Mechanics and Fixing Any Questions Answered

Close, Vitus!

Definitely worth sending them an email. The brand’s idea of acceptable blemishes might be different from the factory. Fork steerer isn’t a place I (as a brand or a consumer) would take a gamble on.

If they fobbed you off, go to your reputable LBS and ask them for their thought, and an email from them if you can.

This way you got a LBS stating it’s not worth riding with that risk to Wiggle.

Just ask for a refund/replacement if you're not comfortable. That's your right with mail order goods, no argument neceassary.

Have spoken to Wiggle, they dont have any more stock, so will only offer a refund. It's a nice frame and got a good deal so keen to see if I can get a replacement fork but not getting anywhere with live chat. Appreciate Wiggle/CRC/Vitus are probably in a state of chaos at the moment so not holding out too much hope.will send a further email

In addition the frame came with no protective packaging, except at the bottom of the box, box of fixings ripped open, fork loose under the frame and an old chocolate bar wrapper inside ! Looks like a return that hasn't been repacked, though they say they don't resend out returns so no idea what's going on. Feel like at least some form of compensation / gesture of goodwill should be due.

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love chat.

You might be coming on a bit too strong.

an old chocolate bar wrapper inside

Worst Haribo substitute ever

Ha!

My thoughts exactly !

That’s why it’s discounted; soiled stock

It's not a special skill; cutting guides aren't worth a pinch of shit. Better off eyeing up a strip of tape and cutting up to that.

I put a hose clamp around the steerer and cut against that.

At least the void is on the back of the steerer, right?

Pretty shoddy delivery though, all told

A cut-off wheel on a Dremel gives you slightly better control than a hacksaw, too.

But at the end of the day, it only needs to be straight enough; the top of an ISP would be more critical

The saga continues... Wiggle say it's just a bit of over sanding! perfectly safe to ride. I then speak to Vitus directly and they tell me absolutely not to ride it as it maybe unsafe ! Crazy

O_o

Wiggle have offered a refund. Not sure what else they can do.

Everything else so far has removed with no bother, other than a particularly stubborn plastic gear ferrule that was wedged in the stop. There's no visible signs of corrosion, other than the seatpost bolt, even the exposed section of stem where it enters the steerer is actually completely clean, which is why I'm a bit baffled

Update. I cut the seatpost bolt off with an angle grinder, seatpost came out no bother, actually greased quite well.

The stem has been a bit trickier. I got it moving about a quarter turn, but not up or down no matter what I tried. The face of it snapped when pulling on the bars, and it only moved using a scaffold pole on the remaining stump. Cut the stem off with angle grinder, decided to dissolve out the remaining lump with caustic soda. Now, I've never actually tried this before, but I got all my safety goggles sorted, gloves, set up a rig in the garden to make sure it didn't fall over, poured the caustic soda solution in, and it instantly fizzed and bubbled like nothing else. Within about 20mins almost all the stem was gone. Awesome.

Except what I hadn't noticed was the the bubbling solution had squirted up through the steerer into the crown of the fork, and it dissolved that too. So the fork is fucked, and I'm finding it hard to find a 650c rim brake fork anywhere. Great fun.

is there a special name for the clips used to attach brake hose to DT here? or should i just use a zip tie and be done with it

The clips always pop off apparently… I cba to deal with that and just go for zip ties.

I also thought some thread might be nice :)

Ziptie it, the C-clips are just about ok for middle of the bike duties but always pop off the first one.

I have a 650c frame and fork you’re welcome to but it’s been outside for ages so not best condition.

Can't be in worse condition than these forks, that's for sure! Could you PM me some photos?

Thank you both - zip ties it is !

Hydraulic brake newbie
Is there any advantage to braided cable over standard? Can you use braided cables on drops or would it not bend enough?