Halfords FREE build

JAMES VTI S

Have a voodoo bizango ordered will be in for the 14th. I selected the free build also. Anyone have any experience with halfords free build, good or bad?

Im unsure to do it myself or have the free build done. I have a tool box and am mechanically minded so either way

ED E

Would you trust your LBS to service your car? That'd be my 2c.

JAMES VTI S

What's LBS

cletus

JAMES VTI S wrote: »

What's LBS

Local Bike Shop.

Halfords can be hit or miss. You can get guys who know what they're at, or fellas who don't know their arse from a hole in the ground

ED E

Local Bike Shop.

Cee-Jay-Cee

JAMES VTI S wrote: »

Have a voodoo bizango ordered will be in for the 14th. I selected the free build also. Anyone have any experience with halfords free build, good or bad?

Im unsure to do it myself or have the free build done. I have a tool box and am mechanically minded so either way

In reality it’s no different to LBS’s, you have good ones and bad ones. The mechanic in the letterkenny store is very good and knows his stuff how we just like any profession/Jon, some are better/worse than others.

JAMES VTI S

I though LBS meant legs, butt and skull. Made sense then.



I've done my research on how to fully tune the front air sprung fork.


How assembled does a voodoo bike come anyone know. Basic bolt parts together or more involved.

magicbastarder

there have been some stories about the quality of halfords on the forum over the years, which you'd probably expect given the size of the company and probable turnover of staff, you're going to end up with a few bad eggs from time to time.

re putting a bike together, it may be as simple as straightening the handlebars, adjusting the seat, pumping the tyres, and fitting pedals. the latter, depending on the pedal, might just need an allen key or could need a pedal spanner.

JAMES VTI S

I'll ring them tomorrow and inquire.

I've done my own timing belt changes ETC on cars just don't fancy shelling out for speclized bike tools I'll. Use once.

magicbastarder

if you've a decent set of tools, you wouldn't need to buy a pedal spanner possibly. it's basically just a thin 15mm spanner with a decent length handle.

I'd imagine halfords bikes don't arrive in pieces to the shop and are more like ordering one from wiggle etc in that all you really need to do is right the handle bars and put some pedals on it and tighten everything up.

I doubt you'd need to be doing your own cabling or fitting bottom brackets and cranks and cassettes etc.

Peter T

JAMES VTI S wrote: »

I'll ring them tomorrow and inquire.

I've done my own timing belt changes ETC on cars just don't fancy shelling out for speclized bike tools I'll. Use once.

You'll be fine. I've put on and taken off more pedals than I care to remember with a normal 15 spanner. If you can do a timing belt a bike is child's play. Its all just big lego

smacl

magicbastarder wrote: »

if you've a decent set of tools, you wouldn't need to buy a pedal spanner possibly. it's basically just a thin 15mm spanner with a decent length handle.

+1 It also depends whether you do your own servicing going forward, which personally is something I quite enjoy. If not, you'll be taking it back to a bike shop and paying for the service so money spent either way.

Macy0161

My experience over a few bikes over the family is that the builds have been fine. That's been across Carrickmines, Tallaght and Blanch. A quick "M" check should be enough.

As other's have said, it's not a full bike build, it's more like them building a mail order bike like you'd get if you ordered on line - turning handlebars, fitting peddles, seat height.

mamax

Bought a few kids bikes from halfords, I wouldn't let them assemble or pump the wheels on them - useless !

uncle-mofo

If you've changed timing belts then assembling a bike from a box will be child's play for you with basic tools and an hour on YouTube.

C3PO

If it's "free", I think I'd let them do it and then take it home and check every nut and bolt!

JAMES VTI S

Spoke to them in the Limerick store. He said its a simple job, the chain is already attached so I'm looking for to getting it come Thursday