ANGRY!!!

I will NEVER buy anything from this LBS anymore...

First, I was overcharged to a tune of $250 for a pair of wheels.
(I took W's word that the previous shipment was marketed at a bargain price due to distributor's error...)
A fellow rider got a similar set of wheels for $250 less, a week later!!!

I complained to AC and let the matter rest.
That is till W decided to burst my blood vessels this afternoon!

****

Out on its third ride this morning, the wheels are giving me a weird bump.
As I rode along, I tried to make an analysis while spinning...

Without cranking, the bump is still present, so nothing to do with the chains...

Front or rear? Initially I thought it was from the rear... But the more I rode, I can safely say that the bump is coming from the front...

Would spinning faster get rid of the bump? Nope...

Met Joyce along the way and told her my wheels felt funny, but I cannot figure why...

She started drafting me and the bumping is forgotten.

The peloton came along and I decided to give chase...
Racing down the slope towards Mandai Lake Road, the wheels is threatening to fall apart!!!
Decided to play safe and stop at the bus stop just before the Zoo entrance.

Did a visual check on the front wheel but find nothing amiss.

Maybe the wheels is not seated properly into the fork...
So I remove the wheels and replace them again.

Started cycling towards Mandai Shell.
By this time, the entire team has already rode past.

Did a slow ride.
The bump is still present...
Can see the entire group waiting for me at Mandai Shell.
I do not dare to ride fast.
I have already wave the white flag...
There is no way I am going to Amoy Street this morning, not even the short loop. =(
There is no way to tell them... Sorry guys...

Stopped at Mandai Shell and dismantle the wheel again.
Did an intensive visual inspection.
Feel all round the wheel and rim...
Gosh, the rim feels hot!!!
Second time, this heaty thing is happening again.
On a different set of wheels!!!
What is happening?

Could there be something wrong with the fork?
Look at the fork from all angles....
Looks okay leh...

Putting the whole bike back in place, I decided to spin slowly home.
Less than 50m later, I decided to stop....
It is very hard to continue with the omnipresence of the bump...
Is it finally time to hail a cab? This is so un-Jodan....

Decide to do the last visual inspection.
During this last visual inspection, I found a disturbing sight!
Part of the tire has come unseated!!!

(Actually this part never crossed my mind till when I am writing this!)
With the tube flowing out over the rim, I am very very very lucky not to have a burst tire.
Tube with rim contact, tube with the hot rim...
I'm flirting with disaster...

Deflat the tire and remove the tire to check.
Gosh... the beads are already flat.

What do I do now?
Decided to fit back the wheel and see how it goes.
Hmm... the tire seems to sit nicely into the wheel.
Decided to roll home...
No pedalling if necessary, just roll.
Let's hope the tire can hold till I made it home.
Else I will definitely need to fly home by Air Comfort.

While rolling home, thoughts are how W will react?
Will he change the tire for me without question?
Will he ask me to pay for a new tire?
Given the past dealings with him, I truly have no confidence in him liao.

****

W was not on the shopfloor when I went down to the LBS in the afternoon.
Show A the wheel.
He brought the tire upstairs to show W.
W came down and smile at me, without saying a word and left the shop.
A din say a word as well.
Part of the shop's display has fell, so I let A and H sort out the stuff before questioning A.

A : "We will re-align the wheel"
J : "And...?"
A : "Err...."
J : "Are you going to use back the same tire?"
A : "Err..."
J : (raised voice) "This is RIDICULOUS! If I exchange my tire with yours, will you use this?!?!
This case is so straightforward! I just got the wheel and tire recently! You know that!"
A : "Will let W come back and talk to you."
A went to the coffeeshop and went to have a long talk to W.

Jodan's thoughts : W still need advice from A? Straightforward case still need to have such a long conversation?

When W comes back, he ask me how the incident happen.
He need to explain to the distributor...

Gosh.... that is more like it...
But W, you really mess things up!
If you have told me that initially, this post will not have even surface.
Your $250 story would have been buried.

I got the tire replacement.
There is no wheel re-alignment though...
Not that I wish to stay another second in the LBS...