Entry level stock bikes and the atrocities
11-22-11, 10:15 AM
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Entry level stock bikes and the atrocities
It's a slow day at so I'm just ranting.
This is about some of the atrocities that came with my Allez Sport.
1. Brake pad - The pads are so hard, don't modulate worth a penny and they sole job are to wear down the rim faster than sand paper. Who in their right mind think that these pads are be manufacture and put on a bike. A decent pad only costs a few dollars.
2. Over-tightening hubs - Mine were so tight that they were grinding. I read somewhere that the manufacturers tend to over-tighten but they will loosen over time? Yeah, after the ball bearings got worn down.
3. Seat - What's the point? I'm sure neither my skinny ass nor the next fat one in line would fit. How many people actually keep the seat? It should be left to the LBS to deal with the seat issue, just like the pedal.
End rant.
This is about some of the atrocities that came with my Allez Sport.
1. Brake pad - The pads are so hard, don't modulate worth a penny and they sole job are to wear down the rim faster than sand paper. Who in their right mind think that these pads are be manufacture and put on a bike. A decent pad only costs a few dollars.
2. Over-tightening hubs - Mine were so tight that they were grinding. I read somewhere that the manufacturers tend to over-tighten but they will loosen over time? Yeah, after the ball bearings got worn down.
3. Seat - What's the point? I'm sure neither my skinny ass nor the next fat one in line would fit. How many people actually keep the seat? It should be left to the LBS to deal with the seat issue, just like the pedal.
End rant.
11-22-11, 10:20 AM
#2
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My 2012 Roubaix came with a Toupe (spelling?) seat and a two bolt seatpost that had the adjustment bolt (for the front) on the top. These were the first to go.
Seat replaced with a Bontrager Inform RL and the seatpost with a Thomson Elite.
Seat replaced with a Bontrager Inform RL and the seatpost with a Thomson Elite.
11-22-11, 10:26 AM
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A Roubaix with a Toupe is entry level?
11-22-11, 10:31 AM
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Enough people keep the stock saddle that bike makers put one on. Most low-end bikes will also have el-cheapo pedals, too.
Brake pads are dirt cheap, even for very good ones.
If you had asked the 41 for advice before buying the bike, you would have been prepared to make the necessary changes to the bike and no ranting necessary.
BF #41; for knowledge, not ranting.
Brake pads are dirt cheap, even for very good ones.
If you had asked the 41 for advice before buying the bike, you would have been prepared to make the necessary changes to the bike and no ranting necessary.
BF #41; for knowledge, not ranting.
11-22-11, 10:37 AM
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11-22-11, 10:41 AM
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Enough people keep the stock saddle that bike makers put one on. Most low-end bikes will also have el-cheapo pedals, too.
Brake pads are dirt cheap, even for very good ones.
If you had asked the 41 for advice before buying the bike, you would have been prepared to make the necessary changes to the bike and no ranting necessary.
BF #41; for knowledge, not ranting.
Brake pads are dirt cheap, even for very good ones.
If you had asked the 41 for advice before buying the bike, you would have been prepared to make the necessary changes to the bike and no ranting necessary.
BF #41; for knowledge, not ranting.
11-22-11, 10:47 AM
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I believe telebianchi has the right idea.
11-22-11, 10:50 AM
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When I was in the biz the hubs were like that until you got to Ultegra. Even 105 were "grind'em till they work then they're worn" type bearings. With cartridge bearings I don't know what level what is, but any loose bearing axle lower than Ultegra probably does not have machined bearing races. They're usually cast, not finished, and not round. They're also very soft so they wear in.
When someone talks about stuff that wears out, that's part of it. If cartridge bearings you're lucky, you can replace them. If not you're getting new hubs and probably new wheels.
Brake pads - I'll agree, that's the first thing most people replace, esp on low end stuff (meaning under 105 level).
Saddle - like pedals and bars you move your saddle from bike to bike. Find what you like, stick with it.
Learning all this is difficult. I just helped someone who thinks that the machine she bought was jury-rigged. It's brand new, similar in level to Tiagra, and yes, it looks jury-rigged. But that's how it was designed. No one educated her so she doesn't know.
When someone talks about stuff that wears out, that's part of it. If cartridge bearings you're lucky, you can replace them. If not you're getting new hubs and probably new wheels.
Brake pads - I'll agree, that's the first thing most people replace, esp on low end stuff (meaning under 105 level).
Saddle - like pedals and bars you move your saddle from bike to bike. Find what you like, stick with it.
Learning all this is difficult. I just helped someone who thinks that the machine she bought was jury-rigged. It's brand new, similar in level to Tiagra, and yes, it looks jury-rigged. But that's how it was designed. No one educated her so she doesn't know.
11-22-11, 12:43 PM
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Regarding the hubs, I'm not talking about imperfection due to lower quality of the bearing races but rather, the nuts were over-tightened pressing on the cone/bearing that it can't function properly. It took some force for me to turn them by hand. After buying cone wrench, I was able to loosen it a bit so now they roll nicely. I guess is that under-tightening the hub nuts could result in the wheel being wobbling, thus effecting stability and safety. For the manufacturers, it's better to be on the convervative side. Again, it was just a useless ranting. My beef is more with the brake pads and the seat that is now occupying space in my garage.
11-22-11, 12:48 PM
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11-22-11, 12:52 PM
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Pads: Agree
Hubs: Never had problems
Saddle: Agree
At least the shops were kind enough to take off the cheap platform pedals anytime I have gotten a new bike.
Hubs: Never had problems
Saddle: Agree
At least the shops were kind enough to take off the cheap platform pedals anytime I have gotten a new bike.
11-22-11, 12:57 PM
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Last time I bought a new bike was a long time ago, but I didn't have any problems with the items you mentioned. Maybe you're just too picky?
According to the internet, the Allez Sport has cartridge bearings front and back...
https://www.specialized.com/us/en/bc/...45684&eid=4350
er, wait -- "sealed ball bearings"... maybe not, lolz!!
According to the internet, the Allez Sport has cartridge bearings front and back...
https://www.specialized.com/us/en/bc/...45684&eid=4350
er, wait -- "sealed ball bearings"... maybe not, lolz!!
11-22-11, 01:07 PM
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Never having sat on anything but this saddle on my old busted Wellington 1.0 from BD:
https://www.nashbar.com/bikes/Product...8_10000_202449
I found the stock saddle on my 09 allez sport comp wasn't too bad, but then again I've never gone more than 2hrs sitting on it. Perhaps I've come from some ****ty components/bikes, but I find that the bike isn't so miserable as the OP makes it out to be. Sure there are much better components, but I can't personally say they're that bad.
https://www.nashbar.com/bikes/Product...8_10000_202449
I found the stock saddle on my 09 allez sport comp wasn't too bad, but then again I've never gone more than 2hrs sitting on it. Perhaps I've come from some ****ty components/bikes, but I find that the bike isn't so miserable as the OP makes it out to be. Sure there are much better components, but I can't personally say they're that bad.
11-22-11, 01:08 PM
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Some shops just assemble but without checking stuff. Other shops will assemble and adjust. Expect to pay more but also expect some unusually nice things like trued/tensioned wheels and hubs that roll. You may even see new grease in the (loose) bearings. Other shops (or non-shops) will just assemble. Then you get the stuff as is from the factory.
As far as brake pads and saddles, there's a reason shops have so many take off saddles (and stems). The pads you just toss. There's no redeeming reason to keep them.
Once you get over the few glaring weak points of the bike it gets a lot better. I actually want to, at some point, be able to have a strong racing team that ride relatively entry level bikes (adjust for fit etc but with race wheels). I think that performance-wise these bikes shouldn't be that far off from the mid-level bikes ($3-4k).
As far as brake pads and saddles, there's a reason shops have so many take off saddles (and stems). The pads you just toss. There's no redeeming reason to keep them.
Once you get over the few glaring weak points of the bike it gets a lot better. I actually want to, at some point, be able to have a strong racing team that ride relatively entry level bikes (adjust for fit etc but with race wheels). I think that performance-wise these bikes shouldn't be that far off from the mid-level bikes ($3-4k).
11-22-11, 01:14 PM
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11-22-11, 01:16 PM
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Don't get me wrong, the Allez is fantastic. I just think it's a crime to put in crapy pads on such a good bike.
11-22-11, 01:17 PM
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My work is giving a cheap (cheap) Huffy kids mountain bike away in a raffle. I wouldn't let a child ride that death trap, but that's me.
I must have spent 45 minutes dicking around with that thing to get the front from shifting not at all to shifting quite poorly. I swear, the front derailleur must have been made out of a melted down Rubbermaid container is was so flexy. The twist shifter? Half the time it doesn't even click, and it was difficult for a full grown man to twist. High quality "Contrast" brand components, stem to stern.
Ha, did I mention it had a six speed freewheel in the back? Department store bikes in the mid nineties had those, but I don't think you could buy a full suspension mountain bike for $80 back then. Probably because they had name brand components on them that actually, you know, worked.
I must have spent 45 minutes dicking around with that thing to get the front from shifting not at all to shifting quite poorly. I swear, the front derailleur must have been made out of a melted down Rubbermaid container is was so flexy. The twist shifter? Half the time it doesn't even click, and it was difficult for a full grown man to twist. High quality "Contrast" brand components, stem to stern.
Ha, did I mention it had a six speed freewheel in the back? Department store bikes in the mid nineties had those, but I don't think you could buy a full suspension mountain bike for $80 back then. Probably because they had name brand components on them that actually, you know, worked.
11-22-11, 01:18 PM
#25
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