I decided to treat myself and my 2010 Fuel Ex 9.9 to a new drive train... I put on the cassette and I spotted some play in the bottom bracket, so I popped down to my local bike shop, ACTiV in Folkestone to get them to remove and replace the bearings. Upon removal of the cranks they noticed that the inner spider that retains the granny ring, had scored a groove on the frame. The bearings were all in good nick but the bearings had been moving in the frame destroying the inner BB area of the frame that retains the press-fit bearings and I was told that the frame was probably a write off... So instead of spending under £20 for a couple of bearings I was now facing a bill of £2000 for a new frame with no chance of a repair in this case. Pants.
4 days later I got a call from ACTiV and they told me that the frame was a write off. In the next split second my mind raced as I tried to think of how I could sell the spare parts and buy a second hand bike or perhaps rebuild another frame etc etc... Cack! What was I going to do? Then came the wonderful words from Josh, "They're going to replace it under warranty with a 2012 frame". Hallelujah!!! Best Christmas present ever! I love my local bike shop and I'm stoked I bought my bike from there. The service is great, they always do their best to help me out and I can't recommend them enough.
Merry bloomin' Christmas!
Activ are, and always have been, totally spot on. Sounds like trek have been decent about things too.
Trek do seem good with their warranties. Someone I know had an old Fuel (10 years or so old),which developed a crack in a weld between the seat tube and top tube. Trek confirmed it was a write off and gave him a new Fuel frame under warranty. He then had an excuse to upgrade his forks, brakes etc as none would fit his new frame (as old bike had v-brakes, short travel SID forks etc). Expensive do, but still great to get a new frame under warranty.
Just did a frame swap on a Remedy including new BB bearings and headset, and a Madone including new brakes and headset all free of charge. Trek can be very "black and white" to deal with, but warranty is very comprehensive.
Great news.
OT question though - is there much singletrack near Folkestone? I have family in Hythe but haven't been able to find much when I have explored...
Another vote for Activ, thoroughly superb service.
Scott, give Activ a call they run/ participate in at least a Thursday evening ride which I'm sure they'd be happy for you to join.
Scott, ACTiV run rides throughout the year on a Thursday at 19:00 from Saltwood Village Green. It's never the same route twice and a good bunch of boys and girls. We also run a "Happy Ride" in the summer months to get more people out or to show novices the ropes/local trails. The Happy Ride is a bit slower and more relaxed, but we all end up at the pub at 21:00.
Most Sundays there's a ride going on - see the ACTiV Facebook page for details.
The riding is good round our way with the Downs on our doorstep there's plenty of topography to keep you amused and some decent singletrack to be found. At the moment (like everywhere I guess) its pretty sticky out there so the rides are a bit more orientated towards urban rather than than the bike wrecking mud and clay!
Personal local downhill highlights include the Zoo Run (TR 110 350), the Roughs Run (TR139 344), and mucking about in Sandy Lanes (TR 19031 35198) or Sandling Woods (TR 15180 36433). All the climbs up Tolsford Hill (where the massive radio mast is) are accessible and reasonably challenging...
If you want some simple singletrack with not too much climbing, then head up to West Wood ( TR 13900 43371) and you can either spend a couple of hours in there or head north through Park Wood, Elham Park Wood and up to Covert Wood where there some great trails that have been built and used over many years.
Covert Wood gets used lots and there's a group who are currently in talks with the Forestry Commission about working together to keep the trails there well managed for all. See Bike Tart Facebook page for some more details.
Alternatively look me up on here, or post on the ACTiV Facebook page as there's nearly always someone who's up for a ride!
If you're a bit faster and want to ride for a bit longer Kent Trails run rides more out of the Canterbury area (Blean Woods etc), but if you can't keep up, they tend to just drop you and they aren't as social as the ACTiV lot!
Merry Christmas!
Scott, there's also a decent lot of road riders if that's your persuasion... The dark side ride throughout the week, either call the shop or go on Facebook.
We have riders from elite to pub/social so no matter how fast or slow you are there's something to suit!
Look up Fowlmead County Park too, or Bedgebury Pinetum if you get bored of the local stuff.
Happy trails
Thanks for the info guys. I'll bring my bike next time I visit my mum (when its dried out a bit).
Exactly the same happened to my top fuel 9.8
Frame not only replaced under warranty but upgraded to a top fuel 9.9 as the 9.8 doesn't come as a frame only and it was easier to send the 9.9
Another happy camper
I've decided I can't justify having it in my garage however and it will be up for sale soon having had about 6 weeks light use (on the frame). XT throughout, keep 'em peeled if you're in the market for a nice new full-on race bike, I don't race so it's wasted on me.
few years ago i snapped a lemond tourmalet, 525 steel frame, when it failed no steel frames were imported into the UK by Trek and only one steel frame was still being made in the US.
So i got shipped from the states a Platinum OX frame and carbon fork,and I was given the choice of 4-5 different colour schemes.
Ok i had to buy a new headset as the new frame was 1/8" not 1" like the broken one but overall one very happy camper.
its nice when this happens, hotlines sorted me a new frame under warranty a few years back and upgraded the replacement frame to one several models up the range, which was a 2.5k bike at the time! i was well happy and still have it!
My Mate's 09 ex8 cracked and he got a new one with no quibble. Not only that but the 2012 has a different shock so that was changed as well. Ace!