Mountain Biking - C'dale is going back;done with this!

I am tired of this, I just wanted to go for a nice ride today, cuase there was some stuff going on, and I needed some time to think, and I get going and the whole bike is messed up :mad: it doesn't shift correctly at all! It says that its on sprocket 3, when it is on sprocket 1, and its says gear 8, when it is on...1!
I am really done with this...the bike I rode before was a Sherpa, this thing is older than I am, and it has never had the problems, I am having with this bike. And, I rode the Sherpa way longer, and much harder! I would take it off a 5', drop off every time, with no suspension, and the bike never had a problem, the c'dale has the crappiest fork, the proload doesn't even work (thanks to manitou), and now the shifters don't work worth anything. Ya, I know its the components, not the bike, but if I buy new shifters, its going to cost me more than I spent on the bike, and I will have to get a new fork too. Think about it, I am only 16, I have to buy a car, I don't have enough money for all this crap! Buy the time I get everything, I will have spent over a $1,000. I am not convinced I needed to buy that bike, I still have the Sherpa, and I it still hasn't been 30 days since I bought the bike, I am strongly think about taking this back, help me here...

I thought I had actually made a sound decision..... :(

All you need to do is to tweek your shift cables a bit....they probably stretched a bit since you bought the bike. It's only a 30 second fix. Sleep well tonight...

yeah, my bike was improperly adjusted when i got it. I've now since fixed that with tinkering.

Sounds like it needs its 30 day tuneup to me. Cables probably stretched a bit. As for the fork... it's a piece of crap, and the LBS should do their best to make it right.

RU going to able to get a full refund after you rode on it? If you can, then that's quite an understanding LBS you have.

I won't go into the Axel anymore as I think you know my sentiments on that. Insist that the LBS send the fork back to Answer...Mine was sent back and they refurbished the fork. I still don't trust it (I'm paranoid) but at least it's fixed for now. It took less than a week for mine.

As Jim said, most LBS will tell their customers to bring their bikes in after a 24 hour (of riding) burn in period. Things come loose, or settle in a certain way, etc. It was like that on my bike too. The shifting problem could be as simple as an adjustment.

Have you ridden it hard? I endo'ed my bike over a large log which misaligned the rear derailleur. Mine wouldn't change gears properly, or would skim across the rear sprocket. Even a light endo, or dropping your bike on the side, may cause a bend to either the hangar, or the derailleur. As a test, shift your rear derailleur to the smallest sprocket, and shift your front derailleur to the largest chainring. Now look at your rear derailleur from the back. It should be exactly in line with the chain, and be perpendicular (90 degrees) from the ground if your bike is standing up. If it's not perpendicular and on an angle, your derailleur is bent.

If you can't get a refund, at least get it repaired even if it takes you several times to get the LBS to adjust it just right. I wouldn't blame the LBS if they can't fix it the first time. Fixing shifting problems are hard, even for experts.

If it's a real good LBS, if they can't fix it they'll send it back to the manufacturer for authorized repairs.

Impreaza.....dont you have a job? You shouldent be too mad about spending over $1000, that is what alot of people are spending on bikes now. Hell......atleast you dont have it as bad as me where I spend all my money on bike stuff. And I am going on 18 and dont have a car. I cant say much for cannondale, except that I dont like them. If you dont think you need the bike or want it, I would say take it back. It dosent sound like its the best thing to keep it.

My Cannondale works fine, thank you very much Klein! Manitou is at fault in this scenario!

:D

Cannondale makes great bikes.....its just the shifter cables....easy breezy, like they said a five minute fix and you can do it yourself. Look in the mechanics forum and ask some questions if you need.

Klein, I'm going on 20 and I don't have a car.

20? that's nothing. i just turned 27 and i don't have a car... i don't even have a driver's license.

Boys....... I just recently became a grandfather and I still don't have a car!.... Just kidding....about the car, that is...

I understand your frustration but this really is just a matter of some adjustments. The bike is probably fine.

I understand your frustration but this really is just a matter of some adjustments. The bike is probably fine.

I'm going on 50. I have a car. I have a Cannondale. Guess that means I'm a rebel.
:p

I am tired of this, I just wanted to go for a nice ride today, cuase there was some stuff going on, and I needed some time to think, and I get going and the whole bike is messed up :mad: it doesn't shift correctly at all! It says that its on sprocket 3, when it is on sprocket 1, and its says gear 8, when it is on...1!
I am really done with this...the bike I rode before was a Sherpa, this thing is older than I am, and it has never had the problems, I am having with this bike. And, I rode the Sherpa way longer, and much harder! I would take it off a 5', drop off every time, with no suspension, and the bike never had a problem, the c'dale has the crappiest fork, the proload doesn't even work (thanks to manitou), and now the shifters don't work worth anything. Ya, I know its the components, not the bike, but if I buy new shifters, its going to cost me more than I spent on the bike, and I will have to get a new fork too. Think about it, I am only 16, I have to buy a car, I don't have enough money for all this crap! Buy the time I get everything, I will have spent over a $1,000. I am not convinced I needed to buy that bike, I still have the Sherpa, and I it still hasn't been 30 days since I bought the bike, I am strongly think about taking this back, help me here...

I thought I had actually made a sound decision..... :(

With all do respect to bikephiles everywhere:

I'm sure your future prom date is going to be grateful that you pick her up in your car, rather than going "two up" on your bicycle...

Finally, the make-out excuse "I ran out of gas" doesn't work on a bike...then again you can always say, "My Manitou Axel's damping is blown out again. You push, and I'll steer." ;)

You're right, you should take it back. You apparently can't handle the responsibility of having a new bike.

Schwinn, thats harsh, Not everyone can afford amazing bikes like everyone has on here, Last year when i got my first bike, it was cheap, and it kept falling to bits on me, and i got so frustrated with it. I dont think thats fair that you call him not responsible enough to have a bike, U cant honestly tell me that If your bike fell to bits on you, every time you went riding, U wouldnt tell anyone? Or be slightly annoyed?

Schwinn, thats harsh, Not everyone can afford amazing bikes like everyone has on here, Last year when i got my first bike, it was cheap, and it kept falling to bits on me, and i got so frustrated with it. I dont think thats fair that you call him not responsible enough to have a bike, U cant honestly tell me that If your bike fell to bits on you, every time you went riding, U wouldnt tell anyone? Or be slightly annoyed?

Gotta agree. That's a bit harsh considering Imprezaman:

A. He's only sixteen.
B. He spent a lot of money (for a 16 year old student) on a new bike.
C. The bike has had problems.
D. It's not like a bike requires a lot of responsibility or long term commitment. He's not marrying his bike for crying out loud.

I think it's just frustration talking on the part of Imprezaman. I believe it's called "buyer's remorse".

But Schwinnbikelove does bring up a point and that is mountain biking is an expensive hobby and you have to be prepared to accept some pitfalls, and disappointments down the road.

Best thing for Imprezaman to do is to get the bike repaired while it's still under warranty and ride, or sell it depending on how he feels after it's fixed.

However, it's going to be much more frustrating, and expensive, dealing with a used car.

Hmmm... Im 15, and i have hardly any money, So i know how bad it is and how gutting it is when you break your bike...

Mtbing is a expensive hobby but, It doesnt have to REALLY expensive, and for people our age, its hard to get these really good components, but your right, once you want the expensive and more advanced parts, the price does soar..

Well, maybe I was a little harsh, but I wasn't referring to expense at all. I think that everyone should have a basic knowledge of something before they make a purchase, especially such a large one. It sounds like some of the problems he is having are due to a lack of research/knowledge about the basic workings of a bicycle. I know his bike is new, but cables stretch, bikes need tuned up. It sounds like the bike shop wasn't much help, either.

By "handling the responsibility", I mean knowing what your spending $500 on, how to work it, how to maintain it, and last of all, not ranting immaturely and placing blame on the bike or it's components without proper knowledge.

That said, if it actually is the bike or the shop, or the fork, I would be upset as well. Also, ALOT of people get suspension when it isn't needed, and sometimes it creates more complications/maintenance issues. Usually simplicity involves less money initially and down the road as well. I'm not saying that this is or isn't an issue here, just something I wanted to bring up as well.

Imprezaman, go talk to them at the bike shop. Be level-headed, but explain to them that you're very upset and why. You've made a big purchase with them, and they should do anything they can to keep you in good standing (hopefully....) Good luck.

Jessica

Impreaza.....dont you have a job? You shouldent be too mad about spending over $1000, that is what alot of people are spending on bikes now. Hell......atleast you dont have it as bad as me where I spend all my money on bike stuff. And I am going on 18 and dont have a car. I cant say much for cannondale, except that I dont like them. If you dont think you need the bike or want it, I would say take it back. It dosent sound like its the best thing to keep it.

Ya, dude I have a job, but you notice my name "imprezaman", I am saving for this...anyway, I overreacted guys, its fine, I actually messed it up more, cuase the stupid cable cap popped off, and its fraying, so I need to know how much a new cable costs, but other than that its figured out...I am taking it down there, in like 2 weeks, and they are going to readjust, and I will get to buy a new cable which I don't mind...when I left that post; my parents weren't getting along, and when I am mad, I ride. Thats how I blow off steam, and that day I just needed to ride, and it was like the last thing I needed...I just gotta wait two weeks before I get to ride agian...I will live.

You're right, you should take it back. You apparently can't handle the responsibility of having a new bike.
Dude!!! I didn't notice that!!! You are a cold person!! It wasn't just the bike, mountian biking is how I blow off steam, as I put in the other forum, and so when my bike is not working I tend to be a little mad, I flying down a mountian trail, and being on the edge is not enough to let off steam I don't know what is!! Thats what I do; its my life, that and rallying...that day was like the worst day of my life! You think I would actually take that back...I waited, and worked hard for that bike...how can you call me irresponsible, when I worked for Ecology Youth Core!!! You know how hard that job is to get?? 6 out of 60 interviews get the job, after 250, out of 800 applications get accepted, after a computer randomly choses out of thousands! So that interview you can bet is a bit stressfull!! Then after that, I volunteered at camp for the entire summer, for no income, and now I have a job at the camp this summer, which I will be getting payed...its a bike, how hard is it to take care of?? I was mad cuase I worked very hard to get that bike! EYC, was not easy, for those that don't know, thats picking up trash off the road the people most stupidly throw, I am no enviro, but when they throw it at you when you are working...it tends to get annoying. And, now that i think about it, you were probably just saying that to piss of a 16 yr old right??

Hey, it's all cool Imprezaman. First, Schwinnbikelove is a female (she signed off as Jessica), not a "dude".

Also, she did admit she overreacted when she dumped all over you.

Important thing now is what you're going to do. Not sure if the LBS would take a used bike back unless they have a full money back guarantee if not satisfied. Also, you'll lose a lot of money on the used bike market if you sell it. Get it repaired until it's back to spec. You have to anyway regardless of whether you decide to keep it or sell it.

Personally, I think you have a pretty decent bike there and it should serve you well once you get the required repairs, and a lil' TLC.

I'm sure when Summer comes, and you're bombing down your favorite trail on your F300, (maybe with that Marz MX Comp, or Drop-off fork you would have saved up for by that time) you'll love it again.

If misery loves company then here's a list of the probs I've had with my '03 Stumpjumper:

- Rear suspension bolt loosened after two weeks. Had to Loc-Tite all the nuts and bolts.
- Warped front rim
- Axel fork...no really! ;) (twice)
- Already had to replace the seat. Original one ripped up.
- Rear derailleur probs
- Then Specialized releases a brand new, better Stumpjumper before mine has had a chance to get cold!

Still, I'm having fun... :D

I am not taking it back. I called the bike shop, and they told me what to do, and said that it was just miner and needed to be brought in...I think I freaked so much, cuase the first bike I had when I started mountian biking, was a cheap wally world bike, and it was having shifting difficultys, and this seemed similar; I am to simple minded some times, to take into considiration, that the bike has to break in, even after being told that. So in two weeks, I will be taking it down

So its all good :D

Oh I still have the first 8 gears, and I got it fixed enough that those gears work good, and it snowed today, so I went for a short ride...

Sorry Schwinbikelove...you had a good point

Fix it and stop biatchin ! :D

Fix it and stop biatchin ! :D
Someone had to yell at me!! :D

Ya, dude I have a job, but you notice my name "imprezaman", I am saving for this...anyway, I overreacted guys, its fine, I actually messed it up more, cuase the stupid cable cap popped off, and its fraying, so I need to know how much a new cable costs, but other than that its figured out...I am taking it down there, in like 2 weeks, and they are going to readjust, and I will get to buy a new cable which I don't mind...when I left that post; my parents weren't getting along, and when I am mad, I ride. Thats how I blow off steam, and that day I just needed to ride, and it was like the last thing I needed...I just gotta wait two weeks before I get to ride agian...I will live.

That's a nice car. Did you buy it yet? I had a blue 2.5 RS for three years, sold it because I wanted to bike commute instead. I realized that driving all the time only stressed me out; I figured that if I biked to let the steam out--kinda like you--I might as well bike all the time. One of the best decisions of my life!

I sold that car, used some of the money to buy a bike trailer, used a few thousand on an older diesel Mercedes for when I truly need a car (run it on biodiesel!), and put the rest in savings. Once I did this, I realized how much damn money I was putting in the car. Admittedly, it was a very fun car to drive, but riding mountain bikes and cyclocross is even more fun. Don't pour too much of your money on a car, because you'll have less time to cruise the trails.

Convince the rest of america that steel commuter and America would be a much cleaner place :)

[QUOTE=SteelCommuter]That's a nice car. Did you buy it yet? I had a blue 2.5 RS for three years, sold it because I wanted to bike commute instead. I realized that driving all the time only stressed me out; I figured that if I biked to let the steam out--kinda like you--I might as well bike all the time. One of the best decisions of my life![/QUOTE=SteelCommuter]

I still love cars...I am really into Rallying...I think that American cars pollute...why?? This is the typical American car company (not to offend anyone, this is just my opinion): "Well we'll just throw a V-8, in it..." I go to rallys all the time, and I see cars that will smoke any of those "American Muscle" cars, with less gas and emissions to boot! Plus, I think rallying and mountian biking have something in common...did you know practicly every WRC driver, mountian bikes, along with being a World Rally driver?? One of Tommi Makinens favorite things, is thrashing on a trail bike. Colin McRae hurt his hand before a rally when he wrecked, and he couldn't drive well...these guys are making a lot of money rallying, and it really shows something when they risk it all to go mountian biking before a race, the guy couldn't shift!! My friend races in SCCA ClubRally, and he has a Rock Hopper, that he has used a couple times in racing...I think we should start doing V-8's...

Hell, Colin Mcrae even had a Kona Special Edition bike made with his name on... I think your right about they have something in common..

Hell, Colin Mcrae even had a Kona Special Edition bike made with his name on... I think your right about they have something in common..

Mtb.=Insane speed, unreal air on narrow trail
Rally=Insane speed, unreal air on narrow road

There you are.... :p

Here is a pick of Colin with Kona/Ford WRC in background...

<a href="http://www.dhrace.com/colin_kona.jpg"<font color="blue">Colin Mcrae with Kona</a>

How do you turn HTML code back on??

Mtb.=Insane speed, unreal air on narrow trail
Rally=Insane speed, unreal air on narrow road

There you are.... :p

Comparing motorsports speeds to mtb speeds is silly.

They are both fun, but very different animals.

Opps,i'm in the wrong place,mb,yek.Play in the dirt,use a yamaha,not a toy.

Opps,i'm in the wrong place,mb,yek.Play in the dirt,use a yamaha,not a toy.


I'am sorry did your handle bars not fit through that narrow trail? Opps you ran out of gas? Oh crap, your bike died, you got a long way to go to walk? Mtb, and dirt bikes are completly different, you are not smart to think this is a Dirt Bike forum...ie. The picture at the top of the page...since when did they start making handle bars on dirt bikes like that?? I like dirt bikes, but I hat when people say that mtb. is pointless, when yoy can just ride a dirt bike...mtb. is on trails not wide enough for a dirt bike/quad...mountan biking cant be done on muddy roads with large ruts...(well I have tried it :p It didn't work) They are different, don't come onto sites just to get people mad...people that trash talk online need to get a life..

I'am sorry did your handle bars not fit through that narrow trail? Opps you ran out of gas? Oh crap, your bike died, you got a long way to go to walk? Mtb, and dirt bikes are completly different, you are not smart to think this is a Dirt Bike forum...ie. The picture at the top of the page...since when did they start making handle bars on dirt bikes like that?? I like dirt bikes, but I hat when people say that mtb. is pointless, when yoy can just ride a dirt bike...mtb. is on trails not wide enough for a dirt bike/quad...mountan biking cant be done on muddy roads with large ruts...(well I have tried it :p It didn't work) They are different, don't come onto sites just to get people mad...people that trash talk online need to get a life..
Give me a break.Its a joke.