chrome

I went to a bike dealer today, and what a bunch of stuck up, snobby @rseholes!

I was having a good shufty at some of the most expensive and seriously hardcore bikes I have ever seen.. but way way out of my price range.
I daren't even ask about bits for my existing bike for fear of being lynched.
(except for the lovely russian lass who could see I was a fish out of water and tried her best to help me). She talked me thru what was after- and most modern MTB's seem to be designed after US main battle tanks!
I wanted light and strong.
Only one bike there fitted the bill, sadly out of my paltry price range.
I was pleasant though, and tried not too make her feel too awkward.

I went in intending to buy some SPD's and shoes for my own bike as Cw42's bike uses them- I'm converted!
They're great.
Just need to find some SPD shoes that don't make my feet go numb
First off- they didnt have my size. Fair enough it happens.
I asked the guy nearby about ordering some in so I can try them; and near got head biten off by the bloke.

Are all high end bike dealers this horrible for newbies?
It's put me right off.

I asked about their servicing plans- £30 per hour they charge!!!!
More than scoobyclinic FFS!!!

I even went so far as to mention to the guy at the till "this is a great shop- but is it always so intimidating?" - his responding look was one of disgust.
He didnt even answer me.
D1ck.

Sure if I had spent 6k in there they'd be over me like a rash....

I went in all optimistic and looking forward to buying some bits and maybe a bike.. and came out feeling crap without anything I had intended to buy..

Chip

Go on, name and shame.

You know you want to

Chip

farmer1

Wish my local dealer was only charging £30 an hour. Its £40 an hour here.

And local subaru dealer is about 60-70 an hour.

chrome

£40 an hour! jesus- thats shocking.

chip- its a major high end dealer in the nottingham area.
wont say more in case I need them in the future

ScoobyDoo555

Well my local is brilliant - £20-25 per hour for servicing.
Bought my bike on Thursday - they couldn't have been more helpful (and cheap!!!)

ClimbOnBiikes

*HIGHLY RECOMMENDED*

Dan

chrome

hm. shame hereford is a bit of a trek for me

SupaMiniCupa

Nah, not all dealers are like that. Some might appear snobby because there is now way any serious rider would even consider a sub £300 bike (I don't know what your budget is...?) The labour charge doesn't surprise me too much.

If you're only in Nottingham try speaking to David @ Leisure Lakes in Wolverhampton, or Dennis @ Worcester Cycle Centre and tell 'em Tim-of-the-Gig sent you.

Get 'em to sort you out with a Specialized Hardrock

chrome

Thanks for the offer of help mate
However:

I just took the budget option..
Found a well specced Orange C16R
PACE RC-35 MXCD Carbon Suspension forks,
MIDDLEBURN RS3 Crank with SRP alloy bolts, PACE and MIDDLEBURN rings
XT V Brakes front and rear
XT Rapid-fire shifters
Deore Front and rear mech
Front wheel is Mavic X517 SUP Lemon rim with PACE CARBON Suspension HUB
Rear wheel is Mavic X517 SUP Lemon rim with XTR rear hub
TIME clip less pedals

Ok, iut's not the newest- but the frame kicks ***, and its lighter than ANY MTB they had in the shop today.. including their £1400 orange race hardtail..

SupaMiniCupa

Sounds like a great spec - nice one!!

I've riden nothing but Orange P7's for ten years and loved every minute

chrome

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...e=STRK:MEWA:IT -my new bike

Altho the bike does have some dodgy90's purple anodised bits as you can see..

Funny- as I picked up a brand new Orange Crush today and it damn near did crush me!!
weighed a bloody ton! Even my cheapo marin weighs a lot less..
dont get me started on XC/DH bikes.

apparently the C16R above weighs 24lbs smart

trails

iTrader: (41)

you want one of these...

chrome

nah- Im not an oompa loompah


just kidding..
thats a MAD looking ride..

what do you do with it??
bizarre shape

ScoobyDoo555

That's the exact attitude that I fear was being witnessed - at the end of the day, it's all about a sale.

My experience was quite the opposite though - I got to ride all the bikes I picked out (from £250 upwards). There was no pressure - he even said that most of the mid-price bikes are pretty much the same, just different spec. I tried Specialized (didn't like the feel), GT, Trek, and Giant. Both V-Brake and disc. Cable and hydraulic. Hardtail and full suspension.

The bloke pretty much advised me on which one to go for. I ended up with a Giant with hyrdaulic discs/24 speed/hardtail. Cost me £400.

My point was that I chose the bike, not the assistant - he showed me all the bikes, gave me the lowdown on each one, and left me to make my own decision. Price didn't come into it when it came down to attitude.

Dan

chrome

sounds very good.

I was considering 900 ish as my last bike (400) has lasted me really well over 7 years.

I picked up the orange as you can see for £260!
bargain i reckon.

trails

iTrader: (41)

mostly pedal very fast at one big lump of dirt, take off, wiggle around in the air a bit and land (usually), on the bigger lump of dirt the other side of the gap...repeat until fade

chrome

PMSL..

trails

iTrader: (41)

pics explain best; this is where we park, you can't see either of the starlet turbos (crazy fast little roller skate things), and the other scoob is absent


the trails...



a few of my mates have 24"s and one even has this full-suss beast, he owns the pulsar...

rr_ww

In answer to your question.

Yes. Well most are.

Theres a place in Eastbourne thats run by an old guy who f00ked my crank threads on my bike (he fitted cheapo nasty pedals so I could test ride it) and then blamed me when the thread pulled out.

Another shop wouldnt honour the warranty for my 4 month old bike (back in 93) because they deemed every little fault as my responsibility.

You think the motor trades bad!

The Chief

******* tell me about it i went to a place once looking for a sub 400 quid bike and asked some advice (cos i now nowt about MTB) and they looked at me like a piece of s***, i thought ffs i am new to this give me some bloody advice will you!!!! i dont want to spend 3 grand on a bike for a beginner. he basically told me that the entry level Trek bikes were crap. i was like 'then why the hell are you selling them then you pr**k!!!

r32

I see youre in Nottingham, why not try Leisure Lakes in Breaston, just out side Long Eaton, ask for Andy the Manager. Tell him people in NATS recommended them to you! They are a friendly bunch and very helpful, bikes available in all ranges (2nd hand too)and know that people have to start some where. Have a good range of shoes too.
Try the shoes on then look on the web at Chain Reaction or Wiggle and buy them from there if they are significantly less price.
Where was it you went?

gregjd

I bought a (cheapo) MTB this weekend from Evans in MK. I'm a TOTAL novice and it's only for pootling around on so I went for a Kona Lana'i, £229 down from £300 in the Sale. They were pretty helpful in the shop (for a large chain and all) but I did come away with a niggling doubt over what was the best frame size to go for. The Kona is an 18" which sounded and looks a bit small for me (I'm a touch under 6 foot). Does that sound OK? It feels fine though, nice and wieldy, which is the main thing I guess! Itching to get out on it yesterday but the weather was crap!

Sorry for hijacking the thread!

the moose

18" sounds fine - I'm the same sort of height as you and use a 16" - 18" frame dependent on geometry and standover height.

As for not getting out on it when the weather's crap - excuses, excuses! I was out yesterday (Hertfordshire) and got completely covered in mud, but loved it.

Hope you enjoy the Kona.

ajm

Go back in there and tear them to shreds. What the hell have they got to be snobby about? They are selling bicycles ffs. One up from bin man in my opinion.

ScoobyDoo555

With execption from one day (when my a$$ was recovering from the the pummelling the bike seat gave it!!! ), I've been out every day Getting through the first few days is the hardest bit, as your body has to get moulded/fit VERY quickly, and it doesn't like it!!

I'm almost burnt through this now, and my recovery time is much less than it was.

I also looked at the Kona, but my Giant Terrago suited me better

Dan

gregjd

OK I hear you, I'll get out on it later, whatever the weather

The Chief

What are the entry level Trek bikes like? are they any good?

SupaMiniCupa

Back when I used to work in the trade, £200 Trek bikes would fly off the shelves. Nice machines! Assuming they're still pretty much the same you shouldn't go too far wrong.

chrome

thanks for the advice guys.

I did the alternate thing (and probably frowned on at THAT shop) I bought a wel maintained and modded Orange C16R:

PACE RC-35 MXCD Carbon Suspension forks,
MIDDLEBURN RS3 Crank with SRP alloy bolts, PACE and MIDDLEBURN rings
XT V Brakes front and rear
XT Rapid-fire shifters
Front wheel is Mavic X517 SUP Lemon rim with PACE CARBON Suspension HUB
Rear wheel is Mavic X517 SUP Lemon rim with XTR rear hub
TIME clip less pedals

Cost under £260!!

The Chief

Ta very much!