Brand New Bike Problems

LpPepper · 27-03-2015 12:26am #1

Hi,

Just got a Felt F85 2014 model new today from a store in Dublin. Just wondering if what I'm experiencing is "normal" for a new bike.

Firstly, the gears are slipping and the chain is rubbing on the derailleurs. Also, it fails to stay on the biggest cog on the front (Shimano Tiagra group set). I've been told it will take time before this settles?

Also, out of nowhere the tube in the front tire exploded while the bike was sitting in the kitchen, having used it for about 10km today.

Advice??

Thanks

Wishbone Ash · 27-03-2015 12:34am

Were the cables redone after the first few weeks. New cables stretch and need to be adjusted following initial stretching.

Did you leave the bike beside a radiator or in a warm room?

LpPepper · 27-03-2015 12:38am

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

Were the cables redone after the first few weeks. New cables stretch and need to be adjusted following initial stretching.

Did you leave the bike beside a radiator or in a warm room?

The bike was only made up today, I assume the shop set up the gears when building it and when I was out on a cycle today I dropped in to see if they could do anything and they adjusted them but still slipping.

Yep left approx 2 feet from a radiator!

T-Maxx · 27-03-2015 1:05am

That's extremely poor service. I'd be having a word with the shop manager and failing a satisfactory response I'd demand a refund on the bike and go shopping elsewhere.

LpPepper · 27-03-2015 1:27am

T-Maxx wrote: »

That's extremely poor service. I'd be having a word with the shop manager and failing a satisfactory response I'd demand a refund on the bike and go shopping elsewhere.

I'm just confused as to this, the guy I was dealing with couldn't be any nicer....but after I dropped in having been out on it for a while, the adjustment didn't seem to do an awful lot and now the front won't stay on the big cog, keeps slipping off? Surely a bike that's only a few hours old shouldn't be doing this? Is it a case of it simply just not being set up correctly?

triggermortis · 27-03-2015 1:32am

I wouldn't be happy with that. Gears do take a while for the cables to settle, but should work fine at first, and then start to skip or slip as the cable stretches to a non-new length. The tyre could be down to the radiator if the tyre pressure was near the max before you placed it near some heat (temp rise = pressure rise).
I'd go back and get your gears sorted out properly. A new bike should be fine from the get go

sy · 27-03-2015 1:34am

LpPepper wrote: »

....the adjustment didn't seem to do an awful lot and now the front won't stay on the big cog, keeps slipping off? Surely a bike that's only a few hours old shouldn't be doing this? Is it a case of it simply just not being set up correctly?

Yes. The gears need adjustment...any decent mechanic should sort the problem in few minutes. Bring it back and ask them to adjust. Sounds like too much pressure in tyre and too close to heat source caused the tube to blow.

Kevin McCloud · 27-03-2015 1:43am

Unfortunately some of the mechanics that bike shops have are only graduates of mens shed and you tube educated. I would demand a refund and move onto another bike shop that comes with good recommendations.

easygoing39 · 27-03-2015 1:48am

The gears should be easily sorted by the mechanic in the shop,for free and on the spot as you wait.The tube blowing up is more than likely as a result of the heat in your house.But ask the mechanic to check out the rim tape,just in case it moved.Great bikes are Felt,so when you get these early problems sorted it will turn into a dependable mile munching machine.

Kevin McCloud · 27-03-2015 1:53am

easygoing39 wrote: »

The gears should be easily sorted by the mechanic in the shop,for free and on the spot as you wait.

Its fairly obvious that their so called mechanic has not a clue.

CatFromHue · 27-03-2015 2:00am

I'd a similar tyre explosion before. I think I put the tube in poorly and it got pinched on the rims.

Bizarrely enough it was one of those slim never burst ones.

LpPepper · 27-03-2015 2:09am

I adjusted (anti clockwise) the barrel adjuster for the rear derailleur and they're shifting much smoother now.

Though, the chain is still rubbing off front derailleur when on two biggest rear cogs and front small cog and now IT WILL shift to front big cog but massive rubbing going on...

Anyway bringing it back down tomorrow for a new tube, will try have a word then. If all else fails, I'll bring to another LBS which have done work on my commuter bike which was perfect. Only reason I didn't buy the bike from them was because they don't do Felt and the F85 was the one I wanted...cheers for the replies!

easygoing39 · 27-03-2015 2:27am

Hope it gets sorted quickly tomorrow.If not you could always name & shame.

Kevin McCloud · 27-03-2015 2:30am

LpPepper wrote: »

I adjusted (anti clockwise) the barrel adjuster for the rear derailleur and they're shifting much smoother now.

Though, the chain is still rubbing off front derailleur when on two biggest rear cogs and front small cog and now IT WILL shift to front big cog but massive rubbing going on...

Don't tell them you went adjusting the bike anyway. A proper bike mechanic will know that you have.

LpPepper · 27-03-2015 2:33am

Kevin McCloud wrote: »

Don't tell them you went adjusting the bike anyway. A proper bike mechanic will know that you have.

Yeah wasn't planning on saying anything, hoping to see if they notice or not. If not, obviously they haven't a clue.

bazermc · 27-03-2015 10:08am

Could the tube have had a manufacturing default or just been cheap.

I notice when I got my (expensive) specialised carbon road bike the inner tubes looked pretty cheap and were not specialised own branded inner tubes.

lennymc · 27-03-2015 12:26pm

are you by any chance cross chaining?

http://www.bicyclechainrings.com/crosschaining.html

Koobcam · 27-03-2015 12:42pm

Take it back to the shop and ask them to sort it out, I think they should do that at the very least since it's a brand new bike. However, it's also a good idea to learn how to sort out your gears as well, will save you time and money. A few youtube videos on proper set up will do the job, there's really nothing to it.

LpPepper · 27-03-2015 2:22pm

Brought it back again today and managed to get a proper mechanic to have a look at it. Its perfect now! Replaced the tube for free too. The guy from yesterday is obviously not a mechanic and he should have said so...all sorted anyway.

Brand New Bike Problems

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