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Sick have a bike called the gnarpoon (well, they have some drawings of a bike). The term was originally coined on STW, which is kinda funny, given their disdain for this place. They sold some T-shirts with it on.
Sick like making T-shirts, so some enterprising members (well, one) decided to have a go too. Northwind originally came up with ‘Gnarpoon’ and had a rather unfortunate incident where he fitted a fork upside down in the headtube (I know...) which we don’t let him forget, that’s where the pic comes from.
Jeeez that's a bloody ugly bike isn't it... £90 to hire at Swinley... Oooooh for the love of all that's holy !
Why the unhappiness, RB?
Not unhappy or happy, I'd describe myself as OK.
To keep it as short as possible it took some hassle but I got my frame and gearbox. It's a medium not the small I ordered but that's OK, I was torn between small and medium and it fits fine. The dimensions are pretty much as specified except the chainstay length which is about 30mm longer than spec. Not the end of the world, it's OK but nags at me that it could have been better. Construction appears sound though, one year and just over 1000 miles later.
£90 to hire at Swinley now rather than £80!
I only paid £150 for my hardtail frame so this is clearly not aimed at me......
franksinatra
Subscriber
I haven’t followed this from the beginning. What is the connection between SICK! and the (rather lovely) Gnarpoon t-shirts?
Just that Sick launched a bike called Gnarpoon, and a t-shirt with the name on, but the name originated here (Nothwind), so a few thought it sounded like a good idea to do our own and make it a joke like it was originally intended. The Ill Wind name, suggested by Rubber_Buccaneer I think, comes from sick and northwind. Then someone threw in the upside-down forks thing and there you go!
It started about here: https://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/my-sick-experance/page/13/#post-10510060
But I'm not comfortable with the bashing of Sick either - I would actually love to see them succeed! It's only because a few on here have been treated badly that it left a bad taste.
I would actually love to see them succeed
Me too. I want everyone to get their goods, I want to see high pivot pinion gearboxed bikes get produced and I would even buy another t-shirt or two (no skeletons) but I'd back away from paying up front again, cash on delivery only.
Rubber_Buccaneer
Not unhappy or happy, I’d describe myself as OK.
Got it. Was kind of my worry with them when they launched their first kickstarter, their geometry was all over the shop, couldn't tell what they were actually selling. They had two different reach measurements (seat up and seat down) and questions were dismissed as they were busy doing it differently
scottfitz Member
I’m happy, the SW series is going really well.
Day and Night on sale soon?
They had two different reach measurements (seat up and seat down)
Ha, I suspect they are more 'high level' ideas people and the framebuilder gets to turn it into something workable
mashr
Member
Yeah, Sick ripped off Northwind as it’s his IP
Nah, that's not true. For one I've done nothing to protect it- it's just a word, I'm happy it caught on, it is my great gift to humanity. Well, "gnarpoon" and that one photo.
But also, they asked permission and I gave it.
For clarity; I gave permission for them to use it for an actual bike. I didn't give permission to use it for an imaginary bike.
sb
And don’t get me started on that saddest of sad tee shirt thread…..
I genuinely disagree with you there.
The thread and the t shirt have a tenuous, tongue in cheek link to Sick but that's all.
It's actually a positive,quirky and upbeat thread. And the actual t shirt is genius. I'm buying it on that alone. I don't care about Sick whatsoever. Good luck to them as long as they don't leave anyone out of pocket.
The T is a group collaboration with Alex kindly doing the real work. Not for gain. Just. Because.
In short it shows some of the best aspects of STW.👍
Nah, that’s not true.
Nobody asked for the truth
Northwind
But also, they asked permission and I gave it.
Ooh - I missed that!
Not unhappy or happy, I’d describe myself as OK.
To keep it as short as possible it took some hassle but I got my frame and gearbox. It’s a medium not the small I ordered but that’s OK, I was torn between small and medium and it fits fine. The dimensions are pretty much as specified except the chainstay length which is about 30mm longer than spec. Not the end of the world, it’s OK but nags at me that it could have been better. Construction appears sound though, one year and just over 1000 miles later.
So:
- You went through some aggro to get what you paid for.
- They sent you the wrong size bike.
- Questions on the geometry not being as advertised.
- The chainstays are significantly out of spec.
And you are ok with that?
And you are ok with that?
I would have thought at this stage he'd be delighted to actually have a physical product in his hands, incorrect size or not!
Not unhappy or happy, I’d describe myself as OK.
That’s nice and all but what about the welds?
– They sent you the wrong size bike.
Oh no, for my £60 p&p I had to collect from their stand at last years London Bike Show. At least I got to make sure I had all the bits (dropouts, axle, cranks, shifter, etc)
and yes I’m ok with what I got for the money. Only the chainstays being long nag at me because I blame them for the front being so heavy but it’s perfectly rideable. If it were my bestest bike it would be more of a downer but it isn’t, my FS is my bestest bike
That’s nice and all but what about the welds?
Made by a reputable eastern Ti frame maker (you could go direct but I wanted the gearbox and they aren’t so easy to get your hands on) the welds look great to me but I know nothing about welding😀
at this stage he’d be delighted to actually have a physical product in his hands
I’d paid through PayPal so when I got the runaround I raised it through PayPal. After 16 weeks I was either getting the goods or my money back and the clock was ticking.
30mm - well within tolerance 😂
love the idea of a super hardcore hardtail with dirty great big ugly front mudguard #sosickman
£80.00 to test ride them? Strewth.
It's not really a worry for the likes of Specialized et al, but when you're a brand with the image and exclusivity of Sick Bike Co. then there's the real possibility of people taking liberties.
I think what they were trying to dissuade with the £80 fee is the average Singletrackworld-man turning up, only to then use the bike for a photoshoot that'll enhance his Instagram.
A similar practice has been happening in the fashion industry for some time now.
I think what they were trying to dissuade with the £80 fee is the average Singletrackworld-man turning up, only to then use the bike for a photoshoot that’ll enhance his Instagram.
You think the average STW man is likely to want to do this??? 😂 Given Sicks main social presence of late is IG with all their thousands of followers, i think thats where you should be pointing the finger for those they want to dissuade... although, if it raises Sicks profile, i doubt they'd want to dissuade it 🤘
They are probably charging £80 so they can repaint it after every ride due to the paint having fallen off.
repaint it after every ride
New paint new model!
when you’re a brand with the image and exclusivity of Sick Bike Co
Struggling to think of another brand with such an, erm, exclusive image...
So exclusive our customers don't even have them 😉
Struggling to think of another brand with such an, erm, exclusive image…
Delorean
Struggling to think of another brand with such an, erm, exclusive image…
iDave.
I'm confuddled by the demo bbike thing..
normally a demo 'rental' means the customer gets that rental cost back against a purchase.
How will it work in this case.. or just more people spending money on things that may or may not exist?
I've seen the Delorean comment a few times now. The main difference between John Delorean and anyone from Sick is that he was incredibly successful before he launched his particular lead balloon.
Did Delorean have a tattoo parlour aswell? Delorean definitely a cooler surname than Chaos. No idea if either is made up.
Ordered gnarcissist Luxe titanium from sick bicycles on 23.03.2018. It was a very lengthy, confusing and somehow worrying process as it seemed like no one knew what was going on. Been following them on social media and knew they're just starting off at the time and things are going to be bumpy. Been told it's 40 day lead time from the day I paid. Promised manufacturing updates, pics etc. All very promising and great but obviously that never happened.
I've been very patient and understanding and wasn't bothering them with "Where's my frame" messages as some customers did that they were complaining about on social media.
I asked and paid, and they agreed to add a personal touch (few numbers etched on the tube) on the frame that later turned out that one of them forgot to put it in the build manifest. So, that wasn't happening.
After placing the order I first queried about the frame on 21.05.2018. That was 60 days after the payment. Was told they're waiting on the shipment and usual customs delays. After this they've directed all queries to then established customer service that I contacted on 30.05.2018 trying to find out about my order. Been told its all finished and waiting to be shipped to them from Asia and then to its customers but Jordan said that mine was in their hub and should be with me any day. During this time I asked Jordan a few times if there was an update on my frame on his live IG streams and he was surprised that the frame wasn't with me yet. Told me it's there and will be with me any day.
Haven't heard anything from them and queried about my order again on 28.06.2018. Was told by customer service that all outstanding orders are now made and going through process of QC, dispatch and shipping. Basically was told that it's all ready to be shipped just going through final checks.
... And I haven't heard anything since....
On 16.01.2019 I queried about the order again.. Didn't get any reply and on 22.01.2019 I requested a refund.
Few days after that couple of customers raised their personal issues in dealing with them on private sick cartel group on Facebook and after unable to manage unhappy customers they've archived the group promising to sort this out ASAP. A few weeks passed and no contact from them.
For next month lots of emails been sent in trying to get some kind of response on when the refund is going to be issued but they have just been beating around the bush. On 25.02.2019 I sent my final demand for my refund before I'm filling court proceedings against them.
... Haven't heard from them since..
Yesterday they posted on IG about opportunity to demo a couple of their bikes and I queried if people that they owe money to would be able to demo them too.. No response. When I went back to search sick bicycles through IG search they wouldn't show up...
So,.. now they've blocked me from their IG page with no valid reason, owe me a lot of money and not responding to any messages..
.. This is turning out to be biggest fraud and scam of a century..
.. How do people like this sleep at night...
#hater
How do people like this sleep at night…
Comfortably in a silk sheets on a very expensive bed in a large house funded by other peoples money is my guess.
I must admit that after ordering 2 Gnarpoon T-Shirts, I did get some pangs of guilt: kicking someone when their down, in-jokes almost like bullying, doing things behind their back...
However, consistent stories like that above just beggar belief - how can these guys still be in business? how can they still be allowed to be taking any money at all from the public? this is nuts!
If you've not been done over by them then let it go, dont worry about it! Like 95% of the posters on these sick bicycles threads should do!
I just really cannot get my head around how many grown(?) men are kicking off with ABSOLUTELY NO ****ING REASON!!!
Oh, apart from living in the same area as Sick I've absolutely NO affiliation with them.
If you’ve not been done over by them then let it go, dont worry about it! Like 95% of the posters on these sick bicycles threads should do!
I just really cannot get my head around how many grown(?) men are kicking off with ABSOLUTELY NO **** REASON!!!
Yeah it's the I'm alright Jack attitude that makes us great again
I just really cannot get my head around how many grown(?) men are kicking off with ABSOLUTELY NO **** REASON!!!
U OK hun?
We're not the ones shouting and screaming, sweetpea.
ABSOLUTELY NO **** REASON!!!
People have paid up for things that have not arrived and then been ignored/blanked when asking where their stuff is.
Hardly a reason to kick off I suppose 🤔
This is turning out to be biggest fraud and scam of a century..
Perhaps a slight exaggeration, everyone knows the round earth theory is the biggest fraud and scam.
Anyway, stop fannying around and submit a claim through small claims process. You are not going to get your bike or refund so start the legal process instead. Why are you waiting, nothing is going to change?
Oh, apart from living in the same area as Sick I’ve absolutely NO affiliation with them.
I take it you've sold your frame then?
1) If it wasn't for threads like these, someone else might lose money.
2) They give as good as they get and have made sweeping comments about the forum as a whole many times in the past. Many of the antagonistic posts on here are as a direct result of their own attitude when conducting themselves on this forum.
big_scot_nanny - to be honest, I don't really see the t-shirt as a dig at Sick - just making the Gnarpoon name into a lame forum joke once again instead of a bad news story.
The fact is it's not your problem in the slightest if you haven't been done over!!! Why feel the need to stir it up? Just smacks of school bullies. Or sheep.
And Tom Howard you appear to be the type that will bitch and reply to anything at the drop of a hat.... why?
Alex Simon... my frame? What the **** are you on about????
This ilustrates my point exactly! Pointless jumping to (wrong) conclusions.
The fact is it’s not your problem in the slightest if you haven’t been done over!!!
Not at a personal level no just like if someone has their bike stolen isn’t. That does not mean it should be ignored just because it wasn’t my money they took.