What To Know When Buying A Bike Online
Still unsure if it’s safe to buy a bicycle online? Then read on. When buying something as important as a bike, you need to know who and where you’re getting it from. Quality and the retailer’s pre-adjustments are vital. Certain measures need to be taken before you are sent the bike and you yourself make the required adjustments before hitting the road for the first time. After that, buying a bike online is every bit as safe as doing so at a physical store and getting in touch with the retailer is easy even after your purchase. You also have the added luxury of being able to weigh up your options in peace – from the comfort of your sofa! This article describes how we do things at Bikester and we cannot guarantee that all online bicycle retailers do things the same way.
By The Time You Get Your Bike
Most established retailers have a first-rate workshop and experienced mechanics. We receive all our bikes directly from the supplier, after which they are sent to our very own Bikester workshop for inspection by mechanics with up to 20 years’ experience in bike assembly and repairs. Bike components, tyres and brakes as well as all the nuts and screws are checked twice. Here’s how it happens:
Stage 1: Gearing
Whether you have chain or internal hub gearing, it’s important you can rely on it to work as it should. Gears that have been perfectly adjusted increase ride efficiency and comfort. If your gearing is rattling, it usually just needs a bit of fine-tuning. It’s nonetheless worth asking a bike mechanic to take a look at your gearing sooner rather later, before the problem worsens.
Stage 2: Adjusting the Tyres
Tyres aren’t always properly fitted when a bike is delivered to us from the manufacturer. That’s why we give them our full attention, making sure they’re properly fitted before the bike is delivered to you.
Stage 3: Adjusting the Brakes
Both mechanical and hydraulic brake systems need to be adjusted and inspected by a qualified bike mechanic before their safety is 100% guaranteed. We carry out a test on each bike’s brakes before they’re dispatched.
Stage 4: The Final Test
Here our mechanics carefully double-check all the screws, brakes, suspension elements, bearings and chains – everything that’s important for your safety. Every single bicycle that’s packaged and ready for delivery has passed our mechanics’ quality control, something that’s confirmed by the signature of the mechanic on the package you receive
"Every single bicycle that is packaged ready for delivery has passed the quality control of a Bikester mechanic, who signs the package you receive."
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What You Need To Do Once Your Bike Arrives
It would be great if you could just open the box and hop onto your bike, wouldn’t it? However, to ensure you bike arrives undamaged, its front wheel, handlebar and pedals are usually removed from the frame. This, of course, isn’t done to slow things down once you get your hands on your bike, but rather to protect your new two-wheeler as much as possible. For this reason, it’s essential you make the final adjustments at home before embarking on your first ride. We send all the tools and parts you need as well as clear instructions with pictures and a step-by-step guide for assembly. Even with a detailed manual, some of the parts can be tricky to put in place if you’ve never assembled a bike before. Our video below shows how to assemble and adjust a bike. We highly recommend you watch it before getting to work to be sure you’re doing everything right and your bike is completely safe and secure.
Do you have any questions, or would you like to make any special adjustments to your bike?
In order to pre-empt any issues and to get your bike on the road as smoothly as possible, we’ve put together a list of videos with solutions to the most common issues one faces when biking. The troubleshooting videos below provide information about how to fix little problems that may occur. However, if you don’t find an answer to your problem, you can contact our customer service. We’ll be happy to help, whatever your problem!
Maintenance and Wear
Watch the video for tips on how to clean your bike as well as what parts you should change regularly to improve safety and performance.
Bent Wheel
If your bike has suspension, the suspension fork and shock absorbers should be adjusted according to your weight. See how it’s done.
Punctured Tyre or Loose Chain
In case disaster strikes and you get a flat tyre or your chain slips off, it’s helpful to know how to fix it. Watch the video here
Fine-tuning and Ergonomics
See how to adjust your bike for the perfect seating angle and seat height as well as how you adjust your bike according to your individual needs.
Frame Adjustments
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