So, Im Collecting a new Bike what do I need?

kona

Okay following on from feedback in another thread, it seems that people are not sure of what they should be getting with a bike when you collect it new from a bike shop.
You have paid good money for the bike, and are entitled to good service, and receiving all the necessary paper work that comes with a bike. Any shop should be able to provide you with the paperwork as it all comes with the bike.
A good bike shop will also have a checklist attached to the bike, showing the different parts of the bike that were checked and adjusted.
So when you collect a bike It should come with:

A Bell and Reflectors. The reflectors are on the front of the bike(usually the handlebars or on the fork), and on the rear. These are legal requirements. Reflectors on pedals and wheels are not. Rear is red while the wheels and front are white.
These are LEGAL requirements, it is ILLEGAL to sell a bike without them(the exceptions are Racing bikes and 16” wheel and below).

Reflectors are not adequate for night time, you need a BS rated light set

A Manual. The manual is a very important piece of documentation. It tells you the customer a lot of valuable info that can save you a lot of money.
It includes specific details on the warranty, tells the customer about pre-ride checks, goes over basic maintenance.
Also depending on how good the bike is expect more manuals for the forks, brakes, gears, cranks,pedals.

A Checklist. Most bike shops will include a checklist with the bike, Its usually a sheet of paper with information on it regarding the build, some mechanics may even leave notes on it advising customers how features work(e.g. lock out on forks).

A Free check-up. Most bike shops worth their salt will provide your first tune up free. Like on a car this is possibly the most vital service for a bike. Most manufacturing faults show up after a few weeks of riding,. Your cables will definitely stretch , because they are made of steel. This will cause your brakes to feel “indirect” and your gears to slip.
Its definitely something that you should enquire about and defiantly use. Some warranties require a first service in a authorised centre.

I'll post info later about what to expect for your money at different price ranges. Explain why cheap bikes are ****. Warranties. and what to expect from a good repair.

DirkVoodoo

Why are you taking advice from these muppets, they will only recommend crap you don't need and waste your time!

Should probably add that to the wiki as opposed to a thread.

thebouldwhacker

DirkVoodoo wrote: »

Should probably add that to the wiki as opposed to a thread.

+1

stopped_clock

kona wrote: »

A Bell and Reflectors. The reflectors are on the wheels, the front of the bike(usually the handlebars or on the fork), pedals and on the rear. Rear is red while the wheels and front are white.
These are LEGAL requirements, it is ILLEGAL to sell a bike without them(the exceptions are Racing bikes and 16” wheel and below).

Just out of curiosity - how is a racing bike defined? I think it's a waste that I've got bits (eg wheel reflectors) with the two bikes I've bought over the past while that I immediately remove.

thebouldwhacker

stopped_clock wrote: »

Just out of curiosity - how is a racing bike defined? I think it's a waste that I've got bits (eg wheel reflectors) with the two bikes I've bought over the past while that I immediately remove.

A mate of mine is an entertainer/performer, I give him my reflectors etc... hes got one pimped unicycle:D

kona

stopped_clock wrote: »

Just out of curiosity - how is a racing bike defined? I think it's a waste that I've got bits (eg wheel reflectors) with the two bikes I've bought over the past while that I immediately remove.

Essentially one used on a closed road in road races, and off road events.

irishmotorist

kona wrote: »

A Bell and Reflectors. The reflectors are on the wheels, the front of the bike(usually the handlebars or on the fork), pedals and on the rear. Rear is red while the wheels and front are white.
These are LEGAL requirements, it is ILLEGAL to sell a bike without them(the exceptions are Racing bikes and 16” wheel and below).

Good idea - and on the Wiki too. Just a query on this bit. I had a quick look there and can't find the relevant ROTR but, but I thought a front and rear reflector were the only reflective legal requirements. Pedal and wheel reflectors (while a good idea) don't sound familiar to me as being compulsory.

stopped_clock

kona wrote: »

Essentially one used on a closed road in road races, and off road events.

but if I go into a shop to buy a hybrid (or whatever) the shop is obliged to fit reflectors and a bell.

Is it enough for me to say that I'll just be using the hybrid for racing, so there's no need for the extras?

Now I realise it'd be against the ROTR for me to cycle a bike without a bell etc, but that's a different argument.

Again, I'm just curious, and I presume a reasonable LBS would keep any bits you didn't actually want.

kona

stopped_clock wrote: »

but if I go into a shop to buy a hybrid (or whatever) the shop is obliged to fit reflectors and a bell.

Is it enough for me to say that I'll just be using the hybrid for racing, so there's no need for the extras?

Now I realise it'd be against the ROTR for me to cycle a bike without a bell etc, but that's a different argument.

Again, I'm just curious, and I presume a reasonable LBS would keep any bits you didn't actually want.

Nope because then they are liable. Also a bikeshop wouldnt believe a hybrid being used as a racer. There is nothing stopping you removing them at home,then its you that has removed them and the shop has nothing to do with it.

kona

irishmotorist wrote: »

Good idea - and on the Wiki too. Just a query on this bit. I had a quick look there and can't find the relevant ROTR but, but I thought a front and rear reflector were the only reflective legal requirements. Pedal and wheel reflectors (while a good idea) don't sound familiar to me as being compulsory.

AFAIK they arnt.

seamus

I'm not sure if it's a legal requirement for the wheels (or the pedals) to be fitted with reflectors. In fact I'm sure it's not.

Most shops fit them because they're in a little bag that you get with the bike and they literally take 2 seconds to clip on.

Pedal reflectors are a good idea though - no need to remove them if they're fitted. They respond very well to headlights from a good distance and the up-down movement makes it very clear that it's a bicycle.

Still no substitute for lights though.

blorg

I am pretty sure a shop has no legal obligation to include with a bike a bell and reflectors in this jurisdiction. It is an obligation on the shop in the UK but we are not part of the UK any more and the obligation is contained in consumer protection legislation that post-dates independence.

UK law:
http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2003/20031101.htm

In Ireland you are legally required to have a rear reflector, even during the daytime, and a bell, but this obligation is on the user of the bike, not the shop selling it. Interestingly the use of audible warning devices other than a bell on a bike is actually illegal (unless the 1963 law was modified.)

Pedal reflectors must be included in the UK since 1985 but not in Ireland.

Irish Law:
http://www.citizensinformation.ie/categories/travel-and-recreation/vehicle-standards/lighting-of-bicycles-in-ireland
http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/1963/en/si/0189.html
http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/1963/en/si/0190.html#zzsi190y1963a93

kona

blorg wrote: »

I am pretty sure a shop has no legal obligation to include with a bike a bell and reflectors in this jurisdiction. It is an obligation on the shop in the UK but we are not part of the UK any more and the obligation is contained in consumer protection legislation that post-dates independence.

UK law:
http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2003/20031101.htm

In Ireland you are legally required to have a rear reflector, even during the daytime, and a bell, but this obligation is on the user of the bike, not the shop selling it. Interestingly the use of audible warning devices other than a bell on a bike is actually illegal (unless the 1963 law was modified.)

Pedal reflectors must be included in the UK since 1985 but not in Ireland.

Irish Law:
http://www.citizensinformation.ie/categories/travel-and-recreation/vehicle-standards/lighting-of-bicycles-in-ireland
http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/1963/en/si/0189.html
http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/1963/en/si/0190.html#zzsi190y1963a93

Good links there Blorg.

While they may not be a legal requirement in Ireland, all bikes sold here are specced to the UK market, so all come with a Bell, and reflectors on the wheels, and ones for the front and back. Unless of course the bike is sourced elsewhere or Imported.

They come with the bike and you payed for them, so they should be fitted.

Vélo

I didn't get a bell with my bike.:mad:

Now I just feel like I've been ripped off, a bloody victim is what I am!!!

kona

Vélo wrote: »

I didn't get a bell with my bike.:mad:

Now I just feel like I've been ripped off, a bloody victim is what I am!!!

Do you feel the shop was negligent? Is that what you REALLY mean?:P

TinyExplosions

Vélo wrote: »

I didn't get a bell with my bike.:mad:

Now I just feel like I've been ripped off, a bloody victim is what I am!!!

I got one with my focus!

blorg

TinyExplosions wrote: »

I got one with my focus!

I have a drawer full of the things here, certainly got one with my Litespeed, think there may even have been spoke reflectors (thankfully unattached) included with that.

Actually now that I think about it I did not pass on the bell that came with my Focus to Lumen- if you want it just get in touch.

irishmotorist

TinyExplosions wrote: »

I got one with my focus!

+1....me too :pac:

I forgot to put it on though.

Lumen

blorg wrote: »

Actually now that I think about it I did not pass on the bell that came with my Focus to Lumen- if you want it just get in touch.

Ha ha. I actually have a whole box full of bike bells that I bought on a whim. Campanology FTW!