Wheelworks encourages you to build your bike with all of the customization you desire. You can mix and match componentry to your heart's content. As you go through the bike buying process, you'll note that each bike manufacturer has several component gruppo part configurations for their bicycles. Complete bike pricing is derived from this Standard Road Kit offered by the manufacturer and can be a great value do to their tremendous buying power.
What are the advantages of our Standard Road Kit? Suppliers are leveraged to drive down prices on the most popular componentry, which in turn allows us to offer the lowest possible prices to you. Your final complete bike price is simply a function of the extent to which you choose (or choose not) to modify our Standard Road Kit. Given today that bikes are loaded with the lightest, most durable, highest quality components made -- Thomson, Easton, Selle Italia, Shimano, and Continental just to name a few -- many folks feel no need to make any substitutions to it whatsoever.
How can I compare the bikes that interest me?
You can customize any of our bikes as extensively as you'd like. You can choose the size, color, and component gruppo that interest you. As you revise or refine your choices, we will work our magic and get you the best pricing possible.
Wheelworks wants to work with you to design your bike and empower you to make educated decisions about the process. We don't want you to feel obligated to purchase anything, but we will do everything in our power to help support you and your choices.
How will my frame be prepped?
Every frame that comes through our doors will be fully prepped at no additional charge. We chase/face the bottom bracket, we face the headtube, we hone the seat tube if necessary, and we chase the threads of the derailleur hanger and the water bottle bosses. We also check the alignment of the frame.
How will my bike be assembled?
When Wheelworks builds you a complete bike, we prep the frame, and then build it with an extreme eye for detail. You can be assured that your bike is not being manhandled by some frustrated bike racing college kid who's doing time as a seasonal, minimum-wage employee. We will treat your bike as though it is our own. Our level of commitment to an impeccable build is reflected in each bike that rolls out our door. Wheelworks is not a sweatshop and we take our craft seriously. Our approach is a patient one, where we combine our years of experience with your specific needs to deliver a bike that will shift crisply, brake solidly, stay in adjustment, and look as though it's ready for a parade lap around the Champs-Élysées.
If your preference is to build your own bike, we welcome you to do so. We'll still prep your frame and check its alignment before shipping everything out to you. If you prefer to do your own build and you purchase a frameset and a complete component kit from us (this means everything except pedals, bottle cages, and computer -- with no other deletions), we will deduct $75 from the price of the bike. Please note, however, that once this $75 deduction is made, we will charge for any labor we perform on an item-by-item basis (i.e. installing a bottom bracket or installing headset cups).
Do you offer a military discount?
Yes! We've earned the business of scores of cyclists stationed at Camp Frank Merrill. And in the years we've been in business, we've been lucky enough to befriend members of the US military all across the globe. We're deeply grateful for their daily sacrifices in defending our freedom. We want to show our appreciation by offering a 10% discount every day on every purchase for active duty members of the US military. The discount is valid whether you're stationed in the US or overseas. Proof of service will be required. Please note that our military discount cannot be combined with any other discount.
What methods of payment do you accept?
We accept all major credit cards -- Visa, MasterCard and Debit Cards. We also accept direct bank wire payments and certified check payment. Currently we are not setup to accept Discover or American Express cards.
If you're planning on using your debit card, please note that debit cards typically have a daily limit not exceeding $1000. Please discuss this limit with your card-issuing bank, as they will often give you a brief window to make a charge over this daily limit at your request. Card-issuing banks are very eager to prevent fraud, and they oftentimes decline cards for your protection. As such, it assists us greatly in getting your bike out the door if you proactively call your card-issuing bank to inform them of the impending charge.
How long will it take 'til I see my order?
If you're ordering a bike or a frameset, which is not in our stock, we will contact the manufacturer and try obtaining a firm date. Product availability is out of our control, but we strive to get it shipped to us as soon as possible. Some times of the year it takes a bit longer, some times it takes a bit less. We can give you a rather reliable estimate when you place your order.
If you're ordering components, clothing, or accessories, we'll do our best to have it in the store within a day or two. Depending on the manufacturer, the specific part and other factors, though, it might take 5 business days or more for the items to arrive at our shop. Due to the nature of special order items, you may be required to leave a deposit or pre-pay. This will be discussed when you place your order.
If delivery of your order is time-sensitive, please let us know. Additional charges will be added to cover over-night shipping costs.
How about international orders?
Absolutely yes. We strive to provide our international customers with the same quality of service. Please note that you will inevitably have to pay duties, customs, taxes, brokerage fees, etc, on your order once it arrives. Given that these costs vary based on your country of residence and the value of your order, we are unable to provide you with any information or estimates of these expenses. You can be guaranteed one fact, though: You will be charged for all such costs. We implore you to contact UPS and/or your government for information on such matters. If you refuse a package due to the fact that you get sticker shock over the amount of these fees, you will be charged for both outgoing and incoming shipping fees, and you will also be responsible for all of UPS refused shipment charges. Also, Canadians please note the following: You are the one country that has the option of UPS Ground service. While the shipping rates themselves are quite cheap, you will be responsible for UPS's brokerage fees, which run approximately $41 CDN.
We are unable to provide any currency conversion information, as your bank or credit card will have its own methodology for such a currency exchange. You can use websites such as XE.com to get a good guess as to current exchange rates.
We are sometimes asked to minimize the declared value of international shipments in order to minimize your exposure to duties, taxes, and customs. Please don't bother to ask. We will not comply with such requests for two reasons: (1) Governments scare us. Our belief is that lying to a government is something to be saved for special occasions. We don't do it as a regular business practice. (2) The insured value of an international shipment cannot exceed its declared value for customs.
Do I have to pay sales tax?
Wheelworks operates in the lovely state of Georgia. If we are shipping your purchase to a destination outside of Georgia, you won't be charged sales tax.
Do you match prices?
We do our best to keep our prices as low as possible. Ask us if we can match a price. Our answer won't always be "yes", but we'd at least like the opportunity to consider it.
Keep in mind that in terms of complete bike purchases price-matching isn't always as simple as it appears. We like to make sure we're comparing apples-to-apples. There can be great variance in the cost; some retailers choose to cut corners by using second-rate parts. When comparing prices, please make sure to keep an eye out for such details!
What is the warranty on my frame?
For all of our brands, the standard caveats about warranty coverage are applicable:
1. It is at the discretion of either the importer or manufacturer to repair or replace your frameset as they see fit. It is also at the complete discretion of the importer or manufacturer to determine whether your frame is warrantable or not.
2. You are responsible for all shipping and labor costs associated with warranty evaluation and warranty repair/replacement.
3. The warranty evaluation and repair/replacement process takes a bit of time. As much as we'd like to rush the process through as fast as we can, we're oftentimes at the mercy of the process. Please bear with us as the process runs its course.
Can I backorder a frame or item that isn't in stock?
This is a rather common situation for two reasons: (1) Our European manufacturing friends are a bit fickle about scheduling the products and quantities they ship to the US. Sometimes high-demand products get delayed in shipment, and our customers simply want to know they can get their hands on a frame the instant it shows up in the US. (2) It's no secret that the two elemental ingredients of carbon fiber frame production -- raw material and production capacity -- are in higher demand than ever before due to the aerospace industry's new fascination with composites. Because of this, we've seen some unexpected delays in the delivery of cutting edge carbon fiber frames. Again, our customers are often keen to lock in their place in line. The most definite way to ensure that you can get your hands on the frameset of your dreams as soon as it becomes available is to place it on backorder.
Backordering any item from Wheelworks is no different from placing an order with us for an in-stock item. Simply place your order. At the time of order placement we will authorize your credit card for the purchase, but we will not capture funds. We capture funds when your item is ready to deliver.
Our customers tend to know what they want with great certainty and they're normally willing to wait as long as it takes for a particular item to arrive. You are welcome, however, to cancel your order if it is a "standard product," example standard part, complete bike, or frame. Unfortunately we cannot control the manufacturers' delivery dates, scheduling, etc...
The only exception to this policy is the placement of a custom frame or parts order. Just like a normal backorder, we will authorize your credit card in full upon placement of a custom frameset order. But unlike a stock frame backorder, we cannot and will not accept a cancellation of a custom frame. Once an order for a custom is placed, it is final.
Can I visit your store?
You better! If you're ever passing through Dahlonega, we'd love to have you visit our shop. There are road and mountain rides every day. We are home to the premiere road riding spot in North Georgia and the mountain stages of Tour de Georgia. We have great mountain biking too; our front door is minutes away from the Bull Mountain trail system. With its tough climbs, excellent roads, superb trails and spectacular scenery, it delivers a challenges and fun that you cannot imagine. Call or e-mail and we can give you directions.
What are your hours of operation?
Our shop hours:
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday - 11:00AM to 6:00PM EST
Wednesday - 1:00PM to 6:00PM EST
Saturday - 9:00AM to 5:00PM EST
Sunday - Closed - Gone Riding!!!
Our phone number is 706.867.0228, leave us a message if we don't answer and we will call you back as soon as we can.
You're always welcome to e-mail Jon or Ray (jon@wheelworksga.com or ray@wheelworksga.com). We strive to answer email daily -- typically 11am-6pm EST. E-mail is great because it allows us to be the most thoughtful with our answers. If you send an email, you can be sure that you'll hear back from us very, very shortly.
What method of shipping do you use and what is the cost?
For domestic US shipments, we ship exclusively via UPS. We can ship either to your home or office -- in fact most folks prefer having us ship to their office, as there is always someone there to sign for the package and it lets you show off your cool new bike or parts to your jealous coworkers! Please note that we instruct UPS to drop off all packages without a signature unless you request otherwise.
Customers who purchase complete bikes from us are (understandably) quite concerned about our ability to ship their bikes safely. We have designed a rather ingenious system for shipping bicycles that makes them nearly impervious to damage in transit. On very rare occasions, though, such damage can occur. Please note that if damage occurs to your bicycle in shipping, we must file the claim on our end. You MUST keep all original packaging.
Given our location, transit time for your order rarely takes more than 4 business days. We'll be glad to provide you with your tracking number so you can go to UPS.com to determine your estimated day of delivery. Please keep in mind, though, that this is only an estimate. The only guarantee offered by UPS Ground is that your package will arrive within 7 business days from the day it was shipped. If transit time exceeds 7 days, you will be refunded your shipping costs. Please be advised that unforeseen delays can occur, and any orders cancelled due to such shipping delays are subject to a restocking fee as described in our Returns Policy.
Please note that UPS chooses to observe certain holidays but not others. On some holidays they deliver/pick up both ground and air packages, and on other holidays they only pick up air packages. There are holidays, too, when they take the day completely off. Due to the volume of orders we receive, we cannot individually notify our customers when they will experience a one-day delay in receiving an order due to UPS observance of a holiday.
Can you Express ship my bike to me?
The short answer is "yes". The long answer, though, is that you don't want to. The box we use to ship bikes is 44"x30"x11". A box of this size is weighed by what is known as "dimensional weight" -- in other words, UPS doesn't weigh the box, they measure its girth and charge their fees accordingly. A bike box is charged as though it is an 88 lb. package. A UPS Express shipment of a bike will cost somewhere between $140-$200 based on your location.
What is your return/exchange policy?
Apparel, Accessories & Componentry:
We are committed to providing you with an extraordinary cycling experience and our hope is that you'll be completely satisfied with your purchase from Wheelworks. Should an item fall short of your expectations, we'll exchange or accept a return for refund within 30 days of purchase. After 30 days, merchandise must be brand new (unworn, unwashed, and/or uninstalled) to receive a refund or exchange. The only exceptions to this policy are bicycles, framesets and wheelsets (please see below).
Please note the following important fact about our exchange process: Upon receiving your original item(s) we will issue a credit within 1 business day. Your replacement item(s) will be charged as a separate transaction. We mention this detail for one reason: Our experience is that some card issuing banks are a bit slower in issuing credits to your account than they are in debiting it. As such, two charges might appear on your account for a brief period of time while your card-issuing bank goes through the credit-issuing process. We must stress that we issue credits promptly and our credit card processor processes them promptly. Any delay you experience in seeing a credit reach your account is a matter to discuss with your card-issuing bank. Once we issue a credit to your account from here, there is nothing we can do to expedite your card issuing bank's finalization of the credit.
Bicycles, Framesets and Wheelsets:
Despite the number of bikes, framesets and wheelsets we sell, we're not jaded. We never lose sight of the fact that these products require a substantial financial investment. And we never lose sight of the fact that no one parts with significant sums of money without doing a good bit of soul-searching first. Our foremost goal is to ensure your happiness with your purchase. We take every step possible to ensure that you're making smart choices before you finalize your purchase. Nevertheless, we recognize that fate occasionally intervenes in strange ways. If you are unsatisfied with your bicycle, frameset or wheelset purchase, you can return it according to the following parameters:
A. If the bicycle, frameset or wheelset is defective or damaged, you can return it for replacement, store credit or refund with no penalty within 30 days of delivery to you. In the case of such damage, please call us immediately at 706.867.0228, or email us.
B. If you determine that you chose the incorrect size bicycle or frameset, you can exchange it for a proper-sized replacement within 30 days of shipment. You will be responsible for a restocking fee of 20% of the retail price of the frameset in such a situation -- this covers the administrative, labor, and depreciation costs associated with an exchanged frameset. You will also be responsible for all shipping costs.
Your enjoyment of your new bicycle or frameset is first and foremost a function of proper fit. We also recognize that the human body is an extremely complex thing. We also recognize that the measurements determined by our customers are sometimes not as accurate as we would like. As such, we cannot guarantee that the results will yield the ideal bike size and fit. If you have any lingering doubts about sizing, we will be more than happy to work with you before placing your order.
We're eager to help you dial in the fit of your new bike and we encourage you to set an appointment with our fit expert to get your position maximized. (See below in the Technical Overview section 3, "In Person Fitting Service")
C. If you are otherwise unsatisfied with your bicycle, frameset or wheelset purchase, you can return it within 30 days of shipment. If you choose to make an exchange or take store credit for your return, you will be responsible for a restocking fee of 20% of the retail price of the bicycle, frameset or wheelset -- this covers the administrative, labor, and depreciation costs associated with the return. You will also be responsible for all shipping costs. If you choose to return a non-defective bicycle, frameset or wheelset to us within this 30-day window for a refund, you will be responsible for a restocking fee of 25% of your purchase price.
D. We know that in certain cases you may want to order a frame set with custom geometry or specific measurements. However please note that bike frames that are fabricated to the individualĠs specific needs sets are non-returnable or refundable.
If you have any questions or uncertainty about our returns/exchange policy, we encourage you to discuss it before making your purchase, as the placement of an order constitutes acceptance of these terms and conditions.
Technical Overview
1. Do you have touch-up paint for my frame? Frame importers generally don't stock touch-up paint. Why? The small, expensive bottles of paint that importers supplied us in the past was no better in quality or durability than what you can acquire for yourself at your local retail hobby shop (the kind that sells scale models & RC airplanes). Look for the brand Testor's or Tamiya. A small bottle of paint is only a few dollars. You can put as little or as much work into it as you'd like -- whether you just want to protect a flaked-off spot, or if you want to go crazy wet-sanding and making it look like new. Testor's and Tamiya make an abundance of finish options. You'll have no problem matching any color or finish (gloss or matte).
2. My bike is making clicking/squeaking noises. How do I fix it? Pro-quality bikes shouldn't make noise. Silence is one of the things you're buying when you purchase a high-end bike. Nevertheless, the reality of modern bikes is that they're made from thin, oversized tubes and they resonate clicks and squeaks like a thousand dollar set of stereo speakers.
We have a standard checklist for trying to fix noise problems, and we encourage you to follow the same steps we do:
a) Pull the Bottom Bracket (BB). Remove your bottom bracket from the frame. Clean the threads on the BB cups and clean the threads in your frame. Put a liberal amount of grease on the threads and re-install the cups with a nice bit of firmness. BB shells have torque settings, and you should follow them. But if you're not exactly sure how tight those cups need to be you can follow one rule: make it tight. Riding in the rain will wash this grease out, so this is something that you'll likely need to do on an annual basis.
b) Pull the seat collar. Remove the seat collar and seat post from the frame and liberally grease the collar and the bolt. If you're running an aluminum post, you want to make sure there's a thin layer of grease on the post. If you're running a carbon post, do not grease it!
c) Try different skewers. We've seen our share of noisy rear skewers. New skewers have been the cure many times for us.
d) Grease bar/stem hardware. Make sure the stem bolts are greased, and make sure the bolts holding the stem to the fork are greased.
e) Grease headset cups. Remove headset cups and clean them, also clean your headtube. Re-grease the headset cups and re-install. This works on both integrated and non-integrated headsets.
f) Tighten the water bottle riv-nuts. Occasionally a creak can come from the water bottle riv-nuts installed in the frame. We recommend that you remove the water bottle cages and bolts and take the bike to the bike shop in your area. Most bike shops will have what is called a riv-nut gun and they can tighten these riv-nuts in your frame. Your bottle cages might not seem loose, but just a touch of looseness in those riv-nuts can create serious racket when the bike has pressure on it. Again, bolts and cages must be removed as this tool threads directly into the riv-nuts; you can't just tighten the water bottle bolts.
g) If your bike is titanium, use Anti-Seize (aka Ti-Prep) instead of grease. You can buy Anti-Seize at any automotive parts store such as Auto Zone or Pep Boys.
3) Do you offer in-person fitting services? The precision and the thoroughness of our pro fit expert Nathan OĠNeill should reflect the seriousness with which we approach bike fit. Nathan is an 8 time Australian National Time Trial Champion and is a master of fitting cyclists to their machines. An in-person fit is best for revealing your body's quirks and all-but-guarantees that you'll learn what frame geometry will best suit your body. We're happy to get you on his schedule. A fit session with Nathan runs $250, plus parts if needed.
You can learn more about Nathan at his website, www.nathanoneill.com. Contact us by phone or email to check for an appointment.
4) Do I grease my carbon fiber seatpost? No! You'll note that most every carbon post out there has a slick, clear-coated finish to it. If you grease the post, it makes this already-slick surface even slicker, meaning your post will slip in the frame, which means you'll overtighten it, which means you'll exceed its torque setting, which means it might very well crack.
Rather than greasing the post, you can apply carbon paste. Other alternatives include Scotch-Brite or some fine grit sandpaper and lightly rub the lower portion of the post to give it some roughness to make it "grippier" to your seat clamp.
5) Are carbon handlebars safe? The short answer is "yes", for both mountain and road bikes. Although consider the following. For some reason, as an industry we've become fixated on the weight of handlebars. It's as though breaking the 200g barrier will allow an average rider to suddenly contend for an alpine stage of the Tour de France. This, of course, is not the case. It's an irrational obsession that has serious ramifications in regards to the care and feeding of your bike.
A lot of very nicely made & very thoroughly tested carbon bars exist today. We need to accept the fact, though, that carbon bars have their Achilles heels. For example, you can clamp aero bars to only one or two carbon bar models on the market today. Most aren't built to withstand such clamping force. And while carbon bars can handle unbelievably forces pushing downward on the tops or the drops, they aren't as robust in terms of the side-loaded forces a bike has to withstand during a crash.
If you're trying to build a tricked-out, superlight bike are carbon bars appropriate? Yes indeed. But ask yourself something: Why is it when you watch the video of the Tour de France you don't see a single rider with carbon handlebars? The answer is rather easy: Pro mechanics are big believers in due diligence. They know that if one of their riders crashes (and they all do), or if they accidentally drop or tip over a bike when loading it or unloading it, the handlebar takes the brunt of the force. In either situation prudence requires at the very least that you unwrap the bars, remove the STI or Ergo, and remove the stem to closely inspect the bar to ensure that no micro-cracking occurred as a result of the mishap. Such due diligence, of course, is an enormous pain in the ass, and sticking with an alloy bar that weighs in at 20g heavier is the sensible solution.
An engineer from the bicycle component manufacturer Full Speed Ahead (FSA) summarized the carbon bar situation very succinctly. He said that if the consumer demands F1-quality componentry, they need to have an F1-type mentality about it. How expensive are the composite components on an F1 car? Outrageous. How many races do most of those components make it through? Oftentimes one only. The notion that such components are built to last as long as a well-made carbon or alloy frame is simply wrong and misses the point entirely. Carbon bars, like carbon rims, are made with pure performance in mind, i.e. durability isn't paramount.
So, to answer the question, are carbon handlebars safe? Yes they are. But if you crash them, or otherwise submit them to odd side loaded forces (such as having your bike tip over when leaning against your car or garage wall), do everyone a favor and replace them.
USED BIKES - Wheelworks works with our customers to buy and sell used bicycles. We strive to provide you with a great value on a high quality used product. It is very important that you completely understand all of the terms. All sales of used bicycles are finial and sold as is. If you have any questions please ask us.
Please understand these bicycles may have been owned by a private individual or used by Wheelworks as a demo or rental bike. These bicycles are NOT a brand new and Wheelworks makes no representation as such.
If you purchase a used or demo bike from Wheelworks, please note: a) The bike may have visible indications of normal wear and tear but the integrity of the frame and components remains adequate for ordinary recreational use. b) Wheelworks shall thoroughly inspect and professionally tune the bike prior to turning it over to its new owner. c) Used bikes may require new components or parts to get them into good working condition. These items will be replaced on the bike at the sole discretion of the Wheelworks and will be done prior to the delivery. d) The bike will be delivered to the new owner in good working condition.
THESE BIKES ARE SOLD "AS IS" AND WHEELWORKS EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, WHETHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO ANY IMPLIED WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.
Wheelwork's above disclaimer of warranties does not, in any way, affect the terms of any warranties which may be applicable from the manufacturer of the bike.
The purchase and sale provided herein is a final sale. The bike is not returnable for any reason.
Dahlonega Wheelworks
24 Alicia Lane
Suite 2
Dahlonega, GA 30533
(706) 867-0228
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For directions to our shop.
On any of the shop rides, please call ahead. Plus, we have random rides that just suddenly appear daily. Give us a call at 706-867-0228.
Simply click on the name below to send us an e-mail.
Jon
Ray
Jim
Mon, Tue, Thur, Fri
11AM to 6PM
Wed
1:30PM to 6PM
Saturday
9AM to 5PM