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Carradice have stonkingly good customer service

(76 posts)
  • Started 13 years ago by Wilmington's Cow
  • Latest reply from Stickman

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  1. Wilmington's Cow
    Member

    So my quick release seatpost mount gave up the ghost, with the metal straps that loop round the post breaking away. All a bit perturbing. I dropped Carradice a line - now they did say that I'd probably overtightened them, which may be true, but the next day I had two free replacement straps, and a hint about putting an old inner tube round the seatpost which the straps then went round to give a bit more purchase.

    Used it this morning and all is rock solid - not been as secure as that the whole time I've used it!

    Posted 13 years ago #

  2. steveo
    Member

    And you have of course emailed Planet X to order a new seat post?

    I had a similar thing, the dowel arrived slightly damaged in the post when i ordered it. New one was dispatched the same day as I emailed to enquire and it arrived a couple of days later, this was just after Christmas.

    Posted 13 years ago #

  3. amir
    Member

    I am tempted to ask for a Carradice for Christmas. On the other hand, Tom has tempted me to ask for a breadmaker!

    Posted 13 years ago #

  4. amir
    Member

    Where did you get your saddle bags? I note that biketrax sell them but they don't seem to have them in stock. I'd like to see one first.

    Posted 13 years ago #

  5. Wilmington's Cow
    Member

    I popped into BikeTrax the other day and they had a wlal of them. Just made me wish I'd got the green one with honey leather rather than the black and white I have...

    I bought mine direct from Carradice.

    Posted 13 years ago #

  6. chdot
    Admin

    Wall of Carradice.

    Posted 13 years ago #

  7. Nelly
    Member

    Anth, I had exactly same problem - self inflicted I reckon like you - but same as you, got new bands 24 hours later with same tip !

    p.s. My longflap is the green / honey, and it is stonking looking.

    Amir, biketrax told me they basically wait on carradice sending them a supply before they know what they are getting - sounds odd, but I can say, these bags are well worth the wait - it will probably last +20 years.

    Posted 13 years ago #

  8. kaputnik
    Moderator

    In the past I seem to remember thebikechain saying that they had given up on Carradice as a supplier as they were just too uncooperative or something. Perhaps I was imagining it.

    Posted 13 years ago #

  9. amir
    Member

    Thanks - I'll need to make a trip to BikeTrax one of these lunchtimes.

    Any downsides to these saddle bags?

    Posted 13 years ago #

  10. steveo
    Member

    I love mine though that nice green fades to a slightly pastey impression of its self.

    You'll probably want the qr attachment, it makes it much easier to get the bag on and off and gives you a handle off the bike.

    Biggest down side is cost. But it's good value. Mine has rubbed on the tyre a few times and has once jumped in to the tyre and locked up the back wheel bag was fine.

    Posted 13 years ago #

  11. Nelly
    Member

    +1 steveo, I reckon thats why I overtightened the qr strap, worry about wheel rub. However, the bit of inner tube works.

    Amir, mine has proved brilliant in all weathers - and camper longflap can get an astonishing amount in - mine seems 'too big' sometimes on the commute.

    Posted 13 years ago #

  12. DaveC
    Member

    I borrowed one a couple of weeks ago on a Sunday ride. I had the ~7ltr (forgotten the bag name). Thanks for the idea of one for Christmas. I'll tell SWMBO.

    Posted 13 years ago #

  13. thebikechain
    Member

    There are only so many times I will phone a number that is never answered.

    Would love to offer this product but simply can't rely on a supply.

    Posted 13 years ago #

  14. Arellcat
    Moderator

    I think I bought my little Super C panniers in about 2005, so actually they're barely run in yet (and embarassingly black still). Carradice sold me a second hook attachment system to put on my EBC panniers for my USA/Canada trip. I managed to destroy the panniers en route, but the hooks were fine! Although I bought specialist Arkels to replace those ones, I did consider going for a pair of Super C saddlebags adapted with hooks.

    I have an old Carradice rack bag that's all faded and had a drink spilled on it at one time, so the zipped lid has a slightly tie-dyed effect now.

    I've recommended Super Cs to a few people at my work, and they've thought highly of them too.

    Posted 13 years ago #

  15. PS
    Member

    While we're on the subject of good customer service, when I shoulder-barged the Pennines earlier this year the injury-based pain was compounded by the fact that I was wearing my Rapha stowaway jacket which, as a direct result of my incompetence, gained a number of holes about the shoulder, hip and elbow. That's some expensive pain right there.

    Got in touch with Rapha; they said send it in, which I did, and they did a really good job of patching it up and closing the holes in a very neat manner. Free of charge. I guess I paid for it in the purchase price, but nice to know that level of service is there.

    Posted 13 years ago #

  16. chdot
    Admin

    Is that a Carradice? -

    http://thebicycle.tumblr.com/post/12190417486/sir-jimmy-saville-great-photo-from-the-cycling

    Posted 13 years ago #

  17. DaveC
    Member

    JS, and a candidate for Cycle chic by the looks of it....

    Posted 13 years ago #

  18. chdot
    Admin

    Bigger pic

    Bike is one of these -

    http://www.classicrendezvous.com/British_isles/Ellis_briggs_main.htm

    Still in business

    Posted 13 years ago #

  19. Jackson Priest
    Member

    I was gannin doon London Road last night behind a cyclist with one of those Carradice saddle bags. The bag was swinging from side-to-side with every pedal stroke like a really crazy side-to-side swingy thing. Are they supposed to do this?

    I think they look v. cool on a certain type of bike, eg Jim'll's, but the aforementioned swingyness must surely annoy.

    Posted 13 years ago #

  20. Wilmington's Cow
    Member

    JP, yep, on every mount they seem to swing, but there is a happy 'modification' spirit that seems to have sprung up amongst Carradice users (there's even a website devoted to homemade mounts and the like for them). The QR seatpost clamp that Steveo has, and I have as well, is a bit better, but I'm contemplating more secure ways to really 'stick' the bag to the handle-mount attachment bit.

    Oooooh me lads, ye shud only seen us gannin',
    We pass'd the bikes upon the road an' thor bags wor swingin';
    Thor wes lots o' lads an' lasses there, all wi' smiling faces,
    Gawn alang the London Road, wi packed oot Carradices.

    Posted 13 years ago #

  21. Biketrax2
    Member

    Newbie here, (to this site anyway). At last I have managed to register after many computer glitches.
    Biketrax do have a range of Carradice in stock at present, and we have the 'Bagman' carrier that you can use to prevent the saddlebag sway.
    Expanded range of Carradice products on the way, including some natty new multi tools.

    Posted 13 years ago #

  22. Claggy Cog
    Member

    Welcome BT2...I will have missed your summer Sunday openings this year now, I am assuming? Brookes and Carradice seemed to go together in the past with the saddles having strap fittings under the back, and things have moved on since then with the bagman etc.

    Posted 13 years ago #

  23. Wilmington's Cow
    Member

    Liz, the last time I was admiring the 'Wall of Carradice' in BikeTrax I noticed they had an adaptor for saddles without the little loops - essentially it attached under the saddle, completely out the way, and created two saddle loops.

    I'll say it again, I love the bodge-y nature of Carradice.

    And not wishing to take sales away from a bike shop, but I've got a spare Bagman (non-QR) if anyone wants to try it.

    Posted 13 years ago #

  24. Jackson Priest
    Member

    Anth, your modification skills obviously extend to lyrics as well as saddle bags. I applaud you.

    So, the Carradice is naturally swingy, but its swingy nature affords tinkering opportunities. I think if I bought one I'd rather tinker with it than buy an off-the-shelf solution. There's nothing better than a bit of tinkering to occupy oneself in the long dark winter evenings.

    Biketrax 2 - hello. If I was to purchase a Carradice bag, is there any particular bike that you'd recommend as an accessory to it? I don't think either of my current bikes would particularly suit it.

    Posted 13 years ago #

  25. Biketrax2
    Member

    Hi Liz, Sunday openings are still happening at Biketrax, at least until the end of this year.
    And Hi JP, as i've just joined this forum, i'm not sure what type of stead you ride, but yeah, just pop in sometime and we can can point you in the right direction, I'm sure.

    Posted 13 years ago #

  26. Wilmington's Cow
    Member

    JP, I'm off to St James's on Saturday for the game against Everton - been humming along all week. As well as randomly shouting 'Geordies!' and declaring myself to be a member of a monochromatic fighting force.

    And I really fancy a good tinker now...

    Posted 13 years ago #

  27. Jackson Priest
    Member

    Oh, that'll be good fun - The Toon are somewhat massively surprisingly on fire at the moment, aren't they?

    Are you taking your bike? I cycled down to Hartlepool (only from Berwick though - cheat) in the summer and went through the cyclist's version of the Tyne Tunnel. Hadn't even known it existed until a few weeks before - think I heard of it from a link from a link from a link from a link from here originally. It's well retro.

    @BT2 - thanks! I will! (Just need to save up first.)

    Posted 13 years ago #

  28. Wilmington's Cow
    Member

    JP, I can guarantee the good run ends on Saturday if I'm there. But I keep going, whether we're good or bad (I was born in Wallsend, it's in the blood).

    Sadly not taking the bike, but got an inkling to ride to my sister's house of a weekend when the nights start getting lighter again. Could loop to the south of the city then up through the tunnel and out to her place! Hmmmm....

    Anyway, OT (though it IS my thread!). I did think about going to panniers this winter but partly due to watching the pennies over job insecurity, and partly because I prefer the weight distribution of the Carradice higher up, I stuck with the good ole' Brit classic (though I had been thinking about Bike Bins which are also British through and through).

    Posted 13 years ago #

  29. amir
    Member

    Well done the Toon!

    Posted 13 years ago #

  30. amir
    Member

    Have just ordered the Nelson Longflap with the QR system. Next I will grow a beard.

    Posted 13 years ago #

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