Your rants here.

Man Of Lard

Langley Heathrow World Distribution Centre.

I read boasts of how thousands of items of mail it can process in an hour (450000+)
I read boasts of how quickly an item can make it from the "mail in" entrance to the "mail out" exit (it's well under half an hour).

Item arrived in the UK on November 21st and made it to Langley HWDC on the same day, before noon.

It's still there as far as I can tell (because the don't do useful things like track "handed to Customs", "received back from Customs" and "left Langley HWDC").

This is a package from within the EU so really it should be pretty quick to pass through.

Turns out all the claims for throughout per hour and 18 minutes entrance to exit exclude the part that takes the time - Customs process stuff "in up to 8 weeks" - so 18±80640 minutes to pass through Langley and when it does it'll probably have an erroneous customs charge on it.

What an absolute parcel of keech (which of course you are not allowed to post).

tangled_metal

LBS returned bike with new chain, new cassette, new cables and front derailleur that "might need a little adjustment on the road. Realised that adjustment was to make the front derailleur go.into the big chainring. I couldn't get into the big chainring, then I could, then I couldn't. I'd made it clear I wanted them to adjust the gears so they work for all gears.

I found a possible reason why the front derailleur was difficult to say the least. that is the gear cable was routed on top of the rear brake cable. So apart from it sawing its way through the brake cable outer it's also kind of stretched awkwardly and can.move around.

So I now have to re-do the gear cable and adjust the derailleur myself. I paid the LBS to do it because I hate doing gears. This is on top of a load of repairs due to a bent hanger and sudden absence of rear wheel whilst riding along. I'm having a very bad few weeks with my bike ever since an icy slide first messed up the gearing,

I hate dodgy LBS's. Like a garage that rips you off they leave a feeling like you've got mug across your forehead.

wolfsbane2k

Argh, that sounds like hell. Having to redo that is not acceptable. Take pictures, throw it back at them.
You have to give them the opportunity to rectify I believe, but i'd definately asking for some money back at least!

First.Aspect

Tangled Metal wrote:

LBS returned bike with new chain, new cassette, new cables and front derailleur that "might need a little adjustment on the road. Realised that adjustment was to make the front derailleur go.into the big chainring. I couldn't get into the big chainring, then I could, then I couldn't. I'd made it clear I wanted them to adjust the gears so they work for all gears.

I found a possible reason why the front derailleur was difficult to say the least. that is the gear cable was routed on top of the rear brake cable. So apart from it sawing its way through the brake cable outer it's also kind of stretched awkwardly and can.move around.

So I now have to re-do the gear cable and adjust the derailleur myself. I paid the LBS to do it because I hate doing gears. This is on top of a load of repairs due to a bent hanger and sudden absence of rear wheel whilst riding along. I'm having a very bad few weeks with my bike ever since an icy slide first messed up the gearing,

I hate dodgy LBS's. Like a garage that rips you off they leave a feeling like you've got mug across your forehead.

That's into "refund" territory. Might be a rouge moron. Call and discuss. If you don't get a satisfactory response, name and shame, because next time it will be brake cables that are cocked up.

hamish_mctavish

First Aspect wrote:

Might be a rouge moron.

Is that similar to a blanc idiot?

Tashman

Whils I appreciate the olde worldy architecture of this country, surely having drainpipes that empty directly onto the pavement is just a bit daft. Can we not install drains in this day and age to prevent stupid people from slipping even thought they're taking great care already!

tangled_metal

Did you slip?

Tashman

Yeah but stopped myself falling by bracing my injured knee! Cue heads turning as i roared in pain and a slow walk into the office with freezing tears running down my face

wolfsbane2k

Wolfsbane2k wrote:

Rhodrich wrote:

Wolfsbane2k wrote:

Ice. 5 m of black ice. Not enough studs in the tire.

Oh dear - did you come off?

Yep. Slow tumble at 10-11 mph, kept catching grip as the studs bit in and oversteering, tank slapper style. Managed to get my foot down, only to loose grip on that too!
Best part about falling on ice is no gravel rash... silver linings and all that jazz.

No Mr council man/woman, liberally throwing salt near an on road blocked drain doesn't address the problem. Yes, it's slush for now, but come the next rain fall and cold night and it'll be another ice rink.

rolf_f

Hello to the idiot hipster on the MTB with the silly beard this morning in Armley. Don't do the following. Don't pull up behind another cyclist already waiting at a red for long enough that you have no idea how fast they are. Dn't draw partly along side so your front wheel is level with their rear. Don't anticipate the lights and roll forward whilst the rider ahead has to remain stationary due to the lights. Don't use that momentum to try to overtake them on your sh1tty mtb when they are riding a carbon road bike; it won't work. Don't try to then cut in front of them onto a narrow cycle lane that is difficult to pass on because they are only going to get annoyed being stuck behind you.
Don't do all of this because it is rude and stupid. I am not going to let myself get stuck behind your inappropriate transport so you are forcing me to accelerate a bit harder than I'd ideally be bothered to. Count yourself lucky that I'm not a complete bastard and didn't hang you out to dry by undertaking you slowly enough that you would have been forced into the road - I let you drop in behind me again relatively easily which just shows how much more considerate I am than you are.
And your beard is stupid. It looks like a load of rusty wire wool stuck to your chin. And get a proper bike.

dinyull

Grrrrrrarghhhhhhhh

So, TNT tried to deliver the bike from Tredz, but of course no one was in because nobody tried to contact me regarding a convenient day, time or place. Next delivery options were today (no one in), mon (no one in) or tues (no one in). Or I can collect from the depot 30 miles away, although they aren't open at weekends. So decide to collect tonight, fill in the details on website etc and then 10 mins later realise that the box the bike comes in is bigger than my car. F*ck.

Thoroughly p*ssed off with Tredz service decide I'll return the bike and get refund and order frame from planet x to replace the london road I have that is too small. The only colour they have in stock is the only colour I don't want.

HamishD

Rolf F wrote:

Hello to the idiot hipster on the MTB with the silly beard this morning in Armley. ....etc

Top rant. More like this in this thread please.

fat daddy

nooooo, don't do it, go get the bike ..... just de-box it in the carpark and load your car separately, frames, wheels, folded up cardboard box

if you car can fit a bike in it, then it will fit the bike and other bits and a folded up box easily

dinyull

fat daddy wrote:

nooooo, don't do it, go get the bike ..... just de-box it in the carpark and load your car separately, frames, wheels, folded up cardboard box

if you car can fit a bike in it, then it will fit the bike and other bits and a folded up box easily

The whole thing with this bike has been a total f*ck on. Totally fed up and dread having to deal with them again if there's another problem. Would rather just be done with it.

wolfsbane2k

Ride home last night, stopped to admire the view with Moon & Jupiter visible in the dusk.
Had taken my 10 yr old Digital SLR & mini tripod with me just in case, beautiful night.
3 minutes into shooting and the local cycle club came through, so kept shooting, hoping for some lucky shots.
Reviewed the 80 + images when I got home to find that they were all corrupted, probably due to the cold.

Long_Time_Lurker

Rolf F wrote:

And your beard is stupid. It looks like a load of rusty wire wool stuck to your chin. And get a proper bike.

I have a beard.
And ride mountain bikes.
(I don't live in Amley though)

surrey_commuter

Dinyull wrote:

The latest annoyance isn't down to them not responding to an email - they haven't even bothered to tell me if they've received the bike and what they plan on doing now they have it. Just sat in limbo.

Going to ask for a management email address when I do speak with them though as I'd like to send them the email thread to show just how useless they've been.

Find the most senior person yourself using e-mail and send the e-mail chain to them. That will get passed to a monkey who will get it sorted

rolf_f

Long Time Lurker wrote:

Rolf F wrote:

And your beard is stupid. It looks like a load of rusty wire wool stuck to your chin. And get a proper bike.

I have a beard.
And ride mountain bikes.
(I don't live in Amley though)

It's a rant - it's not supposed to be rational. I also have a beard (though not a ludicrous hipster one) and a Mountain bike - but I don't commute on it unless it is snowy or icy. And you are blessed for not living in Armley; the prison is the nicest bit of it.

awavey

amazon box delivery drivers, and ok I appreciate the free deliveryness that I frequently have used myself does drive this kind of behaviour so...but they are as bad as supermarket delivery people at stopping suddenly and parking in random dangerous spots just to walk less further for the delivery, but even if theyve parked semi sensibly after 5mins routing round in their mini van for the box, dont bloody walk around the front of it and just start running across the road if you havent looked to see if anythings coming !!!

fortunately I was half expecting it, so wasnt caught in panic and could react and swung far enough around as you cant predict whether theyll freeze, move back or carry on forward, to avoid a collision,and fortunately nothing close enough behind to be too scared by me suddenly veering out to the right, but one of those 2 seconds earlier or later close calls Id have ended up flat on the road, at least posties have learned from experience to use the green cross code

oh and Land Discovery drivers on a quiet country road with no other traffic about, you dont have to get within 1ft of me to overtake whilst you are accelerating beyond 50mph, on a 30mph road, and then slamming your brakes on to see how Ill react.because i already think you're a git and dont feel the need to repeat myself for your entertainment

other than that it was a nice ride today

niallmo

LBS again. Had my wheel for nigh on two weeks. It's a single drive side spoke replacement. It's an older screw on freewheel, I doubt it's ever been off the wheel. The mechanic has apparently broken two chain whips trying to get the cassette off. He's ordered a massive heavy duty chain whip. I admire his tenacity but I'd like to ride the bike it's off please....(1985 Raleigh Team Corsa 12). I'm going to take the new cassette I bought for it to him on Tuesday to fit if he can get the other one off....

timothyw

I suggest he gets one of these if he's feeling poor:
http://www.decathlon.co.uk/chain-whip-c ... 09913.html
or one of these if he's feeling flush:
http://pedros.com/products/tools/casset ... vise-whip/

Although from my experience today the chain whip was not the problem. The bastard lockring that wouldn't move was.... well greased now.

bunter

off the bike for a couple of weeks due to being ill and a knackered rear wheel. Was going to head out this morning but instead spent all night and morning caring for spectacularly sick/incontinent teenage daughter with norovirus. I've been properly exposed now and feel like its only a matter of time before I succumb...

Man Of Lard

TimothyW wrote:

I suggest he gets one of these if he's feeling poor:
http://www.decathlon.co.uk/chain-whip-c ... 09913.html
or one of these if he's feeling flush:
http://pedros.com/products/tools/casset ... vise-whip/

Although from my experience today the chain whip was not the problem. The bastard lockring that wouldn't move was.... well greased now.

I'd suggest he gets the Decathlon one anyway - far more sensible device for cassette removal altogether.

timothyw

Man Of Lard wrote:

TimothyW wrote:

I suggest he gets one of these if he's feeling poor:
http://www.decathlon.co.uk/chain-whip-c ... 09913.html
or one of these if he's feeling flush:
http://pedros.com/products/tools/casset ... vise-whip/

Although from my experience today the chain whip was not the problem. The bastard lockring that wouldn't move was.... well greased now.

I'd suggest he gets the Decathlon one anyway - far more sensible device for cassette removal altogether.

Yep, although doesn't cover singlespeed or fixed bicycles (which rarely are 14t or less) so isn't necessarily the only chain whip you need own, where Pedro's pretty much is.

Worth getting for a proper bike workshop IMHO.

bendertherobot

I'm having my ears syringed later. Hopefully this will be an anti rant this afternoon.

bendertherobot

Ear, doomed.

tangled_metal

bendertherobot wrote:

Ear, doomed.

Has it be Syringed? If the drum blows you'll at least get relief. Just keep a tissue handy, you'll need to wipe your ear if the drum holes.

bendertherobot

they can't find anything wrong. So it's inner ear and I just have to wait it out.

rick_chasey

Work is such a struggle when the sun goes down.

Regardless of how well lit it its, when it's dark by 4:30 I really struggle. I get tired, grumpy, struggle to concentrate, and I have to fight my mind to say that it really isn't 8:30pm...

roger_merriman

Had occasion to be in Brighton, for the day, Brighton seems to have more than it's fair share of death wish riders, be it the older guy rolling down the hill on to the coast road, with out checking, to the lad on the BMX who very nearly got smeared up a wall by a bus, attempting to go for gap that wasn't there.