New rear mech

holman210

Hiya

Just bought a new bike and want to upgrade to a better rear mech. I have only done a couple of hours riding on it and fed up all ready. Im not actually sure how good the Sram x5's are but Im not happy with them.

Which would you recommend? I want the XT front and rear. I didnt want to spend over £50 for the rear but I have seen quite a few Deore XT go for less then that.

Just a few things though:

I have no idea if these XT would fit on my bike. I have Sram x5 atm and 9 speed rear cassette. How do I know what rear mech will fit?

Are XT any better if so how much and I would I notice the difference?

Thought I should point out now that im a total amatuer when it comes to choosing the right kit!

Thanks!

nicklouse

well you will need another Sram mech as it will work with the sram trigger.

but i guess it just needs some tension back in the cable.

the X5 now is the same as the X7 when it came out which was comparable to the LX.

remember Sram numbered parts need to be used with Sram numbered parts.

holman210

So an XT rear mech wouldnt work with my X5 triggers? So if I wanted XT that bad I would need to change the triggers too?

When you say " Sram numbered parts need to be used with Sram numbered parts" does that mean its recommended to have X5 everything rather then different parts mixed in?

Thanks for your time!

nicklouse

yes you would need a shimano RH shifter.

Sram also make named shifters that work with shimano kit.

holman210

Ok thanks i shall look into that. Is there no where I could buy the whole lot in a kit as such, shifters and rear mech that you know of?

nicklouse

TBH i would not bother and just get the gears set up correctly. and most of the feel of the gears comes from the shifter rather than the mech. the mech does does what it is told.

and any set up in need of tuning will feel poor.

holman210

hmm ok I think im going to take your advise on this one. Save myself a bit of money and wait till they break off or something then replace them. Thing is I bought it from Halfords so the fact there not working properly is probably something to do with them. Thanks again

duckson

Whats the matter with your rear mech?

holman210

When I put pressure on the crank it sort of crunches or slips, not everytime but has done it a few times now. I cant stand up and pedal as im concerned about it slipping. It takes a while for the gear to engage when changed at the shifter. Its quite noisey, sounds like its on the verge of chainging but never does. Once the chain jammed between the rear mech and the casstte, not sure how I never even changed gear!

nicklouse

all signs of a gear set needing setting up.

Chris5.5

It sounds like it is set up wrong, take it to the local Halfords and get it sorted (Kraken looks like a nice bike - seem to be using the Fury frame now).

I have X5 shifters and X7 rear mech and the shifts are seamless, 2 months of abuse and they have not gone out of index once, though the guy who sold it to me in halfords seemed to know his stuff and promised that he would build it up for me.

Chris

holman210

Ok thanks for that I will try that first!

Yeah the kraken LTD Edition is using the same frame as the fury.

holman210

Oh dear, took my bike back to halfords today to get the gears set up and I had a rubbing rotor.

They snapped off the front mech and replaced it with a used one, scratched the crank and seatpost, and couldnt fix the rear disc because they didnt know how too.

Such a disaster! Im seeing the manager next week. Im working for a week now so not going to get the chance. I only went in to have my gears set up AGAIN! I will have to find myself a proper bike shop to have work done, im not risking any more damage by taking it to Halfords.

supersonic

Gears do need setting up from time to time, especially when new as the cable stretches. Not a fault of the bike or shope, however, the rest off the stuff they did is unacceptable!

kegs

That is horrendous, I'd be spitting if I were you.

Definitely find yourself a decent LBS to do work on your bike.

I'd look at learning to do a few bits yourself as well, it isn't all that hard really, as long as you take your time and check what to do on something like the Park Tools site or Sheldon.

robv1306

HI

I work at halfords, and i am wondering which store it is you are using. Part of the PDI form which we must fill out and ask you to sign before selling you the bike, includes the derailleurs being set up correctly.

Also, EVERY halfords bike mechanic has cytech training, and if they are new to the job, there is ALWAYS a specialist, who tends to be an expert in most feilds, including cycling, in store.

Which halfords store is it you are using? As i too find it unacceptable for the above things to have been done to your bike, yet cannot conceive how any halfords mechanic could do this to your bike.

Regards

Rob

nicklouse

Rob unfortunately this is not an isolated case. I would say that the common experience of Halfords and cycles is about the same as this topic.

robv1306

Thats unfortunate.

For the record, i treat every bike as if its my own. Im currently building my own bike around a DMR Ex[alt] frame, using mainly raceface and hope, and that gets no more attention than any of the bikes i build at work.

I have been known to spend up to an hour truing a wheel which has been bent in the box during transit to the store - even on display models - and so i should as no comprimises should be made on a bike, no matter what the cost or who the owner.

I hope the publics opinion of Halfords will come round in future, as my viewpoint is shared by all the mechanics in the department in the store i work in.

supersonic

I am not sure all the Halfords do have a cytech trained mechanic - not that it particularly means much unless you have cytech 2 or 3, as 1 is amazingly easy. Stores do vary so much, so I agree you cannot tar them all with the same brush, but these stories are certainly becoming more common.

supersonic

"I have been known to spend up to an hour truing a wheel which has been bent in the box during transit to the store - even on display models"

Wish it was like that when I worked there - we were given NINE MINUTEs to PDI a bike!

robv1306

Did you work at a halfords in sheffield? (getting that from your location thing) Its just im going to uni next year, hopefully in sheffield so was gunna internal transfer. Is there more than 1 in sheffield? If so, which 1 did you work at?

supersonic

I worked at the one in York for two years. The main one in Sheffield is just off Halifax road in Hillsborough - quite small, but still a superstore. Might be another in the area too.

Wasn't too impressed whan I dropped in, was totally blanked even though no customers - so they could do with better staff ;-)

tonedepear

The main one in Sheffield is just off Halifax road in Hillsborough

I'd say the main one in Sheffield is the big superstore on Queens Road (end of Bramall Lane). It's colossal (and walking distance from the most likely student flat developments). The one at Crystal Peaks is also bigger than the Hillsbro one I think?

supersonic

Knew I had forgot some! Not been in the Bramall Lane one, will have to have a mosey down: living up Chapeltown way, the Hilllsboro is sorta my LBS really.

Welcome by the way! You from the steel city then?

tonedepear

Not at all, I just live here! Been here about 6 years now, so it's starting to feel like home.
I used to work in Hillsborough, so I know that halfords reasonably well, although I used to work at Euro Car Parts, so I never had much reason to go!
Get to Queens Road halfords, it's great. (Still no decathlon though)

robv1306

Thanks guys, thts extremely helpful. As i say, i shall be hopefully joining you soon in the steel city, as a student so will be scoping which store to transfer to in the next few months.

robv1306

Another thing aswell, could you guys check out 1 of ma other forums, about raceface NEXT SL cranks? I need sum valuable opinions on them. Ta

holman210

I could learn to do some stuff by myself. I always repair my car (Slightly different lol) I thought I would take it to them as I was passing! Its not acceptable at all, its a shame that Halfords cant offer a good service. Im sure they do at some stores but my local they dont.

The bikes been in 3 times now because of gears jumping/slipping. I think I should just cut my losses and find a LBS.

holman210

robv1306 wrote:

HI

I work at halfords, and i am wondering which store it is you are using. Part of the PDI form which we must fill out and ask you to sign before selling you the bike, includes the derailleurs being set up correctly.

Also, EVERY halfords bike mechanic has cytech training, and if they are new to the job, there is ALWAYS a specialist, who tends to be an expert in most feilds, including cycling, in store.

Which halfords store is it you are using? As i too find it unacceptable for the above things to have been done to your bike, yet cannot conceive how any halfords mechanic could do this to your bike.

Regards

Rob

Hi

I bought the bike in Bognor Regis, but took it too my local, it was the Sittingbourne Halfords. He told me after the damage had been done that the main trained mechanic wasnt in this week. Thats the reason one of the THREE lads behind the bikehut counter assembling bikes couldnt stop my discs from rubbing on the pads, so I have to take it back when the mechanic is in.

Its just the lack of care for my bike. Its brand new and its not acceptable to put scratches on other peoples bikes. He kept knocking the screwdriver on the paintwork, and didnt do the clamp on the seat post up enough so it slid down a bit and took the paint of the post! I do understand that all Halfords are not the same but the 2 I have had to deal with are not very good.

I did sign the form after the test run too say it was fine, but after a few minutes the gears were jumping so I had to take it back in. I think they didnt bother at all as this was 3:45pm on a sunday because soon as I used the bike again I had to take it to my local Halfords, where they broke it.

Thanks

holman210

Just a quick update, I went to take the bike back for the 4th time for gear problems and on the way the chain came off and got caught between the top chain ring and the frame. It took a chunck out of the frame and bent the chain ring, it was completly jammed.

I took it back, not impressed of cause, they tried blaming it on me first but I refused to take the bike back. I was finally offered a new bike. I picked the Fury, so much better bike. Love the front forks!

So I shall see how this one goes. On the first use though I shifted down from the middle to lowest chain ring and the chain fell off! I rode bikes for so many years so naturally im convinced it is not me! lol

supersonic

Hopefully you will have more luck!

But as mentioned earlier, the cables will bed in, and the gears readjusting again. Maybe more than once. Good thing to learn how to do.