Yesterday, I came to the unpleasant surprise that, regarding the Wolf replacement, only the Easton fork is offered as a replacement in the Netherlands.

Today, I wrote this email to Cervelo:

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Let me start by saying that I think it is a good decision to recall the forks. It is recommendable that Cervelo takes responsibility for a suppliers component. However, after contacting my local bikestore, an unsatisfactory solution was proposed.
 
In February 2008, I purchased an SLC-SL in the Netherlands. Yesterday, I have contacted my local bikestore about the recall. My bikestore has told me that the distributor for the Netherlands, Veltec, has decided to only offer the Easton EC90 SLX as a replacement. I have declined their offer because of the following reasons:
1) The SLC-SL is the top-end frame in the line-up of Cervelo. I have chosen this frame especially because of the aerodynamic properties (and weight trade-off). You will surely agree that such a frame deserves an aerodynamic fork. The best replacement choice is then the 3T. If you seriously consider providing the Easton fork, I would recommend that you remove all the comments - marketing jargon - on the aerodynamics and discontinue with all the Soloist models. Otherwise, you would be contradicting yourselves and the philosophy of half of your frames.
2) Hopefully you will agree that, in case of a recall, the consumer should be offered a comparable, or better, alternative. In my view, that is satisfied for the 3T fork, but less for the Easton fork, in view of aerodynamic properties, weight and stability (just look on the internet how many items there are on instable Easton forks). I am not confident in the quality of the Easton fork.
3) As a matter of esthetics, the 3T fork is a better match for the frame. For a 4500 euro frame (> 7200 USD) ethetics are an important feature!
Just think about it, all the frames that are currently in the shops are sold with 3T forks. I think it's because of the reasons listed above and don't see any reason why I should settle with less.

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The very short reply from the customer service just stated that I have no option. The Easton is a comparable replacement. However, and I would like to hear Gerards comment on this: IT IS NOT A COMPARABLE REPLACEMENT. The fact is that the Easton fork is not build for aerodynamics, and it can be proven. It's no coincidence that all new frames are delivered with 3T! I think that everyone worldwide should be offered the same choice. If I can't get a 3T replacement in the Netherlands, why does someone in Canada or the US can? I don't want to sound childish, but it's simply not fare. For someone that payed a lot of hard-earned savings to accomplish his dream, I think I am entitled to this opinion.

 

Is Cervelo the customer-centered company they like us to think? Right now, I'm doubting. Please Gerard, take action and don't let the people from your home-country down!

 

my slc has an alpha q, but i agree with you.

Hmm, it's pretty quiet here. Apparently, nobody's interested in us at the otherside of the atlantic.

 

At many Dutch and Belgian forums, Cervelo is getting pretty negative comments. No wonder, just look at an Easton in an SLC (-SL) and make sure that you have a sick-bag next to you.

 

Gerard, all my hope is on you. Please be reasonable and do the right thing, provide us with a 3T. It doesn't matter if the delivery takes so time: I can wait! Most of us probably have a second bike which they can use in the meantime.

 

 

man, i thought maybe they contacted you guys through email?! I don't understand why it's so quiet. I would rather have the 3t over the easton too. it's a moot point with me because my rs came with the 3t and i had an alpha q put on my slc, but you guys should at least get the option for the 3t.

in germany we can only choose the 3t fork. Tthat's a good deal for me.

Really strange we (in Germany) have no option to take the Easton fork.

Maybe it's a good idea to go to a german LBS...

To the suits or suit or acting suit at Cervelo.

I  fully support the views of msuy and fair, even treatment for all customers in a similar situation.

Don't forget the moral codes of our profession. From one engineer to another.

I have an SLC-SL too, and can not accept Cervélo is only offering an Easton EC90 SLX in replace. That fork does not match my frame at all. I would not have bought the SLC-SL (almost the most expensive frame on the market) if it came with this fork. So why should I accept suddenly to get this fork in my frame and making my bike look ugly? Due to these arguement by belgian consumer laws Cervélo MUST provide me with an acceptable fork solution or undue the sale (and refund me the frame).

Untill they do so, I feel obliged to continue ride my Wolf SL fork... Cervélo leaves me NO choice!

I hope you guys reconsider this decision.

 

Or do you think I will turn my SLC-SL into a solution like this one below? No way!

 

 

@ Raven: I understand rather that you can not choose for an Easton when you get the 3T, than the other way around. After all the 3T looks 98% the fork you got when you initially bought the bike: differences are minor, so it is the best option, in fact an improvement (only a tiny bit heavier).

I stand with you Cervelo owners who do not have the option for a 3T and must take the Easton.  The Easton takes away from the overall appearance of any Cervelo I have seen and it just does not provide the same performance that the frame does.

I got the Easton on my Cervelo earlier this year and was able to obtain a 3T and the difference is very noticable.

Some Cervelo owners might be OK with it but if they are not they should have the option of a 3T even though it might take more time or they have to agree to a waiver because of the recall.

 

Three cheers for Polymer Head and all the rest of you guys that support us!!

 

I couldn't have said it in a better way: a true engineer like Gerard should know better.

 

It took guts from Cervelo to initiate the recall, but it takes massive b*lls to do it in a proper way. Up to know, I think the situation is the following (please correct me if I'm wrong):

US + Canada: 3T or Easton

Germany: 3T

Netherlands: Easton

Belgium: Easton

Luxemburg (apart from two famous brothers): Easton

Israel: Easton

You guys need to contact Cervelo directly, by email or phone, and give them a chance to accommodate you before running off to the internet. Complaining on forums is pretty futile.

McLovin, do you really think I'm ignorent enough not to contact Cervelo. The first thing I did, was writing them an email (you would have seen when you would have read the first post of this thread). The only problem is that their response is by far insufficient. Just to help you out of your dreams: Cervelo is not providing satisfactory alternatives. Be honest, would you accept an Easton on an SLC-SL?  Perhaps it would help if you would be unbiased about their customer support; not everything they do is good or logical. Right now, I'm already waiting four days on a reply on a second email that I wrote...

McLovin:

You guys need to contact Cervelo directly, by email or phone, and give them a chance to accommodate you before running off to the internet. Complaining on forums is pretty futile.

Thx mate for calling our actions "futile" before even reading the topic.

You might see the topic starter actually contacted Cervélo. We were in contact with our LBS, with our importer and today Gerard Vroomen himself responded on a dutch forum... he only said the decision was made by Cervélo in Canada, not by their Benelux importer Veltec. Nice to know, but little do I care who's decision it is. I want what I have payed for: the right fork for my frame.

 And we DID contact Cervélo directly dude. ;)

I have a white R3 with the Easton fork.  Am I the only one who thinks it looks nice?  Rides nice as well.  I have no complaints.  From the SLC/SL perspective, I can understand, it doesn't match and its not so aero.  But either is the Alpha Q fork, and that seems to be what the pros prefer.  You guys should just accept the Easton swap, sell the easton new, and buy a new 3T fork if that'll make you happy.  Don't continue to ride the Wolf, everytime I'm going 30mph down a hill I remember my last SLC-SL with a Wolf fork and wonder what it would have felt like to loose control and roll down a cliff at that speed.  Terrible tought.

Good luck to all.

 

 

Good news guys! I've been contacted by my local bikestore that they are able to provide a 3T. Thanks to everyone who made this possible!

that's cool, even if it took a little prodding. sometimes businesses have to make decisions based on many factors. the bottom line is they made the adjustment, so good for them.

 enjoy your choice.