mr.smoot
05-11-2007, 11:41 AM
As of about a week ago I received the Corrida LT I ordered. I wanted to share my impressions of the bike, packaging, and otherwise after a couple of commutes and other rides.
1. Packaging
The bike arrived via FedEx in great condition, without any noticeable marks or otherwise. Everything was packed well in bubble wrap, foam, or cardboard, so it made the journey from Georgia just fine.
When I opened it up, I was happy to find the tools that I'd heard about. Even though I've got a pretty decent set of tools, it was nice to have a multitool that was guaranteed to have the allen keys needed for all of the bolts that'd need adjustment/tightening. The flat metal "wrench" was reasonably effective for installing the pedals, but I still wanted to go back with a regular wrench to finish the task.
2. Assembly
I was a bit surprised when I went through the torrent of manuals and small parts in plastic bags that there wasn't a 1 or 2-page "Welcome" document which indicated exactly what needed to be put together, what the recommended torque settings were, which parts should get grease, tighten these cables, and the like. Sorting through all the manuals to find specific adjustment and installation procedures was acceptable, but I would have preferred to have an outline of sorts which would refer me to the individual manuals for further details. There also seemed to be redundant manuals in the kit, so finding the proper one took a bit longer than I would have hoped.
I am not a bike mechanic by any means, but I was able to put the bike together in about an hour, so it wasn't too bad of an assembly procedure. I'd read on other threads and elsewhere about 30 minutes being the going rate, so I wondered if I'd missed something.
3. First ride/shakedown
When I finally got things assembled and had put on a rear fender ( I found that to my chagrin there were no dropouts on the front fork, so I had to go buy a plastic front fender since my full metal front could not be mounted), I took a shakedown ride to ensure that everything had been set OK before I started commuting the next day. The gear train shifted and worked smoothly; the seat was much more comfortable than I thought it would be at first glance. It's a good looking bike, but I admit it doesn't appear to be as responsive as it actually is. Maybe it's the larger rims or the flat bar, but I was pleasantly surprised at how it moved as my previous bike context was a Cannondale R300 (which wouldn't accept fenders at all) and an '87 Schwinn Tempo (which was the commuting bike before time consumed it). The disc brakes are wonderful and I'm definitely glad I bought one of the models with them. In a mixed way, I'm looking forward to when it rains to try them out (reasonably) and see if the additional confidence I felt with them on the dry pavement is extended into the wet. Compared with the standard road-bike brakes, I bet it'll be an improvement.
The first 2 commutes have been great. I am almost overwhelmed with the advent of 30 speeds, but the steep hill at the end of my ride is now much more manageable on a bike with that third chainring. Perhaps in time I'll get stronger and not need it anymore, but for someone who's getting back into regular commuting, having the ability to get up that hill is definitely more encouraging than having to stop every so often.
4. General suggestions/critiques
When I ordered the Ultimate, I was considering the LT Disc as well, but didn't want to wait. I admit the differences between the 2 blurred a bit in my mind, so perhaps a comparison page on the site would be a good idea. I knew I wanted something more than the CT, but the extra $100 was a decent tradeoff for not needing to wait 4-6 weeks for the bike. Maybe a comparison page to similar bikes by other manufacturers would be nice, too. The Novara Big Buzz is one of a few I can think of that are in the similar "urban" market and while it isn't as nice a bike, IMHO, it would still be nice to see what differentiates the Ibex line and company from the rest.
Also, I didn't find any adjustment guide or manual for the pedals. While they seem pretty similar to the Shimano MTB pedals I've had for 10 years, it would have been nice to have for reference. The one thing about the pedals that was confusing was the package of urethane encased screws that go on the 4 corners of the rat-trap side of the pedal. What am I supposed to do with those? Are they for replacement, height-adjustment, or something else? Didn't really know what to make of them.
All in all, a great experience with the buying process, shipping, and first runs. I'm pleased with the bike as a whole and didn't think I'd like the flat bar as much as I do.
Thanks for a great product.
1. Packaging
The bike arrived via FedEx in great condition, without any noticeable marks or otherwise. Everything was packed well in bubble wrap, foam, or cardboard, so it made the journey from Georgia just fine.
When I opened it up, I was happy to find the tools that I'd heard about. Even though I've got a pretty decent set of tools, it was nice to have a multitool that was guaranteed to have the allen keys needed for all of the bolts that'd need adjustment/tightening. The flat metal "wrench" was reasonably effective for installing the pedals, but I still wanted to go back with a regular wrench to finish the task.
2. Assembly
I was a bit surprised when I went through the torrent of manuals and small parts in plastic bags that there wasn't a 1 or 2-page "Welcome" document which indicated exactly what needed to be put together, what the recommended torque settings were, which parts should get grease, tighten these cables, and the like. Sorting through all the manuals to find specific adjustment and installation procedures was acceptable, but I would have preferred to have an outline of sorts which would refer me to the individual manuals for further details. There also seemed to be redundant manuals in the kit, so finding the proper one took a bit longer than I would have hoped.
I am not a bike mechanic by any means, but I was able to put the bike together in about an hour, so it wasn't too bad of an assembly procedure. I'd read on other threads and elsewhere about 30 minutes being the going rate, so I wondered if I'd missed something.
3. First ride/shakedown
When I finally got things assembled and had put on a rear fender ( I found that to my chagrin there were no dropouts on the front fork, so I had to go buy a plastic front fender since my full metal front could not be mounted), I took a shakedown ride to ensure that everything had been set OK before I started commuting the next day. The gear train shifted and worked smoothly; the seat was much more comfortable than I thought it would be at first glance. It's a good looking bike, but I admit it doesn't appear to be as responsive as it actually is. Maybe it's the larger rims or the flat bar, but I was pleasantly surprised at how it moved as my previous bike context was a Cannondale R300 (which wouldn't accept fenders at all) and an '87 Schwinn Tempo (which was the commuting bike before time consumed it). The disc brakes are wonderful and I'm definitely glad I bought one of the models with them. In a mixed way, I'm looking forward to when it rains to try them out (reasonably) and see if the additional confidence I felt with them on the dry pavement is extended into the wet. Compared with the standard road-bike brakes, I bet it'll be an improvement.
The first 2 commutes have been great. I am almost overwhelmed with the advent of 30 speeds, but the steep hill at the end of my ride is now much more manageable on a bike with that third chainring. Perhaps in time I'll get stronger and not need it anymore, but for someone who's getting back into regular commuting, having the ability to get up that hill is definitely more encouraging than having to stop every so often.
4. General suggestions/critiques
When I ordered the Ultimate, I was considering the LT Disc as well, but didn't want to wait. I admit the differences between the 2 blurred a bit in my mind, so perhaps a comparison page on the site would be a good idea. I knew I wanted something more than the CT, but the extra $100 was a decent tradeoff for not needing to wait 4-6 weeks for the bike. Maybe a comparison page to similar bikes by other manufacturers would be nice, too. The Novara Big Buzz is one of a few I can think of that are in the similar "urban" market and while it isn't as nice a bike, IMHO, it would still be nice to see what differentiates the Ibex line and company from the rest.
Also, I didn't find any adjustment guide or manual for the pedals. While they seem pretty similar to the Shimano MTB pedals I've had for 10 years, it would have been nice to have for reference. The one thing about the pedals that was confusing was the package of urethane encased screws that go on the 4 corners of the rat-trap side of the pedal. What am I supposed to do with those? Are they for replacement, height-adjustment, or something else? Didn't really know what to make of them.
All in all, a great experience with the buying process, shipping, and first runs. I'm pleased with the bike as a whole and didn't think I'd like the flat bar as much as I do.
Thanks for a great product.