£300 bike, this worth a punt?

[Nicko_12345]

Animal101 said:

I think those Carrera hardtails are ok for starter bikes. I used to ride a Vengeance and it didn't explode or anything. Once I set it up properly it seemed fine out on the trails at Thetford forest. My brother is commuting on a Carrera Vulcan at the moment and that's still working fine after a year.

I ended up buying a Vulcan in the end, went to 3 halfordss to do it though, Stafford were clueless, Newcastle Under Lyme didnt have a Vulcan in, ended up at the Fenton branch where the guy i delt with really knew his stuff and listened to my needs and explained the pros and cons of all the bikes, pick it up on tuesday

[Gooby]

Nicko_12345 said:

HereBeMonsters said:

No no no.

Seriously, I know some Carreras can be vfm, but most are utter crap. Go to a few proper bike shops and ask around.

I dont think there are any in Stoke, apart from Swinertons that seem very very expensive.

Please read

http://bicycleshapedobject.wordpress.com/

[Obiwonkeyblokey]

I quite like this review of it though....

"Hi, bought the bike 2 days ago, done around 30 miles on this bike. Hav'nt been on a bike for 5 months and finding my butt hurts alot.
I used to have a carrera vengence road bike and can say compared to the titan mountain bike, theres a lot more drag riding the mountain bike on the road to the road bike. Alot slower, so if your looking for speed and alot less drag, il say get a road bike. Gears are smooth, plenty of gears to tackle all sorts of hills. Bike i find is quite heavy. To be fair i wish i bought another road bike for what i need a bike for. hope this helps some of you out there before buying a bike."

[Nicko_12345]

Obiwonkeyblokey said:

I quite like this review of it thugh....

"Hi, bought the bike 2 days ago, done around 30 miles on this bike. Hav'nt been on a bike for 5 months and finding my butt hurts alot.
I used to have a carrera vengence road bike and can say compared to the titan mountain bike, theres a lot more drag riding the mountain bike on the road to the road bike. Alot slower, so if your looking for speed and alot less drag, il say get a road bike. Gears are smooth, plenty of gears to tackle all sorts of hills. Bike i find is quite heavy. To be fair i wish i bought another road bike for what i need a bike for. hope this helps some of you out there before buying a bike."

The full suspension one was really heavy!

[offendi]

Nicko_12345 said:

HereBeMonsters said:

No no no.

Seriously, I know some Carreras can be vfm, but most are utter crap. Go to a few proper bike shops and ask around.

I dont think there are any in Stoke, apart from Swinertons that seem very very expensive.

In stoke area there is also Brian Rourkes, Longstaffs, Goldtec , all very well respected bike sellers. All have there good and bad points but before u buy go to see at least one of the above, you may ending up spending a little more but you will end up with a bike and not BSO.

I've had the best service at Longstaffs, recently got a frame through them and they coulnt have been more helpful

[anonymous-user]

Nicko_12345 said:

I ended up buying a Vulcan in the end, went to 3 halfordss to do it though, Stafford were clueless, Newcastle Under Lyme didnt have a Vulcan in, ended up at the Fenton branch where the guy i delt with really knew his stuff and listened to my needs and explained the pros and cons of all the bikes, pick it up on tuesday

Congrats, great bike for the money. Review here:-
http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/bikes/mount...
Always worth checking tightness of headbolts & important etc wherever you buy a bike (my last bike from local independent shop had loose headbolts when delivered-shocking). Enjoy!

[Nicko_12345]

Halfords have rang me and told me its ready, so im picking it up tonight

[roachcoach]

Nicko_12345 said:

Halfords have rang me and told me its ready, so im picking it up tonight

I bought a bike there once (never again). My advice, they'll ask you to bring it back for a free safety check after ... I think it was two weeks.

In that period, boot the arse out of it, see what shakes loose. Double check the bottom bracket is tight too, they're really slack at that at my local store. [Told me I was riding it hard....on a commute....on a bike designed for the mountains....hard riding indeed!].


Good luck with it, be interesting to hear longer term feedback

[MonkeyHanger]

Nicko_12345 said:

The full suspension one was really heavy!

Just been into Halfords today looking for a bike for my nephew. That "Full suspension" Carrera is awful...the Vulcan is a completely different kettle of fish.

We're getting him a Vulcan at the weekend and i'll be putting it together, not Halfords

[Nicko_12345]

MonkeyHanger said:

Just been into Halfords today looking for a bike for my nephew. That "Full suspension" Carrera is awful...the Vulcan is a completely different kettle of fish.

We're getting him a Vulcan at the weekend and i'll be putting it together, not Halfords

I be double checking ever bolt on mine when i pick it up later, it does feel like a well built bit of kit

[anonymous-user]

Nicko_12345 said:

MonkeyHanger said:

Just been into Halfords today looking for a bike for my nephew. That "Full suspension" Carrera is awful...the Vulcan is a completely different kettle of fish.

We're getting him a Vulcan at the weekend and i'll be putting it together, not Halfords

I be double checking ever bolt on mine when i pick it up later, it does feel like a well built bit of kit

Putting it together = straighten & tighten handlebars. Fit the saddle & pedals.
The rest is already set up in the factory, including indexing gears etc (I know this as I took my last Halfords Boardman sale bike home in the box as I wasnt going to use it for a few months). I'm surprised constant knocking of Halfords is allowed under the house rules...

[MonkeyHanger]

Jimboka said:

Putting it together = straighten & tighten handlebars. Fit the saddle & pedals.
The rest is already set up in the factory, including indexing gears etc (I know this as I took my last Halfords Boardman sale bike home in the box as I wasnt going to use it for a few months). I'm surprised constant knocking of Halfords is allowed under the house rules...

Not quite.

I've put plenty of bikes together and it's rarely a case of saddle, bars & pedals.

[Nicko_12345]

Well I picked it up Monday evening and had to play football Monday night so tonight was my first proper ride. This was also the time I found the first problem When I am riding there is movement in the crank, its kind of moving side to side when I am pedalling, I have checked the bolts that hold the pedals on and there tight and looking at it its not the pedals that are moving its more what the pedals sit on - sorry for the complete lack of technical terms here The movement didn't get any worse over the 6 miles I rode it and I didn't hold back. Its annoying me mainly because when I am trying to change up to top gear the chain fell off twice onto the pedal and sometimes it did not change up from the first cog to the second. When looking down I can see it moving, rang Halfords and its closed, didn't notice it was after 8.

Any ideas?

Here are some pics of the bike:



Riding the bike felt really good though, nice and solid and the brakes are amazing. The seat did hurt my arse though!

[Gizmo!]

I'd take it back, tell them to index the gears properly and fix the loose pedal spindle.

[Nicko_12345]

Gizmo! said:

I'd take it back, tell them to index the gears properly and fix the loose pedal spindle.

Im going to be taking it back, both pedals move in exactly the same way, there is a lot of grease around the part where the pedals go through, is that normal?

[Gizmo!]

Nicko_12345 said:

Gizmo! said:

I'd take it back, tell them to index the gears properly and fix the loose pedal spindle.

Im going to be taking it back, both pedals move in exactly the same way, there is a lot of grease around the part where the pedals go through, is that normal?

Well, the spindles should be greased, but too much goo will just collect grit.

[Nicko_12345]

Gizmo! said:

Well, the spindles should be greased, but too much goo will just collect grit.

The whole of that does move, not just the pedal, its like its not fitted into the frame right? or the hole is to big?

[MonkeyHanger]

Gizmo! said:

I'd take it back, tell them to index the gears properly and fix the loose pedal spindle.

Don't ride it any more until it's sorted. I see a future of DIY servicing & repairs for you...before long you'll be looking for a work stand

[Nicko_12345]

MonkeyHanger said:

Don't ride it any more until it's sorted. I see a future of DIY servicing & repairs for you...before long you'll be looking for a work stand

Its looking that way, ill be calling them in the morning, i hope its not something that there going to drag out sorting, i only picked it up yesterday

[Gizmo!]

Nicko_12345 said:

The whole of that does move, not just the pedal, its like its not fitted into the frame right? or the hole is to big?

I'm not trying to spoil your new toy, but that looks like its missing a plastic shroud/ring...