Cycling UK Forum

Just had a similar experience.

Girlfriend bought a Trek bike in October, used it regularly, has had it's first service and a few tweaks done by the shop. Was cleaning it the other day (not the first clean might I add) and found these rubbed patches behind the cable housing.

I checked my bikes (all Specialized) and found clear paches on them to protect the paintwork.

I questioned the shop why these weren't put on. Apparently Trek don't supply them and we should have known. This wasn't acceptable to me either. I tried taking it further with the shop but they were not to be spoken to on the subject. Quite upsetting as we have spent a lot of money with them in the past few years (maybe service wasn't as good because the shop worker didn't know me and the bike was an £800 aluminium one rather than my £2000 carbon or £2400 full susser?).

The resolution is that they have applied some Trek/Bontrager stickers over the area and this does seem to cover up the scratches quite neatly. I was mostly annoyed at the fact that this was not just offered in the first place. Stickers of that quantity would cost how little to Trek? We would have even happily spent a tenner buying a sticker kit as an extra if it was pointed out to us beforehand. I was directed by one of the employees that it is clearly stated in the owners manual. Having looked at the manual (who really reads one anyway!?) it does indeed state that it can happen but only in "extreme circumstances". Quite a grey area and one that he couldn't quantify (I enjoyed making him squirm a little on that point).

In all, i'm happy that it has been resolved as the stickers have a logo on so cover up the scratches and have now been put on neatly. I am annoyed that it wasn't just done up front and either charged on top or not. What a way to ruin a neat looking bike.

I suppose that I'm not too annoyed as this is a part of the mechanics of the bike. Your reference to car wheel rubbing is slightly off track as that isn't a regular part of the workings of the bike/car however, do you inspect your engine bay for rubs/marks where the mechanics are taking place?

Gutting but i've come to accept as a fact of cycling. I will however be spreading to word to all friends who buy new bikes!

I have gone for the Tiagra, thank-you.

So why is the external bearings bottom bracket not considered superior by some? The theory seems logical to me (wider base = better support = more efficiency) but obviously not to all...

Yes I will leave mine in place to save friction* between us!

* I suppose puns are allowed!

ha ha, sorry, it's all relative I suppose!

Oh right, well that's more positive. Thank you. Maybe all is not lost.

Phil

I suspected that might be the issues, thank-you.

Yes 2x10 rather than 2x5=10

Think that I may just have to put my big boy legs on for France instead!

Hello,

I have a trip to France coming up and thought it best to swap my standard 10spd double for a triple. I may have use of an old Ultegra 9spd triple. Problem is that my bike frame is a braze on, the old groupset is a clamp on. Is there a way around this? (strange question to be "downgrading" a groupset but these are the situations we find ourselves in)

Are there any other pitfalls I might need to be aware of?

The groupset potenially on loan has chain, casette, front and rear mechs, bottom bracket bearings, chainset, shifters and brake calipers. Not checked to see if there is a spacer yet (assumably as my rear hub is set up for 10spd, I will need a spacer to account for this!)

Thanks in advance.

Phil.