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But I was told prior to purchase by both Matt and Caren the frame would take a 42mm 650b tyre, so you would expect 4mm of clearance on either side of the chain stays. At one point I had Caren denying she had ever said this, but I had the email to back it up.
When the bike first arrived a wheel with a 38mm tyre couldn't even turn because it caught the chain stay . It was returned and adjusted. but only to give about 45mm of spacing on the chain stays, so still not enough, also it was not evenly spaced on both sides.
It was returned again and came back with adequate clearance but only 129.9mm spacing at the dropouts. So had to be returned again.
And that is before I detail the problems with late delivery, misplacing of my parts (when the bike had been returned to Isen), rudeness etc etc.
dancing james-
I would normally keep out of build threads, but just thought I would clarify a couple of points.
There was definitely a communication error in regards to tyre clearance and size. Early on in the process of building the first batch of Isens I did show maximum nominal clearance using a dummy wheel, which you understood to be tyre size. That wasnt what I meant, but that was just bad communication on my behalf, and I was happy to take the bike back and modify it for you due to your tyre rim combo coming up much larger than their stated size. We then took it back to give you more mud clearance, although there was sufficient clearance for a true 42 tyre, just not your tyre/rim combo, which came up larger. I dont think we had anticipated that the first batch was going to be such a learning curve, and we did have numerous issues with things such as chainstay clearance for cranks and tyres due to the manufacturers tube profiling not being uniform, reverse threaded BB's, the fact we had no idea how people were going to build their bikes, what components they would end up using not to mention the massive jump in admin and logistics for this number of bikes were the main take homes from this. I'm very greatful for you using your large knowledge of bikes, their construction methods and regulations regarding them to iron out your issues. I do wonder whether you were expecting that these issues would have been ironed out before, the problem for us was that we didnt know that they were going to happen, and only found out once we had started building at this scale. The disocunt on the first batch was in part to get a lot of Isens out at once, and also to acknowledge that it was a leap of faith for people to buy an unknown bike, from a company that had never built at this scale before.
As to the rear spaciing being out, again I'm sorry that happened. As I explained, when the stays were dimpled for your extra clearance they pulled it in. I respaced it, but clearly there was still tension in it, and by the time it got to you it had reverted to being undersized. I then respaced it again for you and I assume it is still 135mm now?
Not sure the specifics of the late delivery, was that the issue with parcel force? I think part of the later communications issues was that your wife became involved, and it became quite hard to know who knew what. This was another helpful lesson for us to learn, and we try and keep as much comms and decisions on email. Normally you would have only dealt with Caren or Anna, but after you had shouted at Caren twice, she didnt feel comfortable talking with you on the phone, or for you to speak to Anna, so you got stuck with me, which no one wants. I realise it was clearly stressful for you, but hopefully you can see how that caused us some issues?
I dont know what parts we misplaced, but we did give you £135 worth of di2 cables, and 2 bottom brackets free of charge to help you get your bike running. Again, I know you were disapointed you couldnt use your CK BB, but it just protuded too far to allow the Di2 cable to run down the CS, it was an old model which has since been updated with a shorter threaded section to allow for this, but there is nothing we could have done to avoid that.
As for the shipping, we paid for both collection and return no? if I remember correctly the first time your wife shouted at me was when the parcel force courier I'd arranged didnt knock/ring number she had left on the door? I know how annoying couriers can be, but there really wasnt anything I could have done. Are you counting you coming to drop it off/collect the final time as a cost incurred? I thought you did that to avoid the courier issues happening again?
I would take issue with you saying we were rude. I know how stressful it is when things dont go to plan, and have always tried to sort out customers issues when they arise, I truly don't like people being unhappy with me or the bikes I've made. I'm not sure if you interpreted caren not wanting to talk to you as rudeness, that wasn't the intention, we were just trying to de-escalate.
If you've got any other issues, just email me and I will see what I can do to sort them out, and I really am sorry you found the whole situation so stressful, if it is any consellation we learnt a lot from your issues, and the batch as a whole, and I'm very grateful to you for that.
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If those Resolutes actually measure up at 42mm I'll eat my hat