advice please halfords bike 'knackered'

weemissy

sorry - long post, looking for how to proceed with this. OH bought bike from halfords last ?Sept. This was to use to work once weekly when he had to get DS off school bus, he has used it only about a dozen times:mad: as the weather has been bad. Straight, smooth road from work along mainly paths (about 15 mins), has been in hut all winter along with the kids bikes, last weekend I told him to start using it again to save on the weekly taxi fare, he felt the brakes weren't working and replaced the pads yesterday, still not working so took the bike back to halfords and chap said back wheel and chain is 'knackered', looks 2-3yrs old and looks as if it has been bounced up and down kerbs constantly:mad:.
Now I know this wasn't an expensive bike and did sit in hut and a bit rusty but surely there is a reasonable length of time it should have lasted, or could keeping it in hut have severely damaged it?. Kids bikes have always been fine!
Thanks

4743hudsonj

weemissy wrote: »

sorry - long post, looking for how to proceed with this. OH bought bike from halfords last ?Sept. This was to use to work once weekly when he had to get DS off school bus, he has used it only about a dozen times:mad: as the weather has been bad. Straight, smooth road from work along mainly paths (about 15 mins), has been in hut all winter along with the kids bikes, last weekend I told him to start using it again to save on the weekly taxi fare, he felt the brakes weren't working and replaced the pads yesterday, still not working so took the bike back to halfords and chap said back wheel and chain is 'knackered', looks 2-3yrs old and looks as if it has been bounced up and down kerbs constantly:mad:.
Now I know this wasn't an expensive bike and did sit in hut and a bit rusty but surely there is a reasonable length of time it should have lasted, or could keeping it in hut have severely damaged it?. Kids bikes have always been fine!
Thanks

dont buy from halfords againg, theyre crap. i worked at wilco motorspares who are the second largest company, after halfords.

Many of the bike people at halfords have no or little training, they are not given the correct tools to work with and the work they do is often dangerous and sometimes borderline illegal. I would certainly ask for an opinion from a senior member of staff who has more experience, and if you can go to wilco motorspares! they dont look like much but all bike staff are fully trained and experienced and 99% of the time parts are cheaper AND better quality.

As for the actual issue, yes the shed or whatever it was didnt help and caused the issue but only because its a cheap bike from halfords, doesn't help that its cheap but halfords bikes are appalling, once again wilco motor spares is the place to go as cheap bikes there are much better(not perfect)

weemissy

thanks hudsonj - are there any of these stores in Scotland as I've never heard of them? OH was quoted £45 for back wheel and £25 for chain and extra for fitting.

4743hudsonj

well thats double the cost for where i worked assumin its common parts which for a cheap bike i would think so.

and im not sure actually, its a mainly northern based company


http://www.wilcodirect.co.uk/index.php?main_page=stores&zenid=ellslc3obsvtbkj1jvi19h2li1


if there isnt one near you look elsewhere at local shops for quotes.

I would just stay well clear of halfords, bunch of teenagers and idiots given manuals on how to do things, you could probably do better yourself.

posted_2

What is wrong with the wheel, chain, and brakes?

weemissy

unfortunately I wasn't there and therefore chap wasn't really asked much about it:mad: But he said that chain is rusty, therefore 2 wee 'things' inside tyre will be rusty and the bike shouldn't be ridden, until this is all replaced he can't fix the brakes. When the brakes are pulled on the pads aren't touching the tyre - does this make sense?
He also shoogled the back wheel and said it had been bounced about!

posted_2

Loads of bikes have a bit of rust, it's not a problem. Rust remover, oil and grease.

Adjusting the brake cable should fix the brakes (assuming they line up with the rim), 30 seconds with a bike spanner.

weemissy

thanks posted will get OH to try that - will go next door for instructions for this - just remembered they are both cycle fanatics
thanks

posted_2

http://www.bikewebsite.com/bicycle-bra.htm

weemissy

Thanks posted thats great! - will let you know how he gets on
xxx

custardy

i think you need ot establishwhats actually wrong here
brakes will need adjusted/lubed
rear wheel needs replaced? why?
chain needs replaced? why?
however,if the bike is used and then dumped in a shed it will rust.
parts like the chain will corrode and wear the entire drive train
same for the brakes,cables can corrode inside their outers and if bad enough will require replacement cables