My new bike, finshed.

[Antaresia]

http://i845.photobucket.com/albums/ab17/Candoia/dcbike.png

My new bike, and I do love the matte green civia fenders with the black of the Soma double cross frame. As far as looks go, I'm very pleased and also happy with the minimal, subtle branding. I put a neon pink thrift-store back pack on as a pannier. Classy.

But it's not all about looks now.

When I first got it, I was disappointed. Mostly due to the fact it was fitted, yet I still almost fell off it a few times and was NOT confident on it. That has gotten a bit better, but I'm still surprised about how I feel. I wanted an upgrade from my old, heavy beater. But I find I enjoy both bikes equally, and that the soma isn't a billion times nicer to ride than the CCM.

http://i845.photobucket.com/albums/ab17/Candoia/ccmbike.png

Soma has more 'go'. It does feel lighter - 10 pounds (I'm surprised the difference is only 10). It also has a much wider ranger of gears, so hills are easier. I feel like I'm flying on this bike - stopping is another story. These type of breaks are harder for me to use; it takes a lot more effort and feels awkward. This bike is for my daily commute.

CCM is a more relaxed ride. Doesn't feel as fast, it's harder to take hills, and it's sluggish to start but none of that is a big deal. This bike is fun, the breaking is easier, the upright position more comfortable for short rides. I love the milk crate; but I'm sure you all understand when I say I *can't* put a milk crate on the Soma. This bike is what I lock up downtown without worrying, my grocery-getter back up bike.

[pll]

Both bikes are beauties! :D

[Velocivixen]

Thanks for posting that! I like the subtle, yet bold color choices. You will always be able to find your bike in a crowd.

[laura*]

Thanks for posting that! I like the subtle, yet bold color choices.

Mmmm. Ice cream. Mint and strawberry ice cream...

[hebe]

I must say, I love your beater bike, but both are beautiful. I think that "beater" is a very tough act to follow in terms of beauty, the frame shape is stunning and I love the milk crate!

[Velocivixen]

I do like the brown bike though for it's classic beauty.

[sarahkonamojo]

10 pounds wow! That is a huge difference. Not sure what total weight you are talking about but most people are fixated by ounces/grams. Congrats on 10 pounds less of bike.
Both bikes look like lots of fun.

[goldfinch]

Very nice! So are you now at a good seat height?

I think both bikes are lovely. I would love to have a mixte like your classic bike. Interesting how far the crank is forward on that bike compared to your new bike.

[Antaresia]

Also, hey, anyone have any ideas about what it means if the gears start skipping down when you pedal backwards? It only happens sometimes, but something got screwed up when the fenders were installed. I'm leaving town for a week though, so I won't even be able to take it in to the bike shop for a while....

Oh, also they switched the shifters. It used to be the left side that shifted the rear derailleur, now it's the right. They didn't tell me they had changed it. JFC.

I really, seriously regret ever getting a bike from this place. Did I mention that when I went to get the fenders installed, he said half an hour. I get back 1.5 hours later, still not done. Another 20 minutes. I come back an hour later. Still not done. 3.5 hours total. He didn't realize the type of fender he ordered was the harder type to install. They don't even know what they're ordering. I wasn't going to complain about that, but with the screwed up derailleur(?) it's just too much.

Regreeeeeeeeeets

[Biciclista]

Also, hey, anyone have any ideas about what it means if the gears start skipping down when you pedal backwards? It only happens sometimes, but something got screwed up when the fenders were installed. I'm leaving town for a week though, so I won't even be able to take it in to the bike shop for a while....

Oh, also they switched the shifters. It used to be the left side that shifted the rear derailleur, now it's the right. They didn't tell me they had changed it. JFC.


Regreeeeeeeeeets

THIS is too much. Bad scheduling is something that always happens. But switching the shifters??? :confused::eek::confused::eek:

[withm]

Oh, also they switched the shifters. It used to be the left side that shifted the rear derailleur, now it's the right. They didn't tell me they had changed it.

Are you sure about this? The standard configuration is for the left hand to control the chain ring (front) derailleur, and for the right hand to control the rear derailleur. All 5 of my bikes are set up this way. I would be very surprised to see any bike set up differently but I suppose anybody can make a mistake.

[laura*]

Also, hey, anyone have any ideas about what it means if the gears start skipping down when you pedal backwards? It only happens sometimes, but something got screwed up when the fenders were installed.

The rear wheel might be installed crooked - with the wheel pointing to the left.

When you pedal backwards, there is nothing to guide the chain onto the cassette cogs. (The rear derailleur only works in the forward direction.) Now assume you are cross chained in the big to big gear combination. The chain is forced through an extreme angle. Now increase the angle even further because of a crooked wheel. At this point the chain might not track backwards onto the current cog. Instead it will skip down.

There's a simple two part solution: 1 ) Don't cross chain, i.e. don't use the big to big and small to small gear combinations. 2 ) Loosen the quick release for the rear wheel. The wheel should have enough freedom of movement for you to center the tire between both sets of frame stays - both by the cranks, and also by your brakes. Once the wheel is centered, tighten the quick release without letting the wheel move.


The standard configuration is for the left hand to control the chain ring (front) derailleur, and for the right hand to control the rear derailleur. ... I would be very surprised to see any bike set up differently but I suppose anybody can make a mistake.

Maybe that's why it took so long to "install the fenders". The mechanic may have noticed their error and fixed it (switched the brifters*) without saying anything.

* If the left hand was controlling the rear derailleur, then the brifters must have been installed switched. Had the error been a cable misconnection, then the shifting wouldn't have worked properly. Of course, with switched brifters, the shift paddles would have been operating backwards.

[Antaresia]

Are you sure about this?

100% positive. I never shift the front ring unless I reeeealy need too, so I pay attention. Left was rear for sure.

And I needed to shift the front ring today. Guess what? Also borked. Which isn't fun to find out when there are cars behind you in a round about and you're just a spinnin' without any traction and something is clunking down there and oh god why isn't it just catching on like it's supposed too ffffffffuuuuuuuu.

When I look at the rear while pedaling backwards, the chain is actually hitting the side of the part that hangs down (lowest cog?) and it shifts down gears really fast. I wish I knew more about bikes, but I never had any problems like this with CCM. I feel like the BARE minimum attention has been given to this build, which is not really what I expect for around $2000 CAD. I am calling him tomorrow and asking how much of a refund I can get; this is just way to ridiculous.

I'll also add, I hear that the guy runs the shops is supposed to be awesome with bikes, but I know for a fact all work done on mine was done by other people; whatever mechanics he has hired. Maybe they're new or something.

[Biciclista]

maybe you need to talk to the manager!

[goldfinch]

maybe you need to talk to the manager!

Really! You have had one of the oddest bike buying experiences I have ever heard about. I can't believe that you were able to shift before with your brifters backwards!

[Antaresia]

pedaling backwards:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ssEeSq-vCl0

Mmmmmm sounds like a $2000 bike to me.
Sorry it's so shaky, the bike was hard to hold. And while you can't really see what's going on, you sure can see it isn't right.

I dug up some reviews. I'm going to hold off posting my own until everything is done and over with.

http://www.yelp.ca/biz/mighty-riders-vancouver

[laura*]

pedaling backwards:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ssEeSq-vCl0

Mmmmmm sounds like a $2000 bike to me.

:eek: :eek: :eek:

Well, this video is enough to diagnose a problem! The bolt/nut attaching the fender to the frame next to the gears is too long/thick. It is hitting your smallest gear!

A pro mechanic should not have this problem.

[Antaresia]

better video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ILDvDP5tHtg

forward is fine, reverse is not. Not to mention the screwed shifting.

I honestly do have better things to do than take videos, but I'm so mad.

[Velocivixen]

I have nothing to add except to say that I'm so sorry you're having to go through all of this sh*t. Seriously. Other than the problems do you like the bike? I'd say if you like the bike, but hate the service take it somewhere else once the original bike shop makes it RIGHT.

If you really don't like the bike, then I'd take it back and see if you could get a refund.

[hebe]

As a new rider I am horrified at the service that you've received. It is their job to make you a bike that you can get on and ride, they should fix/help as required without complaint until you are happy.

I would be writing to Soma, assuming that the shop is an authorised dealer for them. Experiences like yours will be tarnishing the brand image, and they ought to care about that even if the store doesn't. I would be asking the store manager what they can do to make me happy - be that a refund or fixing things personally. Or, if I didn't want to go near the store again I'd be asking the cool printer-fixing-dude that you know to recommend somewhere great, taking the bike there and asking them to sort it. It may well work out cheaper than the loss on a refund. But of course if you feel uncomfortable with the frame size then refund might be better. Again, the Soma HQ may be able to do something here if you let them know directly.

Good luck sorting this out, it must be heartbreaking and infuriating, but hang in there - you really deserve a bike that you love as much as your beautiful mixte.

[laura*]

better video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ILDvDP5tHtg

forward is fine, reverse is not.

The cassette isn't freewheeling backwards freely. When you pedaled backwards, the cassette would stop turning, the "top" (lower in the video) run of the chain would get very slack, the derailleur cage would pivot thus feeding chain to the crank, and finally the increased derailleur tension was enough to turn the cassette briefly.

When pedaling forwards, the chain transmits enough force to overcome whatever drag there is on the cassette.

I still say that the rack mount hardware is dragging on the cassette.

A test: Roll the bike backwards. This will turn the cassette backwards with the full force of the rear wheel's turning. The chain should run backwards and the cranks should spin backwards. I suspect it will run "smoothly".

If you don't mind getting your hands greasy, reach in (the non-moving bike) and spin the rear gear cluster backwards. For comparison, do this on both your bikes. I suspect the new bike's gears will be much harder to turn.

[Antaresia]

If you don't mind getting your hands greasy, reach in (the non-moving bike) and spin the rear gear cluster backwards. For comparison, do this on both your bikes. I suspect the new bike's gears will be much harder to turn.

Ah, well I'm at work now and I had to ride my mixte today. I called the guy, he seems intent on making it right. I did call asking for a refund, but he says "the first step is for you to bring it in". I can't do that for a week though, so I get to have a 1 week vacation with this shitty bike situation looming over my head. Ugh. I sent him the video too, I'm a little worried I'll get "well, you must have done something to it" BS because I've already had experience with this guy where he tried to make something 'my fault' (being unable to ride the bike with the seat post set high as it was).

I'll post again in a week, see you guys then.

[goldfinch]

Ah, well I'm at work now and I had to ride my mixte today. I called the guy, he seems intent on making it right. I did call asking for a refund, but he says "the first step is for you to bring it in". I can't do that for a week though, so I get to have a 1 week vacation with this shitty bike situation looming over my head. Ugh. I sent him the video too, I'm a little worried I'll get "well, you must have done something to it" BS because I've already had experience with this guy where he tried to make something 'my fault' (being unable to ride the bike with the seat post set high as it was).

I'll post again in a week, see you guys then.

I wouldn't want to work with this guy. I would ask to work with the boss.

[Antaresia]

He isn't just the boss, he's the owner.
: /

He's probably pretty stressed, when I walked in that fist day he was on the phone saying "I'm out a business partner and a bike mechanic". I should have taken that as a warning, but hind sight is 20/20 as they say.

This whole thing is sooooo stupid

He did e-mail me back, and offered to pick up & drop of the bike. So he is taking this seriously. I can't do that, and I want to go to the bike shop and talk to him anyway.

[hebe]

I'm glad he's serious about fixing it . I hope that you enjoy your vacation, and that this owner can sort the bike out when you get back.

[Miranda]

Beautiful bikes!:) Thx for sharing.:cool: