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Original poster

Bike illegal to ride due to misaligned frame?

15 replies

fridayschild · 22/11/2010 21:28

I was going to treat my bike to a super-duper service at Evans Cycles before the winter, but they rang to say it had a mis-aligned frame (I think) and therefore it was illegal to ride and they wouldn't be servicing it.

Does this make sense? I'll ask more when I go into the shop to pick it up but wanted some views first.

The guy on the phone said I would need to buy a new bike. I suppose I should be pleased he has told me this before the VAT rate goes up Hmm but I am tempted to take it somewhere else for their views before I spend squillions of pounds on a bike.

OP posts:
nigglewiggle · 22/11/2010 21:31

I'm not aware of any offences relating to the ridability of a bike.

Furious pedal cycling and being drunk in charge of a pedal cycle (yes honestly), but not having a wonky bike!

Sounds like a con to me.

scurryfunge · 22/11/2010 21:37

have a look here

Original poster
fridayschild · 23/11/2010 08:56

Thanks! I'll quiz them when I go to collect it.

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JRsandCoffee · 23/11/2010 22:42

Hmmm I'm with nigglewiggle - sounds dodgy to me, one wonders if the advice is related to christmas sales figures....

However, while I've certainly never heard of it I know a few people who would certainly know for definate - so if you're still wondering then I could ask, just post back.

What kind of bike is it?

ragged · 23/11/2010 23:24

Maybe they meant that they wouldn't want to be held liable for you riding it (clutching at straws).

ivykaty44 · 24/11/2010 22:41

what bothers me is if the frame is mis - aligned - then a new frame would be needed and not a whole new bike Hmm

nocake · 25/11/2010 11:00

Very few bikes, even when new, have perfectly aligned frames and there is certainly no law that prevents you riding it. I suggest you take your business to a small, independent bike shop instead.

mloo · 25/11/2010 12:09

I hope OP comes back and says what Evans had to say in clarification.

Original poster
fridayschild · 29/11/2010 22:14

Sorry - busy at the weekend.

The Evans manager was much more reasonable than the guy in the central workshop who phoned me. The trouble with misaligned frame is that the gears can become misaligned, he says. They can't service a misaligned bike but he said there were plenty of guys in the shop who rode them cheerfully.

My trouble now is that since it went for its spell at Evans, some of the gears don't work Hmm and I am too inept to fix them myself. Will try another shop for a lesser service and see what they say, as nocake suggested. Sadly Evans are just MUCH more convenient to get to than the local shops.

It is not a fancy bike, a Specialised one which cost about £300 2 years ago and has been doing 60-80 miles a week of commuting since then. So it will almost certainly be cheaper to get a new bike than have the frame replaced, I think.

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nocake · 30/11/2010 13:42

The only bit of a bike that can cause those symptoms is the mech hanger (little bit of shaped metal that the rear mech is bolted to). If that's bent then it can cause problems aligning the gears. However, it is a replaceable part. I strongly suggest tahking it to a shop that knows what they're doing. Evans may be more convenient but they clearly don't know what they're talking about.

Original poster
fridayschild · 01/12/2010 10:19

Thank you. I am booked into Putney Cycles on Friday and will ask them to look at that.

OP posts:
JRsandCoffee · 06/12/2010 16:22

How did you go at Putney Cycles? The Bike Whisperer in Ealing is sworn by by my friend who has had various bike probs, mainly associated with the wear and tear that comes with the kind of riding that most normal mortals baulk at (London to Wiltshire in time for tea etc.........) Anyway, just thought I'd chuck that in the mix!

ivykaty44 · 06/12/2010 21:58

goodness what are they hanging around at - London to Wiltshire in time for lunch otherwise not worth getting in the saddle for Wink

JRsandCoffee · 06/12/2010 22:52

Don't, please...... I cycled to Paris with her, it wasn't at all competetive, honest!

Original poster
fridayschild · 10/12/2010 13:52

Putney Cycles very nice, thank you and I am happy to recommend them.

We had snow in London on Friday. I was there at opening time. Someone showed up slightly later and said the chap with the keys to the shop was delayed. He called the other two branches for me to see if they were open yet (no). He took my bike, my keys and my number so I could get to work on time. He rang an hour later to say the shop was open, and then later in the day to tell me it was fixed. Cheaper than the stage 1 service at Evans. Only at this point did it occur to me I had given both my bike and my keys to a complete stranger who could have just headed off into the sunrise with it... D'oh!

Gears problem because one of my leads was loose. I don't think I need to understand this, the bike works now. Smile

I cannot believe that London to Wiltshire is any worse for a bike than commuting 9 miles each way in rush hour on London's cr**py roads. The wear and tear the Wiltshire run creates is surely all on the cyclist's legs, no?

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