[Recoveryride]

Thought it might be handy to see if it’s possible to create a topic where people can share (constructive) experience about different brands, especially QC issues and customer service. I’ll start off:

1. Trek – repeated QC issues; BB problems, cracked seatpost, bolts that won’t tighten without rounding; total 3 repairs and 3 frames in two years.Tbf, their customer service and warranty process has been great every time but I just can’t be doing with the hassle anymore and will be selling the new warranty frame unused.

2. Cannondale – my regular riding buddy has had the bottom bracket shell completely come away from his (admittedly aging) Supersix. Cannondale rejected the warranty claim as ‘crash damage’ but said ‘as a gesture of goodwill’ they’ll honour the crash replacement discount they offer on newer bikes. He has refused on principle. If anyone can explain what kind of crash causes a bonded metal shell to detach from carbon on the inside of the frame, without any visible external damage whatsoever, I’d be glad to hear it. The LBS have said neither the failure nor the warranty refusal is a 1 off occurence.

3. Wahoo tickr. Mine stopped holding charge after about a year. Within 5 days of opening a ticket, a new unit arrived in the post. Really impressive.

Topic

[mike the bike]

huntswheelers wrote:

huntswheelers wrote:

….. Campagnolo…. Just works and works… Wears out after 20 yrs …..

 

If only, huntswheeler, if only.  My last Campag Centaur levers, which had led a very sheltered life, chewed up their ratchets and were unusable after only a couple of years. 

Whilst they were not the highest level of Campag’s catalogue, I expected better and have now switched to Shimano.  So far, so good and money left in the bank too.

[Recoveryride]

huntswheelers wrote:

huntswheelers wrote:

Campagnolo…. Just works and works… Wears out after 20 yrs

Y’know, I’ve always been this close to buying Campag; every time, ‘it’ll  be the next one’, but it never is. It looks beautiful, and (from brief experience on a borrowed bike) their mechanical shifting is the best out there and their disc brakes are probably the best too (though I’ve not used them in the wet, so should withhold judgement). Though I’m not in the trade my work background means I can tell when something has been designed and put together well, and the odd (characteristically Italian) quirk notwithstanding, Campag always looks engineered, rather than just made, if that makes sense.

BUT – in real terms, you get a lot more Shimano for your money. Currently, real world prices for Ultegra Di2 are below those of mechanical Record. With Campag, you’ve also got the minefield of different bb and freehub standards/compatibility, spares are more expensive and a bit harder to get (you can’t nip down the road, most of the time, and just pick up a new part), and a lot of mechanics don’t have much experience working on it.

Shimano is just cheaper and easier, basically, and does what it’s supposed to do so well you can see why they’re so dominant. I can only think of a couple of things I’d change on the 2 Shimano groupsets I own, and tbh they’re quibbles.

But I don’t dispute Campag is beautiful stuff and I will have some, one day…

[Recoveryride]

I use these:  https://www

I use these:  https://www.sigmasports.com/item/Assos/Ultraz-Winter-Gloves/O01A?utm_source=google&utm_medium=base&co=GBR&cu=GBP&glCountry=GB&id=1119801&ds_eid=700000001845766&ds_e=GOOGLE&ds_c=UK_EN_Profit_Google_Shopping_All+Users_Brand_All+Products_Desktop&ds_cid=71700000047514192&ds_ag=A_B_1119790_Assos_Ultraz+Winter+Gloves_Gloves_95+GBP&ds_agid=58700005333346152&ds_k=PRODUCT_GROUP&ds_kid=92700047445133709&ds_kids=p47445133709&gclid=Cj0KCQiAifz-BRDjARIsAEElyGLnU0SzJlHLlCqDTxlfGX2t2GihUyJNe_25-XpNkeaxDVFYCEoXlJ0aAoqMEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

My only complaint is they’re not very waterproof, but I try to avoid going out in heavy rain these days anyway!

[JaredP91]

Another vote for Galibier,
Another vote for Galibier, high quality kit at a very reasonable price. I’m a particular fan of their Mistral Foul Weather Jacket for winter riding.

dhb have some fantastic kit, nothing fancy but it does the job, again at a very good price.

Endura – Personally I’ve found all of their products to be high quality kit that works.

[JaredP91]

Just out of interest
Just out of interest Recoveryride, which Assos gloves do you use? I’m looking to invest in some high quality winter gloves, but even with Assos the sheer options are a bit overwhelming.

[the little onion]

Castelli. It just works. Not

Castelli. It just works. Not cheap, but good value (Sam Vines Boots Theory). Maybe it’s just my riding style and body shape, but I just get on with Castelli kit. Other views are equally valid.

[huntswheelers]

Garmin…. always battery
Garmin…. always battery life
Cervelo….bottom bracket…and…and…and…
Trek…. Latest ones with internal cable routing, bad routing & rattles
Bryton… everything works all of the time
Galibier…. Quality kit, decent price….
Campagnolo…. Just works and works… Wears out after 20 yrs
Continental…. been poor quality recently
Italian bikes….great build quality
Moon….superb lights
There are more…….. I’m in the trade so all above are from real life experience not hear say….

[Philh68]

Shimano is great when you can

Shimano is great when you can get it. Shimano Australia aren’t all that popular with LBS here because getting parts from them can be near impossible, yet they block parallel imports so the LBS can’t even source the same part from overseas just to keep their customer happy. I know an LBS who was up to 4 months and counting for a warranty replacement Nexus hub, I gave up trying to get a front roller brake. And that was before COVID-19 caused supply problems.

[DavidLeslie]

Lusso. Great quality kit that

Lusso. Great quality kit that just works. After some crash damage I asked them to send a small patch for me to sew in (badly). They asked me to send in the jacket and repaired it free of charge.

[Recoveryride]

Agreed with Shimano. Was it

Agreed with Shimano. Was it the Honda advert: ‘isn’t it great when stuff just works’? I know the former main mechanic at a LBS quite well, and his theory was that if a company can make reliable sea-fishing equipment (which Shimano do) then that’s the company you want making stuff for your bike if you live in the UK. He hates SRAM, fwiw – make of that what you will!

Two I forgot: Assos winter gloves. Not cheap, but warm and comfy without being massive and unwieldy.

Fizik Antares saddle: oddly for a fairly small bloke and an experienced rider I’ve always struggled with saddles. This is a godsend. Totally personal, but still..

[Drinfinity]

Five Ten flat pedal shoes.

Five Ten flat pedal shoes.

[zeeridesbikes]

Another vote for shimano. It

Another vote for shimano. It’s so good you never have to even think about it.

I’m a big fan of tailfin for making the best touring/commuting pannier rack I have ever used plus their customer service is personal and really thorough. 

rapha because after a year of searching I found their pro team shoes fit my weird asymmetrical feet really well unlike fizik, bont, sidi, giro etc etc. Plus when my bib shorts lost some threading they just gave me the credit for a new pair. 

 

 

[Grahamd]

kil0ran wrote:

Some positives:

1. Fairlight. Genuinely personal service from Dom and the team to the point it almost feels like you’re buying a bespoke bike. They also have incredible attention to detail.

2. Garmin. Controversial I know but I’ve had zero issues in 3 years with my Edge 130. Same can’t be said for Wahoo, and their customer support was pretty slow.

3. Shimano. It all just works. And, in the MTB world at least, it’s dirt cheap for the quality you’re getting.

+1 for Shimano. Have been using Shimano stuff for years, and yet to have any issues.

[kil0ran]

Some positives:

Some positives:

1. Fairlight. Genuinely personal service from Dom and the team to the point it almost feels like you’re buying a bespoke bike. They also have incredible attention to detail.

2. Garmin. Controversial I know but I’ve had zero issues in 3 years with my Edge 130. Same can’t be said for Wahoo, and their customer support was pretty slow.

3. Shimano. It all just works. And, in the MTB world at least, it’s dirt cheap for the quality you’re getting.

[Author]

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