My Cycle Lab experience

[markStockton]

Hi Andrew

 

I'm not wanting to bash Cycle Labs, nor do I want to hi-jack this thread, however I do think you should be aware of my recent experience.

 

I recently bought 2 entry level Trek road bikes for my wife and son. At the time I specified that the one for my son needs to be converted to U16 grearing.  I was told that they would order the appropriate cassette and that I could have the bike converted at it's first service.

 

When the time came for the first service, I asked for the conversion to be done. When I collected the Shaun told me he had done the best he could with the gearing and that it "should" pass.

 

Low and behold at that weekends CGC champs the bike did not "roll-in".

 

According to Shaun, he changed the large chain ring from a 52 to a 42 as he could not get 8 speed cassettes from Shimano. However to correctly achieve the correct gearing he needed to also change the cassette from 11 to 13, which he hadn't. I had no problem ordering this part from another bike shop.

 

What is sad about this is the Cycle Lab workshops are awesome, however the service seems very unprofessional.

 

Cheers

 

Mark

 

[Ali Mclean]

Hi Mark,

Andrew has gone to Supersport and wont be back till 21h00. He will respond either tonight or first thing in the morning.

Have a good evening.

Ali

[markStockton]

 

Hi Mark' date='

Andrew has gone to Supersport and wont be back till 21h00. He will respond either tonight or first thing in the morning.

Have a good evening.

Ali

[/quote']

 

Thanks Ali, it really isn't a big issue (it happened a few weeks back anyway). I really just wanted Andrew to know what my experience was.

 

Cheers

 

Mark

 

[Andrew mclean]

Hi Mark

I am very dissapointed to hear this. Please can you PM me so i can sort this out immediately. andrew@cyclelab.com

[123qwer]

I went to cyclelab to get my dad his new mtb and was very dissapointed. The bike was fine but we had new pedals put on with cages, one fell off on the first ride and then the other cage snapped.

 

On the other hand a good friend of mine only uses cyclelab and has never had a problem.

DannyBoi2008-04-29 14:17:43

[Icycling]

Hi Mark and any other hubber with restricted gears. I think it is time to explain gear ratios and how to work it out! You take the big chain ring and multiply it by 27 and then divide this number by the number of cogs on the back. i.e. (52 X 27)/16 = 87.75inch gear or (42 X 27)/13 = 87.23inch gear so using this combination which is very close may lead to a slight disadvantage to your son. But this all depends on the size tire at the back! If using a 25c tire as apposed to a 18c tires he would probably have an advantage - the rims been used may also affect this (tubbies are small the HP for example)! So basically gear ratios are not the same for all tire wheel combinations. So it would be best to make sure it rolls in over the correct distance - and this is now speced in meter and not inches! The closer it is to the roll in mark the better. When I was a U16 I ran a 44 /16 on tubbies but on HP and then it was not 700c it would not roll in (I am 35 years old now).

 

 

 

Sorry to be hard but if you want to play the game the individual must no the rules and how to make maximum benefit from them. I don't think anyone should rely on any bike shop to do final inspection of a bike for any big race - the onus lies on the individual - all bike shops do their best but sometimes things but be overlooked.

[HammerHed]

I went to CycleLab today to ask  a mechanic why my MTB disc brakes are shuddering.

 

CycleLab have never serviced my bike. I Googled this problem and could find no definitive answers, so I just wanted to talk to an MTB mechanic and get their opinion.

 

I was helped by Dean and Shaun, and they both thought about it  for a while and then concluded that I must put copper slip on the back of the brake pad between the piston and the pad, after setting the alignment of the brake calipers to see if that would help.

 

Good advice,  I then asked them where I could get some copper slip and they said if I had something  to put some in they would give me some at no charge, they gave me a small dollop, more than enough to sort me out and I am sure it does not cost very much but they went out of their way to help me.

 

I was impressed that they gave me the time to discuss my problem and come up with a solution and then help me out.

 

Good service if you ask me.

 

[racman]

Hey, here's a novel idea. How about e-mailing or sending a PM to Andrew (or any bike shop owner on the HUB) FIRST to clarify issues before publically slamming them!

 

No- I am not a CycleLab club or shop supporter. Why don't people PM other hubbers first to try and clarify issues either. I understand that there are genuine cases of complaints or unresolved issues but to publically slate someone or a shop before trying to resolve or get the other side is a poor show. (Or maybe we should rename the Hub, Die SON !!)

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Man with no name]

 

Just an observation - which other bikeshop has come online before explaining and apologizing (unnecessarily if you ask me) like this? I mean C'mon guys?! Here we have Ali watching the HUB while Andrew is doing his TV show? Oh, and no, I am proud TCS, dont ride for cyclelab, but you have to appreciate that surely?

 

Cyclelab may be a bit more expensive than the other bikeshops, but their service is MILES ahead of any other bikeshop in town. On top of that, what Ali McLean has done with that club is awesome.

 

Somehow people has a different service expectation when they walk into cyclelab than any other bikeshop. That in itself must be a compliment to Andrew and his team - with a premium image and service comes a premium expectation. 

 

Personally this remains my lbs of choice and I will continue to support them. If you have a problem, escalate it to Andrew first. I had some issues in the past and I can almost guarantee you, if you do this, the problem will be tackled and sorted out very quickly.

 

Man with no name2008-04-29 23:01:24

[Ali Mclean]

Man with no name... thanks very much for your much appreciated kind words!!

ps. Andrew on a flight to CT now (06h30) and in partner meetings all day so will respond to Mark (if he PM'd him) asap.
pps. the podium at prizegiving at MTN Panorama tour looked FAB with all the TCS. Some awesome pics for you guys coming soon!

[hagar]

My experince from Cyclelab is very pleasant from Tokai the lady that helps me there always goes out of her way to get me what I need and even brings it to races for me as i stay 150 km from the shop.

 

On the other hand I was at the Sanlam Burger Nov 2007 and was looking for a pair of Specialized  Road shoes from the new shop across the way from registration and they never had my size so the lady there said she would order and get back to me. I actually gave them a bussinees card of mine with my office number and moblie number on it with a fax number as well as email address.

 

They never got back to me about the shoes but i suppose its something that they can work on . Customer feedback they are a big bussiness and sometimes writing things in a book does not always work. Perhaps have it put on the pc with all the customer details and have a reminder pop up for someone to check.

 

Anyway suppose we all learn but i will still support my contact at Tokai she is da best   

 

[Alida]

Just an observation - which other bikeshop has come online before explaining and apologizing (unnecessarily if you ask me) like this? I mean C'mon guys?! Here we have Ali watching the HUB while Andrew is doing his TV show? Oh' date=' and no, I am proud TCS, dont ride for cyclelab, but you have to appreciate that surely?

Cyclelab may be a bit more expensive than the other bikeshops, but their service is MILES ahead of any other bikeshop in town. On top of that, what Ali McLean has done with that club is awesome.

Somehow people has a different service expectation when they walk into cyclelab than any other bikeshop. That in itself must be a compliment to Andrew and his team - with a premium image and service comes a premium expectation. 

Personally this remains my lbs of choice and I will continue to support them. If you have a problem, escalate it to Andrew first. I had some issues in the past and I can almost guarantee you, if you do this, the problem will be tackled and sorted out very quickly.
[/quote']

 

I agree MWNN - I personally have a LBS that I use but have been to Cycle Lab on occasion and have never had hassles.  If you have problems with a LBS (Cycle Lab or other) maybe PM them first (if they're Hubbers) or if not call the store's owner/manager etc and give them a chance to explain or fix the problem - we are alas not all perfect and mistakes do happen.

 

Ali/Andrew - excellent on the quick response

[AuctionLamb]

Agree....rather go to the shop and moan there...why go on here. The original post was about a frikkin bike box!

 

P.S: Is Ali the hot blond with Andrew?

 

[David #7]

5 Pages about ****, I thought there where more important things to worry about.

1: Where to ride on the weekend?

2: What beer to buy?

3: What meat to braai?

[Evan Andreou]

Agree....rather go to the shop and moan there...why go on here. The original post was about a frikkin bike box!

 

[Tumbleweed]

5 Pages about ****' date=' I thought there where more important things to worry about.

1: Where to ride on the weekend?

2: What beer to buy?

3: What meat to braai?

[/quote']

1. it's too cold to ride

2. hoegaarden (goes well with the answer to #3)

3. chikin