There's an old saying about cars that you should never buy a new model year. "Things tend to fall apart, give them time to get the bugs out".
Well, this is how I feel about my investment in this bike. Things are falling apart. But, they should have gotten the bugs out.
Then again, did Cannonda...
Read more There's an old saying about cars that you should never buy a new model year. "Things tend to fall apart, give them time to get the bugs out".
Well, this is how I feel about my investment in this bike. Things are falling apart. But, they should have gotten the bugs out.
Then again, did Cannondale REALLY care?
OK, It's not like I went out and bought Cannondale's top of the line bike, but it was one that appeared to fit my type of riding. (Well the bike shop and I thought so anyhow.)
I'm over 60, and need to loose weight. My average ride is about 20 miles. I'm not out there blazing down mountain trails trying to set new personal bests, or jumping curbs and logs.
I ride on a mixture of packed trails and sidewalks (half slightly hilly, the other half flat), and have put 800 miles on this bike in the first 3 1/2 months of ownership. Within these 800 miles I have had a pedal break(no impact), 3 rear spokes snap (dealer replaced wheel after the 3rd), the brakes were below the wear bar, the rear tire was bald (@600 miles), the chain had to be replaced because it was worn out (yes, I kept it oiled). The bottom bracket had to be taken apart, thoroughly cleaned and greased to get rid of an annoying chirping sound (a lot of dirt).
Most of these miles are with a friend that is riding a 4 year old Select. And he hasn't replaced (or repaired) in 4 years, the parts that I have in 3 1/2 months. Heck, I didn't replace or have to repair as much on my 17 year old TREK in 6 years, that this bike has had.
I contacted Cannondale and told them just about the same things that I have written in this review. Asked them if I may have bought the wrong bike? Should I trade up? Will these problems continue?
Cannondale's reply was to tell me was that "..parts wear out the harder they are ridden. Have the dealer submit a claim and that will allow our warranty center to asses the situation..". The next day it was followed by another e-mail asking if I was satisfied with their response. I replied that I felt I was getting a 'corporate-two-step' answer, and that I'm not satisfied with just a reply. Lets find out what happens.
Needless to say, I've heard nothing from Cannondale since their email wondering if I was satisfied with their first response (how did that old saying about getting more with honey go?).
My dealer has been great throughout this whole thing, and told me he has contacted Cannondale about it, but he's heard nothing.
One of the guys at the bike shop did say that most people that buy these styles of bikes tend to ride them for a few weeks, loose interest and park them. They certainly do not ride them as much as I have in this short period of time. Is that what Cannondale research indicated when they put this these components together?
BTW, Kenda Rubbers' customer service was all over my concerns about the tire wear. They wanted some pictures, some information, and helped me out with a replacement.
Maybe I fell through the cracks with Cannondale. Maybe the person that responded to my original contact left the company. Maybe the second contact was completely computer generated and something happened to the computer. Well, those things could have happened.
Maybe it just became time for me to write my first ever review about a product I am unsatisfied with.
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