Mr. Derailleur, meet Mr. Spokes (Resolution) - Cycling Mob: Road Cycling, Mountain Biking and More

07-15-2003, 03:27 PM

Well, Specizlied probably made me a customer of theirs for life with their
resolution to my problem (reference earlier posts about a mangled derailleur
caught in the spokes due to a broken chain on a bike that was purchased
earlier this year).

Specialized agreed to replace the frame and damaged components once they
were told how new the bike was, but instead of sending a frame that would
match the original bike--a 2001 Allez Sport--they sent a 2003 Allez Pro
frame with carbon fiber forks and seatpost (and a nice zebra finish).

This is a significant upgrade--the 2001 Allez Sport had no carbon fiber
components at all. I was expecting a 2003 Allez Sport frame. My LBS told me
that it is not too uncommon for manufacturers to upgrade warranty
replacement equipment, but this is amazing. There are a lot of Allez frames
between the Sport and Pro models for them to have chosen from.

It's sorta funny that the bike will have Tiagra components on it, but I
ain't complaining

As long as I don't get stares from more serious riders
who are wondering why anyone would downgrade such a bike with low-end
components!

07-15-2003, 03:38 PM

It is also very possible that was the only frame in stock of the right size
for you. Better to send it in a timely fashion than disappoint a customer
and dealer. That is what my supplier of bicycles always did.

Dave's Cycling & Fitness

"Robert Oliver" <rob.oliver@verizon.net> wrote in message
news:i50Ra.145$7O.117@nwrdny01.gnilink.net...
> Well, Specizlied probably made me a customer of theirs for life with their
> resolution to my problem (reference earlier posts about a mangled
derailleur
> caught in the spokes due to a broken chain on a bike that was purchased
> earlier this year).
>
> Specialized agreed to replace the frame and damaged components once they
> were told how new the bike was, but instead of sending a frame that would
> match the original bike--a 2001 Allez Sport--they sent a 2003 Allez Pro
> frame with carbon fiber forks and seatpost (and a nice zebra finish).
>
> This is a significant upgrade--the 2001 Allez Sport had no carbon fiber
> components at all. I was expecting a 2003 Allez Sport frame. My LBS told
me
> that it is not too uncommon for manufacturers to upgrade warranty
> replacement equipment, but this is amazing. There are a lot of Allez
frames
> between the Sport and Pro models for them to have chosen from.
>
> It's sorta funny that the bike will have Tiagra components on it, but I
> ain't complaining

As long as I don't get stares from more serious
riders
> who are wondering why anyone would downgrade such a bike with low-end
> components!
>
>

07-15-2003, 03:56 PM

x-no-archive:yes

"Robert Oliver" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
news:i50Ra.145$[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]...
> Well, Specizlied probably made me a customer of theirs for life with their
> resolution to my problem (reference earlier posts about a mangled
derailleur
> caught in the spokes due to a broken chain on a bike that was purchased
> earlier this year).

What was their speculation as to the cause of the derailleur getting into
the spokes?

Pat in TX

07-15-2003, 04:30 PM

In article <UE0Ra.150$[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]>,
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ] says...
>
> "Pat" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
> news:bf24c3$9qs5l$[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].uni-berlin.de...
>
> > What was their speculation as to the cause of the derailleur getting into
> > the spokes?
>
> Broken chain link that snagged the derailleur and pulled it back into the
> spokes.
>
> Apparantly Specialized agreed to replace the frame and components because of
> the age of the bike (only 225 miles on it) and the failure of the
> replaceable derailluer hanger to prevent damage to the frame. The dropout
> was stretched out and the (aluminium) frame ruined.

That's reasonable: they design the replaceable hanger for exactly that
reason, and if it fails to act as the sacrificial lamb to protect the
frame, that sounds like a design defect to me.

--
Dave Kerber
Fight spam: remove the ns_ from the return address before replying!

REAL programmers write self-modifying code.

07-15-2003, 07:09 PM

"Robert Oliver" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
news:UE0Ra.150$[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]...
>
> "Pat" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
> news:bf24c3$9qs5l$[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].uni-berlin.de...
>
> > What was their speculation as to the cause of the derailleur getting
into
> > the spokes?
>
> Broken chain link that snagged the derailleur and pulled it back into the
> spokes.

Ouch! What kinda legs do you have? Coupla tree trunks?!? ;-)

> Apparantly Specialized agreed to replace the frame and components because
of
> the age of the bike (only 225 miles on it) and the failure of the
> replaceable derailluer hanger to prevent damage to the frame.

Yep. That's exactly what I thought they would do. Glad to hear that they
did the right thing. I'll make a special note that Specialized really takes
care of their customers. They make great bikes, too.

> The dropout
> was stretched out and the (aluminium) frame ruined.

> According to my LBS this has happened before, and Specialized has taken
> responsibility for it.

They're doing the right thing. Good job, and congratulations on the sweet
new frame! You'll go out and tell 100 people about your positive
experience, and they'll profit like mad from it. I call that a win-win -
even if they did make a boo-boo on the dropout design. Hey, stuff happens.

-Barry

07-15-2003, 09:49 PM

"Robert Oliver" <rob.oliver@verizon.net> wrote in message
news:i50Ra.145$7O.117@nwrdny01.gnilink.net...
> Well, Specizlied probably made me a customer of theirs for life with their
> resolution to my problem (reference earlier posts about a mangled
derailleur
> caught in the spokes due to a broken chain on a bike that was purchased
> earlier this year).
>
> Specialized agreed to replace the frame and damaged components once they
> were told how new the bike was, but instead of sending a frame that would
> match the original bike--a 2001 Allez Sport--they sent a 2003 Allez Pro
> frame with carbon fiber forks and seatpost (and a nice zebra finish).
>
> This is a significant upgrade--the 2001 Allez Sport had no carbon fiber
> components at all. I was expecting a 2003 Allez Sport frame. My LBS told
me
> that it is not too uncommon for manufacturers to upgrade warranty
> replacement equipment, but this is amazing. There are a lot of Allez
frames
> between the Sport and Pro models for them to have chosen from.
>
> It's sorta funny that the bike will have Tiagra components on it, but I
> ain't complaining

As long as I don't get stares from more serious
riders
> who are wondering why anyone would downgrade such a bike with low-end
> components!
>
>
I've been riding Specialized bikes since the late 80s. Buy one, ride it for
a while, sell it, but something else, ride it for a while, go back and buy
another Specialized, etc. They always seem to make a good product that
rides nicely, and fits me. One of these days I may learn to just stick with
the Specialized...

Mike

07-16-2003, 03:46 AM

"Robert Oliver" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
news:i50Ra.145$[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]...
> Well, Specizlied probably made me a customer of theirs for life with their
> resolution to my problem (reference earlier posts about a mangled derailleur
> caught in the spokes due to a broken chain on a bike that was purchased
> earlier this year).
>
> Specialized agreed to replace the frame and damaged components once they
> were told how new the bike was, but instead of sending a frame that would
> match the original bike--a 2001 Allez Sport--they sent a 2003 Allez Pro
> frame with carbon fiber forks and seatpost (and a nice zebra finish).

Specialized also replaced a friend's Allez with a rusted out chainstay (~10
years old) with a nicer, new, frame. Heck of a company.

07-16-2003, 01:31 PM

> > Broken chain link that snagged the derailleur and pulled it back into
the
> > spokes.
>
> Ouch! What kinda legs do you have? Coupla tree trunks?!? ;-)

Fairly strong, but not quite that big.

> They're doing the right thing. Good job, and congratulations on the sweet
> new frame! You'll go out and tell 100 people about your positive
> experience, and they'll profit like mad from it. I call that a win-win -
> even if they did make a boo-boo on the dropout design. Hey, stuff
happens.

I'll have a nice story for the next Monday night ride at my LBS. Have to
explain why my bike looks significantly different from a few weeks ago

The owner of the shop told me that Specialized once replaced a mid-level
Allez frame with an S-Works frame because there were delays of some kind and
they didn't want a customer to wait any longer. Good job from the Big Red
"S."