Latest blog posting on ProLite (Pro-Lite) can be found here.

The last few days have been most interesting at the Australian Cycling forums. It seems that a new forum member, Mr Deon Attard of Pro-Lite Oz, also known as Jacks1071 has not taken to kindly to me after I removed links from his first few postings in the forum. Links which directly linked to his business and lacked relevant context in the threads posted, i.e, spamming which is in breach of the forum guidelines.

This it seems means that if others make a point it is okay, but if I express a similar view, Mr Attard gets a touch upset. Rather amusing I thought.  Here area a couple of his most recent examples.

I gave them a call [Ay-up] this afternoon and it seemed nothing was too much trouble. With your outstanding personality I am not surpised [sic] they didn’t want to do anything outside of the square as to most likely avoid dealing with you.

I think they dodged a bullet there.

Maybe you could take them to consumer small claims for not offering to remove the case from the price for you????

Sue – do it.

Maybe you can bully them into getting what you want.

Source: Thread on Ay-Ups. Mr Attard made these comments on page 5 of the thread. The thread is quite interesting in its discussion of lights and dynamos, well for the most part anyway and by the way another respected member of the forums had also contacted Ay-Up and got quite a different response to that suggested by Mr Attard.

and in another thread on a wrong sized bike, Mr Attard had this to say:

Andrew,
You must think everyone is out to rip you off, how sad that must be for you. And how much spare time you must have on your hands because you’re ready to pick a fight with everyone you deal with?? No wonder you have to buy everything on-line. From what I hear no bike shop in WA will sell to you.

In this case, by being polite the guy had his frame swapped. If yet again he took your advice of legal action, the shop would have got their backs up and said f*&k you – I’m not doing crap for you you rude pr*ck and wouldn’t have helped. Did you learn something today???

By NOT following your advice the guy got a new frame.

The curious thing about this was that my suggestion, also made by a number of forum members was to go back and talk to the LBS and if necessary the state consumer protection department. Mr Attard’s advice was to sell the wrong sized frame on eBay and get another one. Thankfully the purchaser took the step to go back to the LBS after seeking advice from consumer affairs and is now expecting a replacement frame.

All this raises an interesting questions about Mr Attard’s business practices . At the time of writing:

• Pro-Lite Oz did not have a returns policy or other sales policy on his website;
• Mr Attard is big on supporting Australian business going by his posts in the Australian Cycling Forums yet his business seems not to be about Australian product but rather importing or representing Pro-Lite International Ltd, a Chinese company. Pro-Lite International is linked directly from Pro-Lite Oz via the “product information” banner.
• Mr Attard given his postings in the Australian Cycling forums does seem to have an issue with consumer rights.

So you may say so what it is just a dummy spit and to some extent it is, but I think it also raises an interesting question about the way Australian bike shops conduct their business.  I know of others who have issues with local bikes shops such as Durx with Glen Parker Cycles and myself with Fleet Cycles and it seems to me that there is no surprise when people shop overseas for bikes, parts and accessories when we have experiences like this. Is it time for the local bike shops to understand that good service is expected? That the behaviour of the likes of Mr Attard, Glen Parker Cycles and Fleet Cycles really do the local industry no justice?

Maybe my next bike will be purchased from the UK like 700×23 has done … maybe we need to do more of that.

Update – November 3, 2009: In light of the above I found this thread in the Australian Cycling Forums started by Mr Attard rather interesting …

Popularity: 6% [?]

Tags: Australian Cycling Forums,Fleet Cycles,Glen Parker Cycles,Pro-Lite Oz
Categories: Bicycling
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I have decided to copy over my postings on my experiences with Fleet Cycles at Fremantle and Perth, here in Western Australia.  The actions of Fleet Cycles have from my personal perspective cost them the sale of a new bike.  They had a roadie I was very interested in but since it was Fleet and given my experience with them I brought my Look 555 from TBE Belmont instead.  My experience with Fleet Cycles also contrasts with my very positive experiences with Bike Force Fremantle.

My first and main postings on Fleet Cycle are repeated below.  The first posting was originally posted in the Bicycles Network Australia forums on June 11, 2007. If interested you can click through for the remainder of the discussion.

Having just brought my first serious bike (Giant CRX 1) I thought I would share my experience with bike shops and Fleet Cycles in Fremantle in particular.

I should qualify this posting in that I am a raw newbie when it comes to cycling and had a Giant CRX 1 in mind based on advice from a couple of serious cycling friends. The purchase whilst being considered for some time, was a “spur of moment” thing on the day. That is decided to go look at bikes and walked out with a long cash-receipt docket.

Before going to Fleet I did drop in on two other bike shops in Fremantle, Bike Force and the one in South Street near the hospital (name escapes me).

The South Street bike shop had nothing to compare to the CRX 1 and indicated nothing was coming in. That ended things. This surprised me a bit as I have brought a bike for my son from them in the past and found them more informative at that time.

I then dropped into Bike Force. No Giants, fair enough. Asked about alternatives. “Yeah we have this this Trek – $1600.” That it? “Yep.” That was about the end of the conversation. Again didn’t seem interested in selling it to me or maybe I came accross as not interested. Don’t know but found them really not interested in treating me as a serious customer.

This lead me to Fleet. Big bike shop, lots of options. Had Giant’s including a CRX 1 but not in my size. Salesperson was very helpful, went over the bike, compared it against about three others for me. Highlighting postives and negatives. Had me try a couple for size so we worked out I needed a 55 CRX 1 if I was interested. He then went through accessories options (some I raised, e.g., panniers, shoes) and some he suggested. Felt he was trying and was giving reasonable advice given my experience and riding expecations.

Overall found him helpful with respect to advice and the selling price and pricing was good I think. Plus Fleet offer 10% off on all future purchases.

Now the downside. I picked the bike up on Saturday.

• • No effort was made to confirm that the seat hike was correct (it was and probably from the trying of bikes the week before) but would have liked this checked I think;
  • No advice given on rider adjustments, e.g, seat angle was not correct;
  • Clipless pedals not adjusted to the shoes I brought at the same time nor was I shown how to adjust them. I managed to work this out before my first ride but it was a frustrating 30 minutes.

In hindsight and this is partly my fault but I felt the advice on a computer and lights could have been better. I am already looking to upgrade the lighting and the computer after a week. Ah well. Just pays to do the research first I guess.

Summary: Good sales process, reasonable pricing, reasonably good advice given, but very disappointing in terms of setting up bike at pick-up.

My second and last dealing with Fleet Cycles was in August 2007 when I had my rear dérailleur snap and I leant first hand the experience of being treated by Fleet Cycles with contempt.  The thread related to this discussion can be found in the Bicycles Network Australia forum.

My opening posting in respect to my issue with the dérailleur follows:

On my run from Joondalup to Fremantle this evening I managed to snap off completely my rear dérailleur and snap my chain. Not 100% sure what happened but was coming up a short steep hill and I think I had just changed down a gear as there was a dad and his kid to get around while still putting on pressure for the climb.

Anyway the whole (dérailleur) snapped and then the chain popped a link.

I am interested in knowing what I did or what could have caused this to happen and secondly if it is likely to be a warranty repair? The later question really drives where I take it to get repaired. If not warranty I will go to my local lbs otherwise I need to take it into town to Fleet Cycles (more hassle).

Followed by this posting a few days latter:

Bike is two months old. Bike was serviced by Fleet Cycles last Friday. Bike is back in to Fleet Cycles today … bill is likely to be around $200. All they are offering is 10% off which I get as a bike purchaser anyway.

Will it ever go back to Fleet Cycles. Not unless it is a clear warranty issue.

Will I ever buy from Fleet Cycles again or recommend Fleet Cycles, no. Just one to many “issues.” This may or may not have been their fault. I don’t know, but there is just something about their approach … It does not work for me.

And again later on:

But the bike was serviced by Fleet Cycles on Friday so why would the dérailleur be misadjusted as per the manual?

I have told manager that I was very disappointed, will tell all and sundry of my experiences, will not purchase a bike from them, etc. Response was …. well basically there wasn’t a response.

They also reckon the bolt holding the guide pulley was pulled out when the chain jammed. I need to check the dérailleur for any evidence of thread damage.

I have decided to pick up the bike and the damaged dérailleur from Fleet first thing Friday morning, pay the bill, check it as carefully as I can, and then lodge a formal compliant with the DECP and Giant.

If nothing else it will give them the hassle of responding to this and they will have to demonstrate that they handled the service correctly and follow-up correctly.

BTW they also said the rear wheel was loose when I took it in last Friday. I hadn’t touched the rear wheel at all (all my punctures to that point had been the front tire) and saw no sign of this. Given the skewer lever sits in a formed locking point, can they come loose without intervention?

If interested I suggest you follow the links for the full thread.

If you have a disappointing experience with Fleet Cycles you would like to share, please post a comment here.  If you have a positive experience with Fleet Cycles you would like to share, I suggest you let Fleet Cycles know or post in the Bicycles Network Australia forums.  I am not interested in prompting Fleet Cycles and I don’t apologise for that.

Popularity: 6% [?]

Tags: Bike Force,CRX 1,Derailleurs,Fleet Cycles,Shimano
Categories: Commuting and Recreational
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This post provides a review, a service history and details of modifications of Chase, my 2007 Giant CRX 1 Flatbar which is currently my commuter and wet weather bike. Photos of Chase can be found here.

Maintenance Schedule | Specifications

Specifications

The specifications for Chase, a 2007 Giant CRX 1 can be found on Giant Australia’s website. The following variations now apply:

• Rear wheel is now a Shimano WH-RS10
• Shimano Deore M-530 front v-brake
• Shimano Ultegra SM-FC6600 BB [68 mm British thread]
• Race Face Ride XC seat post.

Maintenance

February 14, 2009 – 9,995 km

• 1,000 km service

• Cleaned the chain using a Park’s Tool CM-5 Cyclone Chain Scrubber and Lightening Grime Goblin degreaser;
• Re-lubed chain with Rock and Roll Gold chain lube;
• Lubed other moving parts;
• Cleaned  biked with car wash;
• Checked all fittings for tightness.

January 31, 2009 – 9,904 km

• The time has come to retire the Vittoria Zaffiro fitted to the front. This tyre has done 4,257 km. I have replaced it with a Continental Grand Prix 4000S which was on the front of the Look 555. I estimate this tyre has another 1000 to 1500 km in it.
• The Brooks B17 fitted to Chase does fit the original Giant seat post well and has creaked for sometime. It has also taken me sometime to track down the source of the creak.  Last year I temporarily switched the Brooks over to Julia my Giant XTC 2 and found I had no creak.  Investigating further, it seems the Brooks fitted to Julia’s two bolt post much better than the one on Chase. To cut a long story short I have now fitted a Race Face Ride XC seat post to Chase to hopefully eliminate the creak.  In the process I managed to crack the seat post collar … bit heavy handed … replacement collar $20.00. Ugh.

The Rock Face Ride XC seat post is 3D forged 6061 heated treated aluminium. The post fitted is 27.2 mm, 350 mm in length and weighs 295 grams.

January 15, 2009 – 9,815 km

• The new rear Shimano WH RS 10 rim broke a spoke. This rim was fitted to the bike on December 13, 2008 and has done 363 km. I weighed ~ 95 km at the time the spoke broke. The spoke wrapped itself around the axle as can be seen in the photo.

November 5, 2008

• Puncture on the front:  Only got a few kilometres up the road this morning en-route to the office before the front went down. I have had a good run with this tire, a Vittoria Zaffiro so okay with this.

November 3, 2008 – 8,801 km

• Arose this morning for commute north to Joondalup only to find the rear flat. Another battle with the Vittoria Randonneur ensured, one PBK tyre lever bit the dust and I found that what I suspect was a kink in the tube resulting in a small hole above the valve. Application of a Park Tools Super Patch was not successful so I bunged in a new tube. In the process I found a crack in the rim and then on further inspection more cracks. After speaking to Ric Churchill at Churchill Cycles I have a new rear Shimano WH-RS10 on the way and Churchill Cycles will lend me a rim (and swap over the cluster etc) while I wait for it to come in. A couple of photos of the cracks appear below.

November 2, 2008 – 8,782 km

• Removed the Continental Gatorskin from the rear (done 3,506 km – still okay as spare) and fitted a Vittoria Randonneur. Will see if they live up to the hype.

October 30, 2008 – 8,714 km

• Broke a spoke on my Shimano WH-R550 rear wheel en-route to work this morning. Dropped the bike into Joondalup City Cycles for the installation of a replacement spoke and to re-true the rear wheel. $42.00 later all is good, other than the new spoke is silver instead of black. Mind you this is apparently in with BMX riders, so maybe I am cool after all. This is the second rear spoke I have broken on this bike, with 3,967 km between incidents. I would suggest for 8,714 km, my weight, and riding on often less than ideal bike paths, this is not a bad run and the Shimano WH-R550s are holding up well.

October 20, 2008 -8,314 km

• Retired the Duro Stinger 28 mm rear tyre to the big green rubbish bin and fitted a Continental Gatorskin which has done about 2,972 km on the front. Really a stop-gap measure until I get a Vittoria Randonneur or similar tyre.
• The Categye BM-300g mirror was driving me up the wall as it had to sit up and the curved nature of the mirror along with the short horizontal connection meant it intruded into my hand space on the bars. Even moving all the controls inward a bit did not really help. I just found it frustrating to use, so have replaced with a Zefal Cyclop mirror which is a different shape. It has solved my hand placement issues, but it does not tighten as well as I would like and hence can be shaken out of its position fairly easily. Needed to add a washer to get more tension.

October 16, 2008 – 8,173 km

• Puncture in the rear whilst commuting to Joondalup this morning. This is the third puncture with the Duro Stinger 28 mm which has now done 935 km at a rate of 312 km per puncture.

October 15, 2008 – 8,146 km

• Puncture in the rear whilst commuting along the coast to Joondalup this morning. This is the second puncture with the Duro Stinger 28 mm which has now done 908 km at a rate of 454 km per puncture.

October 10, 2008 – 8,032 km

• 500 km service
  • Cleaned drive chain and lubed chain with Rock n’ Roll Gold;
  • Lubed other moving parts;
  • Cleaned and polished Chase using Turtle Wax products;
  • Adjusted L and H screws on front derailleur;
  • Released air pressure from tyres and went over them with a magnifying glass, removing glass and debris from cuts;
  • Removed and reinstalled seat post with Ritchey Liquid Torque to hopefully remove squeak;
  • Checked all fittings for tightness.

October 6, 2008 – 7,771 km

• Puncture in the rear. As I was at Anne’s I took the opportunity to patch the tube. This is the first puncture with the Duro Stinger 28 mm which has done 575 km.

September 19, 2008 – 7,374 km

• Replaced front Deore pads with a pair of Fibrax salmon pads (life span – 962 km);
• Replaced Shimano 105 chain (life span 1,874 km) with a KMC X 10 chain;
• Cleaned and polished the bike.

September 7, 2008 – 7,264 km

• Rear derailleur adjusted to hopefully improve shifting. The rear 105 derailleur appears to be pretty sensitive.

September, 1 2008 – 7, 238 km

• Replaced the Continental Gatorskin which was on the rear with a Duro Stinger 28 mm. A cheaper I picked up at Joondalup Cycle City to get me home as the wall of the Gatorskin came away from the bead.

July 7, 2008 – 6,540 km

• I have had a chance to ride a little bit (128 km) with the new front brake. My first impressions on a 20 km ride was that the new combination was not ideal, with a lack of moderation, but with another 100 km of riding I no longer have that feel and the pads appear to have bedded down and the new brakes are working effectively. Better than the Tektros? I am not sure I would go that far, but they are working effectively.

June 29, 2008 – 6,412 km

• Took on replacing the Tektro RX-5 85mm mini v-brakes on the front this morning, replacing them with a Shimano Deore M-530 front v-brake. Having not done this before, I thought it would be a pretty straight forward job and I know it will be next time! Removal and re-installation of the arms was straight forward. However, when I went to set the adjustment, I found one arm did not have spring tension at the correct pad gap. Of course, I didn’t read the manuals did I! Some a spent a fair bit of frustrating time trying different things to sort the problem before clicking to the fact that the braze on has three different spring holes, which assist with getting the spring tension correct. Funny that! Once I move the offending arm to the correct spring hole, the rest was plain sailing. I do however now have the arms in different spring holes, whereas thePark Tools Big Blue Book of Cycle Repair suggests that they should be mirrored. I will see how this works and adjust as necessary. The other issue is the cable length really needs adjusting as the v-brake arms are longer with the Deore brakes and hence the cable can be shorter, but I don’t have the necessary tools or cable at present so will fix this down the track.

Initial impressions in terms of braking, are that there is a significant improvement in braking. Further riding will confirm or otherwise of course.

June 28, 2008 – 6,412 km

• Removed the FSA (“Faulty Stuff Attached”) MegaExo bottom bracket (BB) and replaced it with a Shimano Ultegra SM-FC6600 BB [68 mm British thread] which I purchased from Chain Reaction Cycles for $22.00. I used a Park Tools BBT-19 BB Tool to install the new BB. All up a pretty straight forward job and the new BB seems to have fitted okay. Hopefully I will get a lot more than 6400 km out of it!

On the downside I also took the opportunity to replace the front brake pads and in the process stripped the thread on the fine adjuster on one of the front Tektro RX-5 85mm mini v-brakes arms! Called into Bike Force Fremantle and have picked up a Shimano Deore M-530 v-brake as a replacement. Hopefully this will fit okay and provide much better braking than the Tektro.

June 16, 2008

• Chase is currently off the road (June 16, 2008) due to a bottom bracket failure at 6400 kilometres. A replacement BB has been obtained from Chain Reaction Cycles and awaits installation.

June 4, 2008 – 6,218 km

• The Blackburn Quadrant light and the Sigma Sport Mirage EVO + EVO X Pro lights have now been removed and replaced by two Fenix L2D Premium Q5 torches mounted via two TwoFish Lockblocks.

May 26, 2008 – 6,000 km

• Fitted a new 700c x 23 Vittoria Zaffiro tyre to the front, removing the Continental Ultra GatorSkin with the intention of preserving its life for later fitting to the rear.
• Let the chain wear too much but now replaced it at 5,500 km with a new Shimano 105 chain which I picked up off e-Bay for a reasonable price. I suspect that I should have replaced the chain at around 4,000 km.
• Cleaned the chain at 6,000 km. Over winter will adopt a 500 km service interval.

November 11, 2007

• Well Chase has some new accessories today from ChainReactionCycles.com. They are
  • Brooks England B17 STD Steel Saddle in black. A bit retro but hey after 35 km already showing signs of being more comfortable than the OEM Velo seat;
  • Blackburn Quadrant 4 LED Front Wide Beam

Popularity: 19% [?]

Tags: Blackburn,Brakes,Brooks,CRX 1,Deore,Derailleurs,Fleet Cycles,FSA,Shimano,Tektro,Vittoria
Categories: Bicycle gear reviews, Competitive Cycling, Hiking
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