Road Cycling - NEWBIE! heres a very particular, semi-dumb question...

Ive got a bianchi road bike, that came with stock WTB WP 350 clipless pedals. Im looking into getting shimano shoes with shimano cleats, my bike didn come with its own cleats. Should I be worried about compatibility here? can someone clear up for me, what WTB 350 pedals means???

thanks so much

Your PEDALS should come with cleats......if you bought your bike new, that is... Cleats are not included with shoes. Cleats are also sold separately.

I thought I mentioned that the bike didnt come with cleats. Ive heard many people tell me that, but this bike does not come with cleats... the store said bianchi doesnt do that, and so then I even tried to get em through bianchi...but that was a no go too. So, I guess I got a buy em seperate..ohjeez, like my name!

I wish you would have answered my questions thoguh cause Im still clueless. thanks for the cleat tip though!

Then why is it that your LBS is not helping you acquire the cleats?? They sold you the bike.........then they should at least have em in stock for sale!! Are they the standard SPD type road cleats or what? If so, they're available anywhere! Why isn't your LBS more informative and helpful about this?

Are these the pedals? (http://www.wtb.com/pedals.html) Have you tried contacting WTB directly? Here's also a couple of places you can get the cleats for the the above pedals. (http://www.bestwebbuys.com/bikes/search?q=wtb+cleats&isrc=i-srch-search)

First, you are being scammed about the cleats. Clipless pedals are always sold with cleats. Period.

Second, those are SPD compatible cleats. You can buy them at any bike shop or mail order shop like www.nashbar.com or www.performancebike.com.

The shop that sold you the bike has a drawer full of this type of cleat, and if the shop that sold you the bike won't give you a pair and install them on your shoes you should find a new shop.

WTB is a brand name: Wilderness Trail Bikes. They make accessories. www.wtb.com

RichC

ok yall... I *****ed and moaned and got my cleats!!! Like I said, Im a newbie, and just didnt know enough of what i needed or was entitled to... didnt really ask much after the first 'nope, sorry no cleats.' Seems I got the wrong employee that day, cause the shop was very sorry about the missing cleats, and was more than happy to give them to me along with a nifty presta valve keychain and 2 new tubes! woohoo (apparently that same employee wasnt bike savvy at all! and was fired within the same week she was hired)

So thanks for the know-how! later.

I wouldn't patronise that shop ever again. They took you for a sucker.

Originally posted by Dave Stohler
I wouldn't patronise that shop ever again. They took you for a sucker.

It sounds like it wasn't the total fault of the shop but of one particular employee. And it also looks like they made amends. I don't expect anyone and everyone to be perfect but I do expect them to own up to mistakes and correct them when confronted. If it were me, I'd give that shop at least a second chance.

Originally posted by ohjeez
ok yall... I *****ed and moaned and got my cleats!!!

There ya go. I'd still be suspicious of a shop that would put somebody that incompetent in a position to muff the sale of a Bianchi, but stuff happens and it's busy season.

If you're now known to the manager as a customer who got bad service, it may help you there in the future.

Still... I'd review all aspects of that sale if I were you. If she screwed up on the cleats, what else did she mess up? Was the bike's serial number properly registered with Bianchi? Who did your fitting?

RichC

the shop is great...just got a bad seed is all. Im not patronizing the shop, like i said, I was gullible and didnt do my research so it was partially my lack of confidence (stopped me from saying "gimme my s#$t") that prevented the exchange as well. whatever, I got em now, i know what to know for next time, a lesson learned. The shop was more than sorry, they are notoriously the friendliest shop around, and yes, the manager checked the serial, the parts, adjusted & tuned a couple things and sent me on my happy way.

Jeez, a few of out there are so critical...ease up on the judgements, you sound like some of those bike snobs that work at the shop I didnt buy my bike from.

no harm meant by that, just letting you know. -cheers!

It's important to not only get the recommendation of a good bike shop from friends, but also the name of a PERSON who works there. Most local bike shops have employees with a wide range of experience. For the folks bringing junior in for his first bike, anyone could help. But for more experienced buyers, you want someone who really knows what they are doing. I've been into my LBS enough times to know who the seasoned vets are and who the rookies are.

The guys aren't trying to be too harsh on the shop...its just something like this gets under everyones skin...they should have givin you the cleats up front, but said nope, no cleats which is highly suspicious...especially if 2 days down the road they want you to spend 15 bucks for the cleats that they removed from your bike in the first place..:D That is the exact scenerio that everyone was picturing I am sure!!! But alls well that ends well...so did you get some shoes?? How do you like the new bike and being clipped in?