CycloneRunner

Hey, I'm getting ready to purchase a cyclocross bike (mostly for the wide range of uses) and while riding a Bianchi Axis demo at a dealer the chain was "clicking" against the derailleur in nearly every gear and shifting was downright bad. I've heard so much good things about the Axis I can't believe this is because of the bike frame or parts in any way. This dealer does not do much in the way of bikes as its more of an outdoor store and they don't even have a repair shop in it. So here's my question.

I loved the way the Bianchi rode sans the "clicky" chain / poor shifting. If I bought the bike from another dealer or in parts, would a good "build" solve the problem? I assume it would and that this store just doesn't have anybody who can build bikes well. The Axis and one other Bianchi road bike were by far the top end of what they had in stock and sell.

Alternatively, could I buy the bike from the outdoor store and bring it to a "real" bike shop to have them check the drivetrain and make adjustments to fix the shifting and clicking?

Juha

You could buy the bike from one place and take it to another for adjustments / tuneups and later for real maintenance work. But make sure you get a good discount from the first place (as they are not able to provide these services or even a properly set up bike) to be able to pay the second place for their efforts.

Suppose your new bike has a fault that would be covered by manufacturer's / dealer's guarantee? The dealer without repair shop will not be able to help you much even if they wanted to. Would they send it somewhere else? That takes time and is a hassle in itself.

I would find a real LBS, perhaps pay a bit more and have e.g. first tuneups included in the price. And in the long run it pays off to learn to do basic maintenance work yourself. You will get to know your bike better, and maybe even save some time and money in the process.

--J

DieselDan

It could just be a combination of a pair of maladjusted shifters and inexperence with those shifters.

JBar

It's not surprising on a bike that hasn't been set up. You can also expect it to recur as the cables stretch over the next few hundred miles. Unless you're saving a lot of money, I'd try to buy from a bike shop with the staff to get you out the door with a well set up bike and a willingness to help you with the minor adjustments that you'll need along the way. Then stand over their shoulder so that you can learn to do the simple stuff. Many shops have "tech sessions" to teach you basic mechanical skills like changing a tire, adjusting cable tension, etc.

KleinRider

I'd definitley buy it from the LBS before I bought it from the "sports"' store you mention. You will have a better overall experience and probably spend less money in the long run.