from this point, it might get ugly

[Bikingmomof3]

Mimi,
I ma just catching up on threads. I am so sorry you are going through this. it sounds as though have have received brilliant advice. I have nothing more to add other than my support.

[mimitabby]

Mimi,
I ma just catching up on threads. I am so sorry you are going through this. it sounds as though have have received brilliant advice. I have nothing more to add other than my support.

Yeah, some of these gals have better advice than my lawyer!

[KnottedYet]

Just don't let Mr. Dumpster sour you on Mondonicos. He is the problem, not Mondonico.

[sbctwin]

Many years ago, I paid in full, a lifetime membership to a new gym that was opening up in the town I used to live in. I paid in advance for this "great deal". The gym was suppose to open within 3 months of when I paid. I always pay my Visa balance in full each month...Well, month 1 passed and the gym didn't open, month 2 passed...progress on the gym, but still not open and in month 3, no gym, no one even working on the building. On month 4 I received a letter that the owners went into bankruptcy and that they would repay me my $399, at $10 a month until the balance was paid. I called my Visa company and told them and they credited my $399 and said that is what they are there for. Though this was at least 20 years ago, the policy at that time was customer satisfaction. I would give your credit card company a call and get their advice.

[Trek420]

Remember, if you get a Mondonico from Chris like Trek did, it will be custom made for you with all your specifications (room for fenders, etc like Trisk says); rather than a modified existing frame like Mr. DumpsterDiver is trying to shove off on you.

It will take longer, but might be worth it.

Knot necessarily, Knott. You can get a Mondonico or Torelli off the rack so to speak. I went full custom route because at the time i was looking for a bike Antonio the builder just happened to be in town. So why not get measured and get the custom build at no extra cost?

Otherwise I would have bought the closest frame I could and had Chris fit me.

There's been a lot of good advice on this thread but folks if you have a bike shop you love and a good wench oops, I mean wrench treasure them bake cookies, write them into your will, send flowers....good service is so important in this sport and apparently.....it's hard to find.

I feel very lucky after reading this to have several excellent shops in my area and two local ones I particularly like.

It's not the fancy custom build, over the years Chris has saved me the cost of my bike with his good sound advice: minor adjustments where I know others would sell me a new bike, his "sure, you could do this, but this is better and less expensive" approach.

And he treats my commuter with the same care as my road bike, I see he does the same for others.

[caligurl]

mimi.... i'm sorry to hear you are going through this.... but you were SO smart to pay with a credit card! i made the mistake of trying to be nice and save margo money when i was going to get a a custom from her..... so i had no protection and never did get all my money back from the useless twit! UGH!

good luck! (and definitely use the credit card company.... they can be VERY helpful!!!!)

[Triskeliongirl]

.... but you were SO smart to pay with a credit card! i made the mistake of trying to be nice and save margo money when i was going to get a a custom from her..... so i had no protection and never did get all my money back from the useless twit! UGH!

Could you please expand? Who is Margo, just to save us from making the same mistake.

[Kathi]

Mimi,

Sorry about your experience. I looked at the shops website and I have to wonder if these bikes are so special why are they being mass marketed through dealers on the internet? For example, if you look at Serotta and Seven's website, you either deal with the company directly or go to a bike shop. Many companies, Trek for one, will not sell bikes over the internet or allow the shop to ship them to another location.

Two other points, when I got my custom frame, the fit technician remeasured me, even though I had my old frame refit, it was perfect and right there in front of us. Also, they only asked for a deposit and I did not make final payment until the bike was built and I was able to ride it and was happy with it. If there were any issues I could have refused final payment until the issues were resolved.

I agree with those who posted on this forum, find a shop you trust, let them be your guide and you'll have a wonderful bike that you will love and that will last for years.

[mimitabby]

Well, this morning I composed a letter and sent it to my lawyer, who rewrote it, making me sound brilliant. I am going to ask for my money back & ask him to send me a return authorization.

I then went to the shop that built my husband's bike (Elliott Bay Bike) and let him see the frame.

He said; "well, you got a nice race bike" He showed me how even if they had put brazeons where you need them for fenders, that there was not enough clearance anyway between the back of the seat tube and the rear tire. He then took me all around his shop (which is filled with race bikes, custom bikes, cyclocross bikes and antiques) and showed me how some bikes have barely a finger's clearance there and others have 3 fingers clearance (what you need for fenders)
He laughed when he saw the forks, again he said they were great, but not for folks that might want fatter tires and fenders. So that sort of clinched it for me. He did explain that there was not an Italian bike on the market that was made the way I want. (and he's right, I've been looking!) and it's not like HE doesn't like Italian bikes. He has a big assortment of Colnago's Masi's and Bianchi's. He likes Italian bikes. They just don't make them for us webbed footed Seattle folks. So now I'm going to send my polite, succinct letter to smart cycle and hope that he is reasonable and takes the bike back without me having to use force (credit card, etc)
thanks all, I'll let you know.

[KnottedYet]

Not that I'm saying a custom Mondonico couldn't do this but...

Flosshilde-the-Waterford-Cyclocross has *easily* 3 fingers space in the front fork and the back. (that's why her head tube is so darn short!)

Good luck with Mr. Lying-thru-his-teeth-Dumpster!

[mimitabby]

Not that I'm saying a custom Mondonico couldn't do this but...

Flosshilde-the-Waterford-Cyclocross has *easily* 3 fingers space in the front fork and the back. (that's why her head tube is so darn short!)

Knot, Waterfords are really one of the nicest bikes around! What kind of fork do you have on yours?

[snapdragen]

Mimi - don't wait to long, you have a limited amount of time to contest a charge on your cc bill.

[KnottedYet]

Whatever came on the X-12 in 1997. Steel.

Waterford's current cyclocross have different numbers. I think X-22 and X-14. http://www.waterfordbikes.com/site/designs/x.php

It wouldn't hurt to go to the Waterford owners forum and start a thread. There is at least one Waterford dude on there who answers questions. http://www.waterfordbikes.com/board/viewforum.php?f=1

[mimitabby]

Snap, I'm not waiting. THe bike came friday, I sent the letter 10 minutes ago
and Tomorrow morning, I will call the credit union. (I'm not very good at waiting, you might have noticed by now.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Waterford will make you a custom bike fairly quickly, and they can build fender clearance and make other fit adjustments. They are GOOD bikes, and I have been reading some recent reports from very happy customers about their attentiveness to getting your bike exactly the way you want it.
Rivendells ALWAYS have fat tire/fender clearance. But their customs have a 2 year wait list. But they do have stock bikes for various uses, including road, touring, and cyclocross. My Rambouillet is their road/litetouring model. Their Bleriot is a less expensive version of the Rambouillet. Veronica has a beautiful red Legolas cyclocross bike from them.