I find it incredible that the headset has worn out so quickly. The bottom bracket also surprises me, I'm not so familiar with modern bikes but I thought that modern bottom brackets were sealed so I'm not sure what there is to adjust. The biggest service issue I have is the rate at which I get through chains, I doubt they last more than 1000 miles, and that's with regular cleaning and lubrication. I do my own servicing so probably spend just over £100 per bike per year in parts and consumables. (Chains, cassettes, oil, brake pads and tyres)
I feel quite lucky with my bike shops, both the big name bike store and the local bike shop. They are the same business. I have a Trek store about 5 miles from home. Although they are a big name store pushing their brand, the techies are all "local bike shop" types. If they aren't busy and you drop by they will take a few minutes to adjust things for you, just answer questions, or even just shoot the breeze for a bit. I even had them convince me that I really didn't need a piece of equipment that I was considering buying. Most places would probably have just insisted that, "oh, yes John, you absolutely need that. You should probably even get two." The employees at the Trek store remember who I am (although I think they remember the bike more than me) and are friendly and helpful. As long as they continue with this type of customer service, I will continue to bring them my business.
If you ever watch the Hambini channel, you’ll know how many manufacturers have badly sized Bottom Bracket shells and headset tubes which in turn chew up the fitted parts. But they never seem to acknowledge this, always ‘the way you ride it’
I bought a Focus Paralane from Evans about 7 years ago. After two rides the rear shifting became sticky in certain gears and no amount of re indexing would cure it. I took it back to Evans and the mechanic claimed to have cured it by changing the cable. He hadn't cured it of course so I then tried a local bike shop. The young mechanic there was more concerned with reading the paper and getting his tea and toast, as I dropped the bike off at 8.30 am. I phoned back at 4.00 pm to be told he had just started to work on it. I collected the bike at 6.00 pm and found him "testing" his work by riding it in the car park. He also claimed to have changed the cable. Of course the problem continued, and i put up with poor shifting for another year. I then changed both the cable and housing, using TH-cam guides to guide me. Problem solved and the shifting was perfect. I have since learnt to do my own wrenching and would never trust a bike shop ever again. One exception was needing to have a steerer tube cut down. The bike shop owner and mechanic wasn't happy when I asked him undo the work stand clamp he had just placed around my carbon top tube, citing his vast experience, and that he knew what he was doing. To my horror bike companies are now trying to make bikes difficult to service by the owner, or home mechanic, with fully integrated front ends and electronic gizmos. Their plan is to become more like car companies and force you into their concept stores for expensive poor service. Resist I say!!
That’s too bad about your bike and the maintenance regarding the Giant shop. I’ve been very fortunate to have a LBS that has been great to me. I bought a Specialized Allez Sprint Comp in 2022. After a while I got a lot of creaking sound and brought it back to the LBS to fix, they cleaned out the bottom bracket and head tube bracket and rebuilt it from scratch for free. After a few rides the creaking returned. My LBS contacted specialized and after a few weeks they honored my frame warranty and said they’d replace the frame but had no allez frames in stock and asked if I would like a tarmac sl7 frame instead. Obviously I said yes and the new frame was delivered and my shop put it together for free. I know specialized are not loved by all, but after that, I am a loyal fan.
I find it incredible that the headset has worn out so quickly. The bottom bracket also surprises me, I'm not so familiar with modern bikes but I thought that modern bottom brackets were sealed so I'm not sure what there is to adjust.
The biggest service issue I have is the rate at which I get through chains, I doubt they last more than 1000 miles, and that's with regular cleaning and lubrication.
I do my own servicing so probably spend just over £100 per bike per year in parts and consumables. (Chains, cassettes, oil, brake pads and tyres)
I feel quite lucky with my bike shops, both the big name bike store and the local bike shop. They are the same business. I have a Trek store about 5 miles from home. Although they are a big name store pushing their brand, the techies are all "local bike shop" types. If they aren't busy and you drop by they will take a few minutes to adjust things for you, just answer questions, or even just shoot the breeze for a bit. I even had them convince me that I really didn't need a piece of equipment that I was considering buying. Most places would probably have just insisted that, "oh, yes John, you absolutely need that. You should probably even get two."
The employees at the Trek store remember who I am (although I think they remember the bike more than me) and are friendly and helpful. As long as they continue with this type of customer service, I will continue to bring them my business.
If you ever watch the Hambini channel, you’ll know how many manufacturers have badly sized Bottom Bracket shells and headset tubes which in turn chew up the fitted parts. But they never seem to acknowledge this, always ‘the way you ride it’
I bought a Focus Paralane from Evans about 7 years ago. After two rides the rear shifting became sticky in certain gears and no amount of re indexing would cure it. I took it back to Evans and the mechanic claimed to have cured it by changing the cable. He hadn't cured it of course so I then tried a local bike shop. The young mechanic there was more concerned with reading the paper and getting his tea and toast, as I dropped the bike off at 8.30 am. I phoned back at 4.00 pm to be told he had just started to work on it. I collected the bike at 6.00 pm and found him "testing" his work by riding it in the car park. He also claimed to have changed the cable. Of course the problem continued, and i put up with poor shifting for another year. I then changed both the cable and housing, using TH-cam guides to guide me. Problem solved and the shifting was perfect. I have since learnt to do my own wrenching and would never trust a bike shop ever again. One exception was needing to have a steerer tube cut down. The bike shop owner and mechanic wasn't happy when I asked him undo the work stand clamp he had just placed around my carbon top tube, citing his vast experience, and that he knew what he was doing.
To my horror bike companies are now trying to make bikes difficult to service by the owner, or home mechanic, with fully integrated front ends and electronic gizmos. Their plan is to become more like car companies and force you into their concept stores for expensive poor service. Resist I say!!
That’s too bad about your bike and the maintenance regarding the Giant shop. I’ve been very fortunate to have a LBS that has been great to me. I bought a Specialized Allez Sprint Comp in 2022. After a while I got a lot of creaking sound and brought it back to the LBS to fix, they cleaned out the bottom bracket and head tube bracket and rebuilt it from scratch for free. After a few rides the creaking returned. My LBS contacted specialized and after a few weeks they honored my frame warranty and said they’d replace the frame but had no allez frames in stock and asked if I would like a tarmac sl7 frame instead. Obviously I said yes and the new frame was delivered and my shop put it together for free. I know specialized are not loved by all, but after that, I am a loyal fan.
anyone know what part of the world this is... I think its Wales but never seem to say or spot a sign
Glamorgan in South Wales.
Where are you riding fancy bike 🚲 UK Yorkshire somewhere