I’ve contacted one of the companies and a solicitor phoned me back. He was very helpful and knew a lot about cycling incidents.

He said that as it was a relatively minor crash (no major injury, at fault party pretty clear cut) then I may be best contacting the other party’s insurance to claim for repairing the bike and a personal injury claim. He said they are often keen to do that if the driver admits responsibility as it saves them a lot of money dealing with another body such as another insurance company or legal practice.

So I’ll do that.

He did say if I came across any problems then I could leave the matter up to them in a no win no fee basis.

I can’t afford to fix the bike myself unfortunately. And it takes months to get a payout so I’ll be without a road bike for a long time – the bike I ride the most.

This sucks. 🙁

robdob, you have my condolences, for the accident and for having PeterPoddy as your brother.

Yes, sometimes it is difficult to deal with….

I’m going to get a quote for the bike fix (I know what needs doing but a written quote from a qualified shop will probably be needed) then contact the insurance company direct to try and get a payout to get my bike up and running again quickly. At the same time I will be contacting one of the companies in the back of one of the mags for an injury claim.

If I didn’t ride on the left of vehicles in the cycle lane I’d never get home – may as well go in the car!

Yeah it’s something I’ve been meaning to do for ages – should’ve done it!

I don’t have a solicitor. Never needed one before!

No.

Cycling is a big part of my life and I would never move somewhere where there wasn’t space to store them securely inside the house with space for a work stand and maybe a small bench.

I like watching Escape To The Country and those sorts of programmes and I always find it quite sad when the bloke has a passion for cars or hi-fi or bike or whatever and needs space to suit his passion. Somehow that need always comes last or is derided and laughed at. But when it comes to the wife wanting a massive kitchen or bathroom or whatever and that seems to be the deciding factor despite other things which the husband wants not up to what he needs.

I am so glad my wife understands that I/we need space for bike stuff and I know our next house will be suited to both our needs and desires.

ta VERY much!! (awesome!)

The problem is that the blurb they often spill out is that “our tests are independant, can be trusted etc” to sell the mag but they clearly aren’t.
And for a a few people who buy the mags who do suspect this sort of thing goes on and treat the information accordingly there are tens of thousands who buy the mag to find out what bike to buy in good faith.

If I was brant I’d send them a bill for the hire of the bike… 😉

I would be last in the queue for the Brant/PX/OO fan club but it stinks really. Looks like they supplied a bike, they tested it but won’t put it in the mag.

If it wasn’t as good as the big names surely they’d put it in to bolster the sales of the big companies and send a “don’t buy from the online only companies” message. It looks like its probably better and/or better value than the big names so they daren’t put it in.

spesh eskars are perfect for me in the peaks

Me too, when the set that came on my Pitch wore out I bought some more as I was so impressed….

I know Pook uses Fire’s but my advice would be (if you plan to ride the Dark Peak mostly) as big a tyre as you can get!! Rocky rocky rock rock it is…. 😉

No MungBean;

There have been times on here when people have reached out to others who have called out for help. Total stangers, ships that pass in the night and that.

But if you don’t have the strength, the confidence to ask for help in the first place, then you may never meet that stranger.

Which is why it’s important to be welcoming and non-threatening. Make people feel comfortable,.

Right now, there are people suffering immeasurable pain. And maybe what they need, what might make a difference, is someone to just communicate with.

But how much more difficult is that, if people are hostile and nasty? What if, right, there was someone who you cooduv helped, but they felt too intimidated, to scared to approach you? It’s up to you to become a more nicer person that others feel safe and secure with.

So, help make it a nicer, safe, welcoming environment.

Blimey Elf, that’s amazing [applause]

To everyone else, I have the pleasure of knowing Elf, and he’s a real diamond. He’s actually one of those secret millionaire folk…… 🙂

Aracer – the test really is harder nowadays. For different reasons. I did my test 3 times when I was 17, so it would have been 1993. I failed all 3! I passed in 2006 on my 4th attempt because I was older and wiser, plus I didn’t get the panic I did with the examiner next to me like I did when I was younger.

Nowadays you really have to keep up with the traffic, drive at the same pace as everyone else, use your noggin a lot more. In 93 I remember the test being about doing things in a prescribed way in the car. Now that doesn’t matter as much, you are free to drive in slightly different way as long as you are safe, observant, position yourself on the road in the right way. I liked it like that which is maybe why I passed in later life but I can imagine it being difficult for a newbie.

Another big difference nowadays is the amount of traffic on the road. It really does make a huge difference when you are trying to learn to drive – it’s crazy now!

Early 90’s GT’s, especially with the U-Brake. People still selling them on eBay, the frames never die unless maybe if you stored it in the sea, when it would rust (eventually, maybe 200yrs later). Paint was awesomely tough too (you listening Brant?).
This bike (mine) was rescued from a pawn shop for £40 – it had been sitting outside for 6 months in Bradford and had nearly 20 years of abuse from scallies around Bradford.
Barely any marks in the paint under the grime, built up into an ace looking bike!!
Before:

After:

26/36/46 and a 8sp 11-28 cassette was fine in the Peaks a few weeks back.
🙂

I have a 22/32 – 11-32 on my modern bike and although I run a bash cos its rocky round here and have a low slung Pitch I really want to put the big ring back on! Nothing like stomping a 46/11 gear down a hill. 🙂

I tried 22/36 but I had a problem that I had to drop into the granny all the time and bent a couple of 36’s in emergency shifting situations. :-/

29ers look ridoculous

I suppose for tall blokes they may look ok, certainly more in proportion.
When your legs are as short as mine they do look ridiculous.

I haven’t yet seen a 29er round my way (West Yorks/Peaks etc), maybe they aren’t as well suited to the trails? I don’t know.

A 26″ wheel bike seems big to me after BMX….

Some of those trails need a bit of repair – rather bumpy in places

Was it not an off-road ride?? 😕

Double post

I can’t see what is so unbelievable about 23mph average. A close friend of mine does a bit of time trialling and while he’s way faster than me he admits to not being the fastest in his club by a long way. His 10 mile PB is about 21 minutes and on his first ever 50 mile TT he managed it in 1hr 59mins. Roadie fitness levels are way beyond what most MTB riders call “fit”, it’s just unreal!
Personally on my road bike my fastest was my commute to work – 17 miles from huddersfield to Leeds in 59mins. And I am 15.5st and 5’7″!!!!

Exciting new news!
This time, CrapFire (part of BranflakeCo), have combined years of expertise to bring you the OnTwo 45678. The new name represents what fork travel is designed to fit the frame and coincidentally the amount of hours you’ll spend trying to build the damn thing once you’ve finished with the hammer, file, touch up paint, punch, vice, and pliers.
CrapFire have combined the many, many minutes of design time they have put in since the first Retardbred to bring you all the “unique” features you know and love from the company.
So the headtube this time will be way too short AND oval – yes, BOTH in the same design! This feature ensures that ANY forks and headsets are GUARANTEED not to fit.
The paint has been re-formulated to fall off in HALF the time of previous models, a much needed improvement as peoples eyes start to bleed at the horrific colours and decals if you have the paint on too long.
Now there will be DOUBLE the amount of unnecessary cable guides, including mounts for 11 bottles, low rider front and normal rear rack mounts, dynamo mounts front and back, 2 pump pegs and rod brake mounts.
In another unique development the chainstays have been designed to jam the chain on BOTH sides so the stays snap at the same time. We’re not sure how CrapFire have managed this but it’s a trifle compared to the mystery of how they’ve managed to build up a huge fan base of fawning idiots with the crap they push out of the door.
And of course you’ll be fully satisfied with your purchase as all the above features are “normal” for a cheap frame at £300 and you’ll live with them no problem. None of the competitors have these “features” despite selling at the same price.
And when it comes to pass your bike on after you have tired of all the above “features”, don’t worry, CrapFire will be along to comment on your frame to make sure any buyer will get it for a pittance.

My wife had a stroke at work a few months ago (Elf – she says hi! And no you can’t have her bike).
Probably the worst phone call I’ve ever had at work – try to keep your foot off the accelerator when you’re on the way to the hospital after you’ve had that news. It can’t be done!!
Anyway, she’s having the last of a whole bunch of tests next week when an ECG will be shoved down her throat under sedation.
Everything seems to be ok now, thank the Lord above. 🙂

Anyway, hope your good lady gets 100% better soon. It’s a scary thing to happen when you are relatively young (my wife was 35) but it’s more common than you may realise and people get better from it all the time.

There’s no excuse for poor customer service if you work in any retail environment. If you asked for the job, knowing full well what the wages & conditions are, you do what’s expected of you. Simple.

I was paid £3 an hour only 14yrs ago in a music shop full time and I always gave the best service. No excuse for it. I did 12 years in retail and wouldn’t accept poor service from my staff. No excuses.
If I get rubbish or even indifferent service from a shop I just don’t buy anything at all, no matter how cheap it is.

I’ve got a fab condition 52cm 2010 model F&F if you’re really worried about this years… 😉

When It comes down to making money the duo ain’t bad

Pity it’s at the expense of the quality of the product.

Epic rant fail, so much so I agree with TJ!!!!:

TandemJeremy – Member
velcro is the corect material to use. Buckles and buttons risk digging in / catching and creating an extra hazard
POSTED 34 MINUTES AGO # REPORT-POST

+1

looking forward to seeing what Brant does with a predominantly FS orientated range of bikes
Expect chainsuck, oddly placed cable guides and slow supply becasue he forgot to order them.

You forgot:

Oval tubes that are meant to be round
Having to modify your frame using blacksmiths tools just so stuff fits on it
Not able to run a 12t cassette on your drivetrain
Leaving rack mounts on a bike because “I forgot to take them off when I designed it”
Wonky brake mounts
Rust stains on your downtube because of the “unique” gusset.
Headtubes all the same length because the designer “forgot” to make them longer for bigger frames so you have to use 18″ of spacers. (100mm HT on a 20″ frame)

It really is a rollercoaster ride!

Yes it is. My experience of 3 BrantCo frames has been shocking. All have needed major filing or hitting with hammers to fix problems that basic QC or testing should have ironed out. And the attitude of the designer, actually on this website when I was trying to sell my last one was that he didn’t seem to care. He knew about the problem that was affecting the frame I was selling and said:

brant – Member
I really must do something about that chainstay clearance, oh I forgot, I am

So he knew it was a problem but sold all the frames full price nevertheless.
No company he designs for will ever get my money now.
I’ve just restored a 1992 steel GT (with a U-brake!) that was better made.

This last two and a bit years have been a big learning process. Take head tubes. The 44mm standard is wonderful in terms of it’s potential to allow all sizes of forks to fit, but the scarcity of reaming equipment in shops to fettle problems is a toughie.

I know how to fix that “toughie”. MAKE THEM PROPERLY IN THE FIRST PLACE.

Simples!

Is that because he sees PX are doing so well and he wants his crappy, ill-thought out and poorly made tat to infect it again to divert attention from the fact that his Ragley frames are so cack they can’t even make them with round headtubes or paint that sticks on the metal?

Brant used to pre-ride bikes for customers to allow them to sneak them in under the radar.

Is that his excuse for the paint being crap? I understand now…

Is this thread still rolling on.
What we have is QC issue, let CRC deal with it.
Or lets keep lambasting a great innovative designer who providers a well designed products.
Really does my head in this constant whining and carrying on.

I see you’ve never had a BrantCo frame and suffered the many problems that they come with!

I’ve had 3 different ones. All needed work on (major filing or hitting with hammer) or had design faults that had to be “accepted”.
I’ll personally never buy a Brant product again as long as I can ride a bike.

And as for accepting that a £300 frame might not be perfect and that you should just accept it, please let me know what company you work for so I can avoid it like the plague.

I’ve left positive feedback but mentioned that the packaging was terrible. Hopefully he will take better care in future.

It’s a 16″ C-C, 18″ C-T, 22.5″ TT.

I think this is where CRC keep their box horde – ready to package hope mono mini phenolic pistons in gargantuan voluminous cardboard!

All of their stock is in just one of those boxes.

Seriously though, I’ve been selling a few bits recently and I have struggled to find boxes.
Weird.

The frame, I think, is one of the early Merlin Malt frames with a disc mount. Looks a bit shabby as the lacquer has started to let go but it seems really light with nice welds and such. Hugggeeee down tube for some reason.

It’ll be for sale soon… 😀

Now tell ’em why you bought it!

Have done that now, but I’m not saying how much for…..

Ok. The XT rear mech was left loose on the gear cable inside that all, the pedals were turns backwards so they made the package smaller but obviously they could smash into the frame. The shifters were still on and loose in the package.

Amazingly nothing seems to have been damaged. Nothing that I can find anyway. The rear end is still at 135mm, dropouts are straight, headtube and seat tube top are ok. The Middleburn cranks (what I bought it for) are fine and so is the rear mech.

Sweet!!

I’m guessing that if it was, it may now be a 47.6 tooth chainring. Yes it’s poking out too. 🙁