Mad Dog, you state that
Originally Posted by
maddog34
Surlys are great bikes
But you also say
Originally Posted by
maddog34
the external cam QR's fail to maintain pressure for more than one reason, and if the bike has them on it, and has issues with slipping or breaking QR'S, i put on quality internal cam units, all steel preferred... And do look for an off-centered axle first... and check wheel dish with a decent dish gauge, too... Problem solved.
Part of the design of a good bike is that it works as advertised out of the box. Another is that the design is reasonably fool-proof so that the shop mechanic can set the bike up so that it works as advertised. The OP's issue is a known one and wasn't corrected by Surly. The fact that Surly offers a half-assed fix (Hurdy Gurdys) to make their bike even usable is a pretty damning mea culpa.
If Surly made good bikes, this issue would have prompted a recall with replacement QRs that work, or barring that a free Hurdy Gurdy. I take issue with your statement then. The fact that we are discussing this issue, after the poor OP visited his LBS FIVE TIMES and still has no resolution, tells me that Surly does not make good bikes. Or, at least, that they cannot be relied upon to deliver a good bike to the consumer. As both an engineer, and a former LBS mechanic, this p|$$es me off.
Originally Posted by
maddog34
and please excuse FBinNY's attitude... he lives in NY, and WARNS everyone that he's a bit of a jerk, right below his responses.... warranty work will do that to even the nicest people.... and none of us are perfect.
I don't think FB is being a jerk - not in the least! - for taking offense at poor design and clueless (or at least ineffective) service. The true jerks in this were the bike designers at Surly that sent a poor implementation to the LBS, and the LBS for not falling all over itelf and elevating this to Surly, and Surly again for not being on top of this with either a recall to install a good QR skewer, or a Hurdy Gurdy, or whatever.