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Post by Deleted on Jul 3, 2013 15:30:27 GMT
Hi everyone, I'm new to the forum - just a bit about me: I currently ride a Giant Escape R8 (integral Nexus 8 hub). Rode the Great Manchester Cycle (26 mile version) last weekend and decided the time was right to get a road bike. Been wasting half my life for the last 2 weeks knee-deep in forums and reviews of Trek 1 series, Giant Defy etc. As part of my trawl I came across all of the great reviews and comments about the Triban 3. So, I went into my nearest Decathlon today to check it out. I found the experience pretty frustrating. They had a number of "original" red 3's on display. The guy got one down for me to ride (the saddle wasn't high enough). I struggled on my very unrepresentative test ride around the store, to operate the gears successfully. in particular, found it hard to get from mid to large ring at the front. Also noticed that there was quite a bit of grinding/scraping/rubbing in certain gear combinations. I asked the guy what set-up / bespoking he would offer me if I bought the bike - e.g. seat height, adjustments to brake lever positions, gear indexing, etc. He basically said it was a ball-ache to start undoing handlebar tape, and that they would simply conduct a basic safety check and then I'd be on my way. Given the feedback I'd shared with him about the gears, I was a bit disappointed with that reaction. I had a separate chat with the in-store mechanic. He gave me pretty short shrift when I started to explain my experience of the gears, assuming I'd been trying to use difficult combinations like biggest ring at front, biggest ring at back. In fact, I'd experienced this grinding/craping when I was on the largest front ring, and the 3-4 biggest gears at the back. Anyway, I loved the bike. Looks great. Rolls beautifully. On the flip-side, I felt the brakes were poor, and additionally, I didn't really like the shifters. I've been a long time away from derailleur! Not sure how to proceed now, as I went in there with a full intention of buying one, but those niggles have made me think twice. What sort of set-up should Decathlon be offering me? Any wise words would be really appreciated. Thanks.....
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Post by stevo on Jul 3, 2013 15:45:18 GMT
Always found them quite helpful. Any real deals you would get on other bikes are likely to be internet based only with not a great deal of 'personal' set up and a lbs are likely to charge through the nose. You may want to act quickly if you want a 'red' 3 as they are likely to sell out pretty quickly. If you want a better specced road bike, with a bespoke service, you better budget for the best part of a grand.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 3, 2013 15:54:01 GMT
I bought mine mail-order.
It rode pretty well straight from the box.
I had to tweak and adjust things over the following weeks. Cable-stretch, contact point set-up, brake alignment,,,etc.
Nothing I would have have expected NOT to do regardless of where I'd bought it.
Decathlon have a good rep for delivering bikes and also delivering after-sales service.
Maybe you got a friday feeling salesman ..... who can say? The bike is a good 'un! Read around if you don't believe me. Sometimes you just gotta go with the flow. If you are being offered a chance to buy a T3 and you like it ..............
....................it's now or never!!
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Post by sodafarl on Jul 3, 2013 20:54:40 GMT
Really can't fault Decathlon as I have said on many threads. What sort of thing were you looking them to do for you? If the gears were grinding I would have expected them to sort it for you and most other things . I would go back and speak to someone else or the manager, the thing is they will sell and if you really want one you may have shot yourself in the foot. Hope you get sorted.
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Post by chas on Jul 3, 2013 21:47:36 GMT
Decathlon are taking on a lot of new starters for the busy summer period so you may be unfortunate and be served by someone with less experience. They should be able to give you basic advice on bike fit and make simple adjustments for you and the gears should be working to your satisfaction.Try to go in the week at a quiet time, and if you're not happy with the person serving you you can always ask for someone else. Remember a proper bike fit will set you back about Β£150, you might expect to get one thrown in with a Β£4000 bike from a specialist shop but for the best value bike on the market with negligable margin you should expect to have to fine tune the fitting for yourself. Decathlon do pride themselves on customer service and if you have any concerns they will do their best to sort them out
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Post by Radchenister on Jul 3, 2013 22:41:51 GMT
Hi everyone, I'm new to the forum - just a bit about me: I currently ride a Giant Escape R8 (integral Nexus 8 hub). Rode the Great Manchester Cycle (26 mile version) last weekend and decided the time was right to get a road bike. Been wasting half my life for the last 2 weeks knee-deep in forums and reviews of Trek 1 series, Giant Defy etc. As part of my trawl I came across all of the great reviews and comments about the Triban 3. So, I went into my nearest Decathlon today to check it out. I found the experience pretty frustrating. They had a number of "original" red 3's on display. The guy got one down for me to ride (the saddle wasn't high enough). I struggled on my very unrepresentative test ride around the store, to operate the gears successfully. in particular, found it hard to get from mid to large ring at the front. Also noticed that there was quite a bit of grinding/scraping/rubbing in certain gear combinations. I asked the guy what set-up / bespoking he would offer me if I bought the bike - e.g. seat height, adjustments to brake lever positions, gear indexing, etc. He basically said it was a ball-ache to start undoing handlebar tape, and that they would simply conduct a basic safety check and then I'd be on my way. Given the feedback I'd shared with him about the gears, I was a bit disappointed with that reaction. I had a separate chat with the in-store mechanic. He gave me pretty short shrift when I started to explain my experience of the gears, assuming I'd been trying to use difficult combinations like biggest ring at front, biggest ring at back. In fact, I'd experienced this grinding/craping when I was on the largest front ring, and the 3-4 biggest gears at the back. Anyway, I loved the bike. Looks great. Rolls beautifully. On the flip-side, I felt the brakes were poor, and additionally, I didn't really like the shifters. I've been a long time away from derailleur! Not sure how to proceed now, as I went in there with a full intention of buying one, but those niggles have made me think twice. What sort of set-up should Decathlon be offering me? Any wise words would be really appreciated. Thanks..... You either read too much without really understanding it, or like to complicate things for yourself (and anyone else reading), or are trolling IMHO. Worrying about the smoothness of the gears and getting into the dawg ring in the store - come on , weren't there children about!?! Clocking 20 - 35 kmh round a store is a. highly unlikely b. what you should be doing to judge the big ring realistically. Are you for real?
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Post by zoltansocrates on Jul 3, 2013 22:46:06 GMT
stop it! mr chinester
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Post by Radchenister on Jul 3, 2013 22:48:33 GMT
You think this is a genuine query then?
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Post by Radchenister on Jul 3, 2013 22:52:13 GMT
Poor brakes judged from a ride around the store?
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Post by zoltansocrates on Jul 3, 2013 22:53:17 GMT
You think this is a genuine query then? we must give everyone the benefit of the doubt until such time that they trip themselves up or prove themselves to be in the spirit of things its an intriguing critique nonetheless, unheard of but there is always a first time wont affect me though
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Post by Radchenister on Jul 3, 2013 22:53:29 GMT
Feedback to various different staff in store?
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Post by spaceflightorange on Jul 3, 2013 22:57:04 GMT
As I've previously mentioned. My bike was badly set up when i bought it, but the staff have always been super helpful, just got a less knowledgable staff member that day.
Today I popped in because i never got the 8 degree spacer pads for my levers and I could do with them. They are so disorganised that it took them about 20 minutes to find them, but they persevered and I went home a happy bunny, only problem was it took them so long that i ended up spending money!
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Post by zoltansocrates on Jul 3, 2013 22:57:31 GMT
a genuinely perplexing experience however the gentleman has yet to provide further information, perhaps he DOES judge brakes by an instore ride, i acknowledge that going through the gears on an instore ride may be going some and as a display bike i wouldnt expect it to be perfectly set as there are plenty of touchy people clicking up and down on the shifters while bikes are in their stands the idiots, but cmon the chap has merely offered an opening gambit and im sure with further comment his sincerity will shine through
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Post by Radchenister on Jul 3, 2013 22:59:43 GMT
Suggesting that a discussion over removing bar tape has been had as part of 'normal service' and what degree of a bike fit a punter might get on a bike which is a few hundred quid?
I will throw in the Emperor's Clothes comments and wait to be proven wrong!
Where's fredscuttle gone?
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Post by zoltansocrates on Jul 3, 2013 23:01:39 GMT
just a hunch but heres my advice
decathlon SHOULD be offering us facet 5s for 150 quid, or free to senior members of this forum who relentlessly promote btwin bikes day after day
fin
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