So my wife collected her cannondale synapse from Evans on Saturday, only bought from there due to her company using them for the ride to work scheme. Out riding today and she was complaining of a clunking noise, I naturally poo poo'd and said she was imagining it. So when I got home from work set the gears up to take out any cable stretch and to my horror discovered the back wheel bearings hanging out shield hanging out pissing grease every where!?! What exactly they set up at evans before releasing the bike is beyond me? Ranted at Evans and returning bike. They blame cannondale of course but surely the mechanic should of discovered this before sending the bike!? She actually could have a massive shunt.
What do you suggest I do next?
What do you suggest I do next?
Wait for them to fix it and then collect it?
Eat something tasty for dinner?
What do you suggest I do next?
Sue them of course. 😐
Challenge them to a duel!
Ah, yes of course, cheers guys!
It's entirely possible that the wheel looked fine out of the box and it took a few miles to work loose, then got worse as she rode (ie the 'clunking noise').
Nuke them from space. It's the only way to be sure.
Ask to use their toilet and then stage a dirty protest.
Jameso you make a valid point, I guess I do need to calm down a bit, however I was already a little pissed off when the bike was built with the gear cable outers too short and so wouldn't turn 'full lock' so to speak. So that's dodgy steering and now a wheel with about 20mm of lateral float, I mean if I was trying to kill my mrs I would have done it myself with out the help of Evans mechanical department? Maybe my concerns should be aimed else where I.e. Cannondale but I wouldn't want a kiddies bike out of there work shop
Again thanks for all the suggestions
Surely the manufacturer would have cut and installed the gear cables and outers at the factory; they wouldn't leave this for the shop to do.
(Should people who work for a manufacturer or retailer declare this when replying to a thread involving their employer? *)
Jameso, apologies if mistaken re your employer!
Why would you ever need to go to full lock on a bike?
Yea what JoeG said. These days the bikes come pretty well built in the box and require minimal time from the store. Just take it back and they will sort it no bother I am sure.
oh and probably best to give em a chance to sort before digitally bad mouthing them.... everyone makes mistakes! even you I would hazard a guess?
No offence...
You seem a little highly strung, Amos.
...incidentally, do you also ride a Cannondale? Possibly a Prophet?
*ahem*
(Should people who work for a manufacturer or retailer declare this when replying to a thread involving their employer? *)Jameso, apologies if mistaken re your employer!
None needed, you're right I do work for Evans. I think a fair number on here know that and I agree, any bias should be clear if relevant. My comment was just factual though and I think people with trade links should be able to post on here w/o reference to work. Shills or any lack of perspective from trade types are soon obvious.
Well the bike will have been built by Cannondale then assembled by Evans - literally just a case of put the front wheel on, straighten the bars, make sure everything is tight and the gears and brakes work, tyres inflated etc. 30 minutes work.
So presumably the bike left the workshop in pretty much perfect condition - it's not uncommon for things to work loose after a little while, that's why shops offer a free first service.. Sounds a bit shit that the hub fell to pieces that quickly but again, that's Cannondale. You can't expect the shop to pick up on a part that functions perfectly to start with then maybe caught on something, took a knock while out riding (or in the car).
I'd accept it as one of those things, get the shop to sort it and carry on with life.
FWIW, when I worked in a shop that sold Cannondales, we usually expected to get them back inside of a month due to them being utter shit. For that reason, I would never even consider buying a Crack'n'fail...
Nah not really mate text always comes over differently, believe me I pretty chilled. Just some comments for the sake of disagreeing are ridiculous.
Thanks, James, and glad I was right! Wasn't implying any misdeeds on your part at all, by the way, just thinking that disclosure was better on a thread like this.
Also I agree that industry types shouldn't always have to declare an interest if just in general conversations. (Am ex industry, btw)
What a charmer. 🙄
I'm never sure whether to post precisely because I do have trade links. I don't want people to think I have a vested interest in anything.
However, I have no problem defending Evans so far. The bike will have come with the cables fitted so unless they are massively too short the guy setting it up to not notice they are too short. The rear wheel could also have looked perfectly fine out the box but worked lose during initial use. Don't condemn them straigh out the gate. Give them a chance to rectify the problems. If they fail to do that satisfactorily then flame away. But I'd be flaming canon dale as much as Evans. I've returned a couple of wheels this year with exactly this problem. Looked fine out the box.
If you buy a new complete bike I would take the headset apart at the first opportunity. Many come built with a mere rumour of some grease. In a similar vein I would also take the pedals off and install with fresh anti seize. Do the same with the bb cups.
I would also check the wheel bearings after a few rides as well as spoke tension.
You really shouldn't have to do this stuff, but a lot of the bike factories really don't give a damn as long as they are getting units out of the door.
Thanks crazy-legs I appreciate the input, I was typical find the first person and rant at them (hangs head in shame) but I quite like my mrs and was pretty pissed off and as I work in an industry where you double and triple check everything before it goes I was comparing that to this!
I will take it up with cannondale as I think there standards should be a little higher.
I will take it up with cannondale as I think there standards should be a little higher.
To be fair, you take it up with the shop and they take it up with Cannondale. It's up to the shop to sort it and (assuming it's covered under warranty) they claim back the parts/money from Cannondale.
So yes, it's the shop's responsibility to sort it for you but probably not their fault that the hub broke/fell apart in the first place.
Give them a chance to rectify the fault before getting the pitchforks out! Good luck getting it all sorted. 🙂
You're right to have high standards and it defo isn't good enough. Just rein it in a bit. It's new and sometimes these things happen. It's how they deal with it now that should decide how nutty you should go at them. There 'should' be a new wheel and some cables on their way from cannon dale. If there isn't, get shitty.
If you can track stand you don't need to X-up, you can get steady with only a few degrees of bar turn and no need for any incline. Only a monkey ned to X-up on a 45 degree slope.
I shortened my cables so the bars cannot go "full' lock, as this stops the controls hitting the top tube and pulling a dent in it (again.... If only you knew this stuff before it was a problem hey!)
R30 wheel set by any chance? I am seeing on average 2-3 of these rear wheels on a weekly basis, majority breaking spokes for no reason and the odd freehub issue. Always the rear. Sadly it's not the best quality set of wheels Cannondale have ever fitted to their bikes. 😕
To be fair if you ranted at Evans like you came across on here I doubt you would get their best attention
I think you need to chill out a bit, calling people all the names under to sun will get you nowhere
And what sort of commute to work does your missus have that she needs to x-up? 😉
Eh? I can't track stand or x-up I was taking the piss ...
No swearing at them but they didn't think not having full range of bar rotation was a good idea ! 😉
Demand trial by combat.
[i]So when I got home from work set the gears up to take out any cable stretch and to my horror discovered the back wheel bearings hanging out shield hanging out pissing grease every where!?[/i]
I am a bit confused as to what happened, based on your description?
you got the bike home and the bearing shield had jumped off the wheel axle, exposing wheel bearings?
What do you suggest I do next?
Stop whining.
Perhaps when your wife said something was knocking on her new bike it would of been wise to check it for her rather than just poo pooing her
When she said clunking I assumed gearing issues so checked them on the stand to check correct indexing at which point I discovered the wheel had lateral play so pulled back the rubber boot which was covered in grease to discover ball bearings missing and the shield out of position. Hope this clears up in inconsistencies
Not whining mate, it's a forum? Was just looking for feed back...
complaining of a clunking noise,
+1 jimmy
Listen to your wife maybe, you go alpha male!
i think youve learnt a valuable lesson, after buying a new bike always check it over completely, before going out for a ride on it, ive learnt that same lesson over the years, although you might not have noticed the dodgy hub, but you would have noticed the short cables, i never trust any shop when buying a new bike, i will always check over before using it, especially from certain shops?
Take the bike back, have them repair it then pick it up and thank them kindly.
And if you believe Evans are incompetent don't use them again.
I don't see what else you hope to achieve.
A grovelling apology or money in way of compensation ?
Seriously if you go in and smile and thank them as said above you will actually feel better on leaving. If you create a scene ranting and raving you will only wind yourself up and leave with the hump.
I don't understand how is is possible to challenge "them" to a duel. Surely that's no longer a duel..?
Nice notion though. Oh, for the good old days...
Hi Amos,
It's crap when stuff like this happens but unfortunately it does. If it's any consolation I found a crack in the frame of my 18 month old road bike, contacted Evans and they sorted a warranty replacement out relatively quickly. Communication wasn't brilliant but they got the job done. Give them a chance!!
Matt
^^^ +1
Cracked my norco and Evans were pretty good at getting a replacement. Communication was awful so when I got an email expectingy bike to be ready I was pretty annoyed to find that the frame had arrived but not been built up yet. Anyway I refused to leave without a bike (driven from Preston to manc to pickup on the promise of the email saying my bike was ready) anyway I went to the Trafford centre to kill time whilst they assembled it and came back to a fully upgraded frame and wheelset (2012 sight 3 frame to a 2013 sight 1 frame with full XT wheelset)
Assuming it's a cup and cone types hub the hubs should be checked for adjustment and tightness before they go out the door. In my shop days cannondales were the most well assembled bikes we would get, other brands needed virtually complete rebuilding. This was back when they all came out of the US thouhh. It's the shop's fault, they need to put it right.
My god, it's taken 45 posts to finally have someone agree with my sentiment. Cheers Sam I can move on now 😉
I've returned a couple of wheels this year with exactly this problem
I am seeing on average 2-3 of these rear wheels on a weekly basis
Going off on a bit of a tangent, but this is another reason why I don't buy magazines.
It appears, from two people in the trade, that there is a problem with Cannondale wheels.
STW have got trade connections, so presumably know about this, yet it gets no mention in the magazine.
It's not worth a rant, after all, the two people quoted above could be the odd ones out and it's a Man Bites Dog story.
Maybe STW concentrate on higher end bikes and they are not aware of failings with unbranded hubs.
I can understand you being annoying and your contract is with the shop, so you are right in expressing your disappointment to them. If I was really annoyed, I'd probably right them a letter as that way I could say how it's upset me so much without getting angry and emotional. And if I couldn't be bothered to dot hat, then it probably isn't really that bad and I'd put it down to experience.
To be fair to the shop, as everyone has said it's probably not their fault and if they work hard to sort the problem out for you then that's good. Yes, they should have checked, but the same could be said of you
And to be fair to Cannondale, it's probably not their fault it's Shimano's (or whoever). etc. If this happens a lot then it will probably get reported back to whoever is at fault and they'll be duly flogged.
Why would you ever need to go to full lock on a bike?
Manoeuvring round traffic, sticking it in a car/bike bag with the front wheel off and the bars turned.
I'd get straight on the internet and flame Evans myself.
... or maybe just let them rectify it ....
I've just dealt with a warranty through Evans- they were the closest shop to my work that dealt with my bike brand. The bike company were a bit hopeless but the shop were excellent, really surprised as I'd never used an Evans before and thought they'd be a bit duff.
I'd probably right them a letter
You might want to get someone to proofread it before posting 😛
To all the people that don't think you need cables that allow your bars to rotate all the way, what about when you fall off and your bars are forcefully spun around.
I'd have smashed loads of shifters and ripped loads of cables out if they weren't long enough to let the bars spin more than 180 degrees each way.
You might want to get someone to proofread it before posting
Surely grammar and spelling errors all add points to the rant?
I'm still waiting to hear about these new robotic members of staff, Evans are using.
Surely grammar and spelling errors all add points to the rant?
Troo.
Just asking.
Would you expect a place as big as Evans to be aware of these issues? I ask since others have suggested they occur, eg 2 - 3 times a week.
just looking for feed back
....don't feed them!
I hope you were slightly more polite when you went back in store!
If bearings were missing from a cup/cone hub it would be very very obvious
I think in general Evans Cycles mechanics are [u]very[/u] capable. Much better than the shop/stuff they sell etc.
wanmankylung - MemberWhy would you ever need to go to full lock on a bike?
It's useful while crashing to avoid stuff getting damaged.
This is all stuff that Cannondale did at the factory, possibly the PDI could/should have caught it, possibly not- the wheel might not have been obvious. The cables probably should have
I do have an element of sympathy with the OP. Evans are an agent of Cannondale and thus to some extent responsible. I would have to assume that the bike was thoroughly checked over, not just having the loose bits fitted. If it wasn't ridden a few hundred yards then I would not be impressed if that was mine. Surely the wheels were checked for tightness, a hand run around the spokes etc. If not that's slapdash assembly, if so bloody awful spanner work. I agree about the cables to some extent, they were already there, but again I would expect the shop to pick up on this and correct it if a factory error had been made.
Thing is every shop is open to sloppy or ignorant staff and its more noticeable in big chains as they have more people. the only chains I frequent are Halford, yet to ever be impressed by the staff, Giant, 100% (so far) not a clue about anything not in the shop ie cycling and Evans who at my "local" branch, Cheltenham seem to be mostly trendy youngers who seem best suited to customers who don't ask anything technical.
Lets assume that its not all bad shall we?
[i]I think in general Evans Cycles mechanics are very capable. Much better than the shop/stuff they sell etc.[/i]
the problem with Evans is that most of the good workshop staff jumped ship a few seasons ago as the company shifted its focus from having competent in-store workshop staff, to having "bike builders" and "junior mechanics".
Pay rates are poor, a high volume of bike builds, a focus on affordable bikes and a lack of proper training means its not a great environment to work in as a mechanic.
The Silver / Gold repair work in the London area is driven to the LCW facility in Bermondsey. It was a flawed experiment that is still having problems several years later.
Most Evans are lucky to have 1 experienced mechanic i.e. workshop manager or "senior mechanic".
I managed 2 of their very busy workshops in London, as the changes were going through. The rot started with shutting down their in-house Cytech training facility at LCW, Jules (Cytech examiner) left and they introduced their "Evans Training Academy" nonsense...
it was a real shame as Jules had built Evans workshops into industry leading, skilled operations with good tooling, training and staffing.
Depressingly, I probably know the answer to this, but despite gutting themselves of all the good stuff, did Evans' profits go up?
Evans profits are tiny, once interest rates go up, they will go bust
So, would they have gone bust if they hadn't turned themselves into a Halfords-lite?
I guess what I am asking is, is has there been any benefits from carrying out the plan Esher describes?
Ok quick up date, wife returned the bike and after some sarcasm from the mechanic the wheel was stripped and a large chunk of material was found to be missing from the inboard outer race. Agreeing this was a fault from Cannondale the wheel was kept and my wife left with the rest of the bike. She then went to remove the front wheel to put it in the car and discovered the drop out had cracked on the rear leg! So she returned to the shop where the mechanic said, with a unhelpful smirk 'have you dropped it?' which I suppose is fair question but considering the paint was still intact it was clear she hadn't. The bike has now been returned to Cannondale for inspection and she has chosen a Trek Lexa to replace it (all faith in Cannondale now gone).
A couple of other points: The check list states the wheel bearings were checked and the bike fully inspected, so I can only assume this happened on the first 10 mile ride (N.B. my wife is only 55kg before anyone asks!!)
Cannondale say the issues are the shops as they should have been picked up by them on delivery, and so it continues with lots of finger pointing!
and after some sarcasm from the mechanic
with a unhelpful smirk
That's some nice editorialising.
....poor show all round, though.
I was already a little pissed off when the bike was built with the gear cable outers too short and so wouldn't turn 'full lock' so to speak. So that's dodgy steering and now a wheel with about 20mm of lateral float
To be fair to the Evans guys, the cable routing design of the cannondale is fairly shocking for non-euro brake arrangement.
What do you suggest I do next?
Believing your wife next time she thinks there's a problem with her bike would be a good start!
Cannondale say the issues are the shops as they should have been picked up by them on delivery, and so it continues with lots of finger pointing!
But both agree its not the customer's issue to deal with right?
Demand a refund, buy something different...
Based on my experience of Evans mechanics fix it yourself unless it needs parts under warranty. If they fix it then it will probably come back with more problems than it started with.
I NRATS but
Amos - Member
They blame cannondale of course but surely the mechanic should of discovered this before sending the bike!?
On a build you'd never check hub bearing adjustment unless something looked odd - which may well have been the case here (I've NEVER had any issues with hubs on new bikes like this).
@cynic - al.
True. We'd only pay attention to a wheel hub during an assembly and pdi if we noticed an issue such as lateral play or binding / rough running
although rough running hubs and sticky free hubs (you see this as chain deraillment whilst back pedalling in smaller rear cogs) on brand new wheels of affordable branded bikes are not uncommon