My new bike - Initial setup

in message <[email hidden]>, m0rk

(') said:

Ok, I now have my new Dawes Horizon 58cm sitting in a box in my living
room ;o)

The one on display that was setup I didnt like the look of down to a
few marks on the frame that didnt look appealing or easy to remove so I
opted for a boxed one that hasnt been setup and accepted the 'initial
setup has to be done properly or will void warranty, etc'. I didnt want
to travel back that way as ive a busy week ahead of me and I wouldnt
have been able to get there this week.

First of all what goes into an initial setup?

Fundamenally it is check all parts are correctly assembled, that bolts
are appropriately tight and that brakes and gears work. It ain't rocket
science.

Quoted message said:

I think i'll drop it off
to my LBS in the morning to setup for me as there a few fiddlies from
the looks of things that my inexperience will just screw up ..... but
nice to know the list of things that should be done.

It's normally less than an hour's workshop time. The LBS may be sniffy
about it because you didn't buy the bike from them - although to be
honest I don't see why they should be. There should not need to be any
parts cost, just labour.

Quoted message said:

Whats it likely to cost me ... (West Midland area if rates vary by
region) ?

£25-£40, max.

--
[email hidden] (Simon Brooke) http://www.jasmine.org.uk/~simon/

The Conservative Party is now dead. The corpse may still be
twitching, but resurrection is not an option - unless Satan
chucks them out of Hell as too objectionable even for him.

Simon Brooke said:

It's normally less than an hour's workshop time. The LBS may be sniffy
about it because you didn't buy the bike from them - although to be
honest I don't see why they should be.

Especially if they don't have an equivalent model, and since tourers
aren't exactly the height of fashion that's very likely.

And if you stock up on any accessories you need while you're in there to
deliver it, even less likely.

Pete.
--
Peter Clinch Medical Physics IT Officer
Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Univ. of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital
Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK
net [email hidden] http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/

In article <[email hidden]>, [email hidden]
says...

Quoted message said:

Simon Brooke said:

It's normally less than an hour's workshop time. The LBS may be sniffy
about it because you didn't buy the bike from them - although to be
honest I don't see why they should be.

Especially if they don't have an equivalent model, and since tourers
aren't exactly the height of fashion that's very likely.

And if you stock up on any accessories you need while you're in there to
deliver it, even less likely.

Pete.

Cheers both ...

Anything mechanical is rocket science to me, I can replace a 'tube and
the odd adjustment here or there but thats about it - I tend to over
mess and end up screwing it up more than it was in the first place!

Same with cars ... a complete mystery to me.

They didnt have stock and no stock of that model can be ordered from
Dawes either as they've run out and are waiting for next years model so
hopefully wont have an issue with that. They're local to work and it
will be an ideal place for future maintenance.

Its Bridgetown Cycles im going to in Cannock, apparantly the daughter
holds/held some sort of 1000 continuous mile distance riding record I
read whilst searching around the net.

Quoted message said:

Its Bridgetown Cycles im going to in Cannock, apparantly the daughter
holds/held some sort of 1000 continuous mile distance riding record I
read whilst searching around the net.

Dropped off bike with Bridgetown Cycles, 22-24 North Street, Bridgetown,
Cannock, WS11 3BA, 01543 571786.

Turns out they stock an awful lot of bikes - a seperate room each for
moutain bike / road bikes / hybrids and looked a great selection of all
different price ranges.

Initial setup will be approx £30-£35 depending on time taken and a
couple days due to lots of repairs in currently ... they will then set
me up for saddle height/adjustments when I go to collect so hopefully
i'll be on a properly setup bike this weekend, which - going on my
experiences of previous bikes and h*lfrods initial setup will be a whole
world apart.

In article <[email hidden]>, [email hidden]
says...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Its Bridgetown Cycles im going to in Cannock, apparantly the daughter
holds/held some sort of 1000 continuous mile distance riding record I
read whilst searching around the net.

Dropped off bike with Bridgetown Cycles, 22-24 North Street, Bridgetown,
Cannock, WS11 3BA, 01543 571786.

Turns out they stock an awful lot of bikes - a seperate room each for
moutain bike / road bikes / hybrids and looked a great selection of all
different price ranges.

Initial setup will be approx £30-£35 depending on time taken and a
couple days due to lots of repairs in currently ... they will then set
me up for saddle height/adjustments when I go to collect so hopefully
i'll be on a properly setup bike this weekend, which - going on my
experiences of previous bikes and h*lfrods initial setup will be a whole
world apart.

Bad form replying to and pretty much talking to myself here but hey, its
late and I havent full control over my faculties right now!

Its been a looong day ... but bike wise was fruitful - they managed to
sort my new dawes horizon out same day, ... so bike is all up and ready
to ride, I wont have chance until weekend due to busy work week and no
lights, hi--vis stealth equipment, etc but looking forward to getting
out and giving it a whirl around.

Those gears look odd as hell to me ... use brakes to move the gears,
press this latch thing, etc, etc ... im sure it'll be simple enough -
only ever used to twist grip or down tube shifters 😉

..... and best feature of all ... a ding ding bell .... now that'll get
some use!

Ive that horrible feeling im gonna sit on it and go out then it'll just
crumple on me begging this lump to get the hell off ... i know ... it
shouldnt .... !

Have fun!

Definitely a good idea to start with a "leisure" ride rather than a
commute, particularly as you're not used to the style of bike.

Let us know how you get on...