initial service?
 

Hi all. So i bought a canondale Cx2 for work commuting and leisure riding.

I purchased online for a better price and i did the assembling myself (wheel, handlebars, saddle). Now do i need to get the bike serviced before I ride it to check everything etc??

My local bike shop has said 40 GBP for this.. Seems a bit steep to just check everything and oil the chain?

Thanks

If its a halfway decent bike shop it might be worth paying that much for the goodwill it generates later. Always useful to have LBS on your side when odd issues turn up.

So you thought you could save money by buying on-line?

When buying on-line, you need to account for and additional cost of setup, the price you have £40 is the same as my LBS for a basic service, and I would consider them cheap for the high level of service they offer.

If you look at the Evans Cycles price lists online, this is the same for them, there is a breakdown of the work they do, remember they have to pay for the mechanics wages, lubericants, enviro disopsal, NI, rent, VAT, business rates etc, the list goes on.

If you have bought the bike form your LBS / physical shop, this first services would have been included in the price. (even if you buy on-line, and the retailers with an physical presence will normally give this to you for free as well for example Evans)

What you are *really* paying for is the transfer of liability from you to them.

So what needs to be checked? Can`t you can check the hex bolts etc? It`s not hard.You`re online, why not check out youtube and do it yourself?
By the way, check your Canondale out to ensure it`s genuine. Last time I looked at mine it was a Cannondale.;)

Thanks for the prompt replies guys.

I would rather have bought it in a shop but my local evans didnt have my size and the 150quid discount was too tempting, admittedly it is the 2011 model

I think im just going to do it myself as you say and maybe take it in for a service in a couple of months.

Im pretty sure its genuine or its the best fake I've ever seen! It made me laugh how the box says 'handmade in the USA' yet dont they manufacture in taiwan these days. Im not complaining, that's business.

Honestly, it's a bicycle, not a nuclear reactor. Some people really depend on a shop for service, but if you own some basic hand tools, and you're generally a do-it-yourself-er, you can tune up a bike. Here are some good references:

http://www.parktool.com/blog/repair-help
http://sheldonbrown.com/articles.html
and for an old-fashioned print reference, http://www.amazon.com/Zinn-Art-Road-.../dp/1934030422

plus you can Google with "site:bikeforums.net" in the search field to find things on this site more efficiently than with the built-in search tool

I have that exact same bike, I purchases mine November 2011.

The only bikes that Canondale still makes bikes in the USA that are the high end if their High end. The Quick CX 2 is not one of those bikes instead it is hand made in Taiwan and assembled in the US. Even though it's not made in the USA it is still a great bike, with really decent components. I would certainly go to the LBS pay the 40, that way you've created a relationship with them, because at some point in the future you'll be there looking for service. Also it is a good Idea to get the Bike fitted for you, see if that is included in the 40.

No, you don't need to get it checked out before you ride it. If it shifts and brakes OK then ride it. It's normal for new cables to stretch so save your money until it's necessary to tune it up.