I should have known better! This is not the first time I had issues with Erik's Bike Shop. The last time with bad customer service and issues was about 20 years ago when I got my son his first bike. So I had hoped they improved, but have not. So here I sit with a $3,400 bike and only have been able to ride 11 days this year and 8 weeks in the shop.
Last year, I was looking to replace my 8-year-old e-bike (Surly Long Haul Trucker with a Bionx D-500 kit). That bike has over 13,000 miles on it with only minor repairs (same rim and spokes). I also have a Juiced Bike RipCurrentS, and a RAD Mission. Being a heavier rider, I have always been cautious about the spoke strength. On June 7, 2022, I went to Erik's Bike Shop in Eagan where they had a sale. It was there I found the Diamondback Current, and it was on sale for $3,450 out the door.
Before I purchased the bike, I spoke at length with the sales staff about my concerns over my size, strength, and experience/fear of rear spoke breaks. I explained 20 years ago I started focusing on the spoke strength as I had issues with breaks and sought out a beefier wheel. In four of my last five bikes, no issues with spokes. The one issue, I took a risk on a Fuji road bike and sure enough, the spokes broke so I had a custom wheel built, and no issues since. This wheel looked similar to the one I had issues with and had a rebuilt wheel completed. The salesman said, "A properly tensioned wheel will not be an issue". I asked again, and a second time, he said it should not be an issue. So I trusted the statements and purchased the bike.
Since my Bionx was still working well, I rode the Diamondback less than 300 miles the first year. Then in April of 2023, I started riding the Diamondback more. After about 400 miles, I noticed a spoke broke, right at the hub. Since I was away on vacation, I had the spoke replaced but only was able to ride 2 of my 7 planned vacation days! I came home and rode about another 100 miles and a spoke broke, same spot, right at the hub. That was four commutes to work on paved trails and no rough patches. So I took it to Eric's and over 24 days later, I got it back.
I rode it less than 150 miles (6 bike commutes), and another spoke break, right at the hub. On June 20, I took it back to Erik's where I expressed my disappointment about the spokes and suggested a stronger wheel. I was told they would call me "tomorrow" with options. It was on June 23 (days later) I got a call and expressed my issue and concerns, just like when I bought it. He suggested installing stronger spokes and said the bike should be ready on July 5. I told them I would hope to have it for my trip out of town starting on the 8th. I called on July 5 and was informed that the rim can handle larger spokes and suggested a new wheel (over $225 fix). I informed him I was leaving on vacation and really wanted to take the bike. He stated that it should be done on July 12 but not before I leave.
In frustration, I accepted the staff's statements and hoped to have the bike when I returned. Since I did not hear from them I called them on July 16, I was informed they expect to have it ready on July 24. Now the bike has been in the shop for over two months, and I rode it 11 days this year.
The moral of my rant is do not trust the staff at Erik's Bike Shop. Not sure how they stay in business? Well I do, they sell bikes to suckers like me. I have found my bike knowledge may exceed their staff (who I think are more concerned to make a sale than listening to a customer's concerns) and when I expressed concerns based on my knowledge, they said no issue. read more