Wiggle Chain Reaction Deal Falls Through: Mike Ashley Buys Name and IP

Seasons worth of kit.

Or

A pile of tat I bought because it was cheap but I'm not really that keen on.

What's a seasons worth of kit anyway? I've still got MX tops I was racing DH in 20 years ago. Christ, how many people have spent at least a weeks worth of minimum wage on "bargains" they admit they didn't need?

Yes, I bought a pile of stuff too, mostly a dropper, some service kits and the last pair of schraeder tubeless valves.

I'm not particularly judging, would be pretty hypocritical if I was, but my point is that if people can spaff over 300 quid on stuff they know they don't need then I'm sure they'll find the money for stuff they do want.

"No manufacturer, no warranty. You could try making a class action claim but you won’t get far if there is no legal entity to take to court."

Not a.class action at all.  Just an individual claim against the retailer as the retailer sold you a bike with a warranty.  Could also stick the 'mis-sold / misleading sales' claim in whilst at it if the retailer told you there was a warranty then try to side-step it as not theirs.

I'd be sticking it into the small claims court. £10k limit there these days, which will cover nearly all bikes except some Santa Cruz, Pinarello or top time trial bikes.

“If you buy a product with a 5 year warranty, then a retailer can’t suddenly say only your statutory rights apply, just because the manufacturer no longer exists.”

They can if it’s the manufacturer’s warranty. If the retailer is providing their own warranty, that’s different.

"Not a.class action at all. Just an individual claim against the retailer as the retailer sold you a bike with a warranty. "

Unless John Lewis or Costco have been selling Nukeproof gear then as pointed out that's a manufacturer warranty.

"If the item is faulty then you will have your legal rights under the Consumer Rights Act 2015 against the retailer. You may also have a separate warranty direct with the manufacturer – and if you pay extra to the retailer for an ‘extended warranty’ you may also have another set of rights against the retailer or third party insurer.

Bottom line is that when a product breaks (especially if very soon after purchase) you should use your legal rights. Only if they do not cover the problem should you move onto a free manufacturer warranty or a paid for warranty"

http://tradingstandardsblog.co.uk/who-is-liable-for-faulty-goods-the-retailer-or-manufacturer

I've been keeping an eye on the Ragley website just to see if anything's happening and it looks like both the Ragley Bikes & Vitus Bikes websites have just been taken down (or have expired); Nukeproof is still up.

I've no idea if this presages something, perhaps they might keep Nukeproof going as a brand.

https://www.ragleybikes.com/

https://vitusbikes.com/

Quite glad I took a copy of the specs/geometry/sizing info for the Ragleys and Vituses we have, now that their gone. If anyone needs the info on Vitus Nucleus 26 Youth (2021), Vitus Mach 3 Hybrid (2023) or Ragley Marley (2022) let me know.

There's also quite a few captures on way back machine.... https://web.archive.org/web/20240813082539/https://vitusbikes.com/

That's useful!

And I just spotted my their/they're #ashamed

I've got the specs of the 2023 Ragley Trig if anyone needs them.

I've also got a set of dropouts. A while back someone on here was being very clever & 3D printing dropouts for other Ragley frame, so that might be an option if they're willing & enough folk want them.

It appears that Nukeproof has been taken down now too - https://nukeproof.com/

There were a lot of tech. documents available on the Nukeproof site, it'd be a shame if they weren't available elsewhere.

Oddly though, Vitus Bikes seems to have reappeared, although I've no idea if anything has changed.

That's strange, because they're selling bikes again on CRC with due dates in October

https://www.chainreactioncycles.com/nukeproof-mega-carbon-290-elite-913363#colcode=91336303

https://www.chainreactioncycles.com/nukeproof-giga-297-carbon-comp-913355#colcode=91335502

Perhaps it's a simple as someone forgetting to pay the Shopify bill.

£1,000 more than I paid for the same Mega in the fire sale, quite happy with that