the bike to Downland Cycles on a 2 day bike maintenance course straight away and found that the whole bike had been hugely over torqued (luckily not to any detriment). Thanks to the guys at Downland (Canterbury) I sorted that side of things. Great course by the way!
My first week on the road (I commute 20 miles) the rear wheel shed a spoke on day two.
I took it to Bikehut in St Pauls and after a three day wait got the wheel back with a replaced spoke. My unease started to grow when the technician made noises about a bad batch of wheels and to test my spoke tension after each ride (confidence builder..NOT!). Week two.. more loose spokes.
I wrote and complained to halfords and was told to return it to Bikehut. After a two week wait and no news I complained again and was initially told i would get a different brand of rear wheel (an Easton). Not good news.. more complaints and finally the manager at St Pauls (seems like a nice guy) apologised for the problems and gave me an updated Ritchey.
The bike rides beautifully.. fast, responsive and positive. saddle is very comfortable too!
Frame finish is a little patchy compared to Wilier etc but OK I guess for a Carbon frame.
I'd love to take it Vatternrunden in two weeks but I don't trust the airline not to crack the frame.. !
Boardman needs to get a new outlet!! 8) [/i]
Gary Heiss |
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Shezzer
Joined: 09 Mar 2009
Posts: 204
Location: Shropshire
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Posted Mon Jun 1, 2009 12:09 pm |
There are 43,873 other threads on here that have the same sentiment ie good bikes, spoke problem and need to find a different retailer.
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DomPro
Joined: 25 Feb 2009
Posts: 293
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mattbass789
Joined: 24 Apr 2009
Posts: 137
Location: Newcastle/ Beverley
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Posted Tue Jun 2, 2009 3:35 pm |
I know halfords have massive buying and selling power but why don't boardman set up their own stores, they needn't be massive, just like i've heard giant are doing. with proper mechanics in them. I've got a boardman comp on the way tomorow morning and will be taking it straight to my lbs to have it looked at properly.
“If you worried about falling off the bike, you’d never get on.” |
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DomPro
Joined: 25 Feb 2009
Posts: 293
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Posted Tue Jun 2, 2009 8:02 pm |
Considering that Halfords Bikehut stores aren't profitable enough to run, then there is no way a Boardman only store would make any money.
Shazam !! |
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Garz
Joined: 25 May 2009
Posts: 532
Location: Manchestorh
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mattbass789
Joined: 24 Apr 2009
Posts: 137
Location: Newcastle/ Beverley
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Posted Wed Jun 3, 2009 3:47 pm |
the fact of the matter is though, the reason why boardmans are so much cheaper is because of the supply chain through which the product goes to get to the point of sale, bikes are generally built to small numbers, or to order. Without the use of a distributor which is why prices in many LBS are high, because they have the markups of components, manufacturers then distributors to compete with. continually cranking up the price.
A company needn't be profitable to reason with it staying in business, if it has the cashflow, to continue trading it may be an arguement to continue and stay open. i remember reading somewhere that out of all bikes sold last year 2/3 of them came from halfords, as sad a statistic that is. The reason is because they have a route to market, unlike any local bike shop.
and in reply to garz's post, it is down to customer staff to cream off on the accessories, shame that they aren't helpful. when i went in today to collect my boardman its actually due tomorow, their sysmte said one thing and their print out sheet said another. Hopeless, the only solution they could offer was taking one of the shop floor, when i asked for discount as a compensation he immediatley said come back tomorow.
Will boardman be donig market research on what people think about this because to most, it will probably put them off the brand. Kinda went off topic abit there! sorry. unlucky to hear about your tourbles garyheiss, good to know it should be all sorted!
“If you worried about falling off the bike, you’d never get on.” |
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Garz
Joined: 25 May 2009
Posts: 532
Location: Manchestorh
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Posted Wed Jun 3, 2009 5:03 pm |
| mattbass789 wrote: |
and in reply to garz's post, it is down to customer staff to cream off on the accessories, shame that they aren't helpful. when i went in today to collect my boardman its actually due tomorow, their sysmte said one thing and their print out sheet said another. Hopeless, the only solution they could offer was taking one of the shop floor, when i asked for discount as a compensation he immediatley said come back tomorow.
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Pretty much what I was summarising, most shops I visitted where completely unheplful. They want you to buy the most expensive kit for minimal effort!
What was you actually bartering about as you wernt clear, the bike or an accessory matt?
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mattbass789
Joined: 24 Apr 2009
Posts: 137
Location: Newcastle/ Beverley
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Posted Wed Jun 3, 2009 5:10 pm |
both, got the bike at retail price the guy was persistent on not budging, so i said i didn't want any accessories, and will fit my own pedals. at which i went to my lbs and bought some new specialized bg elite road shoes, and pedals for 100quid, had about 30 quid knocked off. and will kit the rest of it out myself.
oh and to clarify, i bought the bike on monday, was told to come back wed morning, and they aren't going to have it till tomorow now. which is when i go to uni again for a week, so ive had to get my dad to go and pick it up, and then hes going to fit the pedals and give it the once over so i can go out as soon as i get back monday afternoon.
i would like to see boardmans have a little more interaction with other stores, though, they are contractually tied in for this season.
“If you worried about falling off the bike, you’d never get on.” |
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jonmack
Joined: 11 May 2009
Posts: 147
Location: Weston-s-Mare, UK
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Posted Wed Jun 3, 2009 5:26 pm |
I think they have something like a 5 year contract with Halfords.
Jon Mack
Affordable web and graphic design:- http://jonmack.co.uk |
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mattbass789
Joined: 24 Apr 2009
Posts: 137
Location: Newcastle/ Beverley
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Posted Wed Jun 3, 2009 5:28 pm |
is it that long!!! oh no.
“If you worried about falling off the bike, you’d never get on.” |
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jonmack
Joined: 11 May 2009
Posts: 147
Location: Weston-s-Mare, UK
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Posted Wed Jun 3, 2009 6:23 pm |
It's not that bad, means hopefully if I stay employed there when I can afford one I get a nice discount on already great value for money bikes. Ha ha ha.
Does make me wonder why people don't take them boxed though, then again I assume everyone who rides bikes seriously can fix bikes, which isn't the case at all.
Jon Mack
Affordable web and graphic design:- http://jonmack.co.uk |
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mattbass789
Joined: 24 Apr 2009
Posts: 137
Location: Newcastle/ Beverley
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Posted Wed Jun 3, 2009 7:32 pm |
when i bought mine, i was not offered whether or not i wanted it boxed. would it come any cheaper?
i noticed on the receipt it said boxed or built, and it said built but i was never offered the choice, still id like to walk out the shop with a fully constructed bike, as a matter of principle.
“If you worried about falling off the bike, you’d never get on.” |
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jamesfisher1081
Joined: 03 Jun 2009
Posts: 2
Location: Exeter
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Posted Wed Jun 3, 2009 8:13 pm |
Ok so I'm new to BikeRadar and I've recently bought a Team Carbon bike... Now reading the threads on this forum isn't filling me with much confidence about my bike... Are the issues with the wheels really that bad!? I'm concerned...
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mattbass789
Joined: 24 Apr 2009
Posts: 137
Location: Newcastle/ Beverley
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Posted Wed Jun 3, 2009 9:08 pm |
there are no problems with the bikes that cannot be remedied from my knowledge. there are problems with over tension in some cabling but nothing that can be fixed with tools you can get anywhere. maybe looking at taking it to a local shop just to give it the once over for 20quid might be an idea. i think im going to do that with mine in a few weeks just to be safe before i nip off to uni again.
“If you worried about falling off the bike, you’d never get on.” |
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Garz
Joined: 25 May 2009
Posts: 532
Location: Manchestorh
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jamesfisher1081
Joined: 03 Jun 2009
Posts: 2
Location: Exeter
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Posted Thu Jun 4, 2009 9:59 pm |
Thanks for the reassurance, I feel a lot better! As long as I know that the problem can be fixed easily, then thats good for me! 
I am massively into running so buying a bike is a new venture for me and one I'm totally hooked on already! However I'm finding myself spending a minor fortune on equipment!! 
I wish I got into this several years back!! Next step swimming and then a triathlon!!! 
Thanks again
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jonmack
Joined: 11 May 2009
Posts: 147
Location: Weston-s-Mare, UK
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Posted Fri Jun 5, 2009 8:12 am |
mattbass789 - You should always be offered if you want to take the bike built or boxed, but it's not any cheaper.
Jon Mack
Affordable web and graphic design:- http://jonmack.co.uk |
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Has held its shape very well the last 2000 miles.
