Crankarm
Guru
- Location
- Nr Cambridge
You're welcome.
Evans 'Silver Service'- costly estimate, thoughts.
- Thread starter thefollen
- Start date
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You're welcome.
OP
OP
thefollen
Veteran
- Location
- Balham/Tooting Bec
Take the bike to PSubliminal in Balham and ask Steve to take a look. If you want to wind him up tell him Sonia said he makes a mean coffee.
Cool, will pay them a visit! I pass the store most days but haven't yet been in. Silly of me really. I never really browse the high street, usually go for a specific purpose or purely for the pubs.
Cubist
Still wavin'
- Location
- Ovver 'thill
A quick check of the woolyhatshop shows me you could change cassette and chain for £14. Assuming you need to change chainrings the large and middle will cost you £28. If they need changing at all. If they do, then you can get the entire crankset a model above yours for £29 complete. £25 if you'll settle for a shopsoiled one.
Buy yourself the crank remover and bottom bracket tool for another say £15 and go online to see how easy it is to change it all.
By the way, none of this is a criticism of LBS parts and labour charges (or even vast chains....). They're fine if you want to pay them, and after all, they have a business to run. It's an illustration of how much you can save by DIY maintenance.
Buy yourself the crank remover and bottom bracket tool for another say £15 and go online to see how easy it is to change it all.
By the way, none of this is a criticism of LBS parts and labour charges (or even vast chains....). They're fine if you want to pay them, and after all, they have a business to run. It's an illustration of how much you can save by DIY maintenance.
You can't tar all the stores with the same brush.
The only time I had to use Evans for an emergency mechanical I received a most excellent service.
OP
OP
thefollen
Veteran
- Location
- Balham/Tooting Bec
I too have found them fine in the past... and handy when I've needed them. Sometimes you need to chat a bit for them to help you out, but they've been fairly flexible. Depends who you get.
They're probably being straight-down-the-line with me on their tariffs for parts and work required. I simply don't want to pay that much and there are a few unknowns. Price of bike --> quote ratio isn't good.
It's been a while since I've been pleasantly surprised regarding the cost of anything in London. Seems DIY is certainly the way forward. Like lunches. I can make a better pack lunch for far cheaper than the shop equivalent- all with winning ingredients I'm familiar with and enjoy. Not to mention quantity of filling.
The price we pay for convenience eh?
I digress, back to work.
Two words come into mind. The second of which is "OFF!"
subaqua
What’s the point
- Location
- Leytonstone
to cover overheads like heating lighting , replacing servicing equipment . paying employers NIC.
that said, for 195 quid you could buy the bits , the park tools big book of bike fixing ( or whatever its called) and any specialist tools needed to fix it. and you get to keep the tools for next time and get a warm glow from fixing it yourself. ( the smile on my eldests face when she adjusted her brakes for the 1st time and did it on her own without help from me was one i will remember forever)
after a huge amount of time away from bikes i was wary about indexing- when in reality its a really simple task .
the extra hand for tensioning cables isn't needed if you have a wife/husband/partner/sig other who can help .
Leaway2
Lycrist
- Location
- Manchester (Sale)
I know its been said plenty of times before, but here goes. Do it yourself. Brakes (rim) are levers that pull another lever. The only tools you will need is 1 or maybe 2 allen keys. Once you have done it and are aware of how it works you will be able to check them and be confident that they are OK 100 miles down the road.
thefatcyclist
Active Member
OP
OP
thefollen
Veteran
- Location
- Balham/Tooting Bec
Definitely taking the plunge. Might have a couple of days off next week. What do you reckon on these?
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Bike-Hand-Advanced-Home-Mechanic/dp/B0067I5F40/ref=pd_sim_sg_1
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Bike-Hand-Advanced-Home-Mechanic/dp/B0067I5F40/ref=pd_sim_sg_1
Leaway2
Lycrist
- Location
- Manchester (Sale)
I wouldn't bother, just buy what you need and build up. You will be paying for things you may never use.
thefatcyclist
Active Member
It's what I bought and and I have used about half of the stuff in it, no doubt the rest will come in handy someday.
Andrew_P
In between here and there
Everyone loves a toolkit!! But if I were you I would find out what your Bottom Bracket is and buy that tool and a Chain Whip and find the right Casette wrench. Everything else all I have ever needed was my multi tool that I carry with me anyway.
subaqua
What’s the point
- Location
- Leytonstone
Cubist
Still wavin'
- Location
- Ovver 'thill
No. Half of that stuff is for bits of bikes you probably don't own.
Go to Superstar components or On One and choose the right tools for your job. You'll need a chainwhip, a lockring tool, a chainsplitter and Y shape allen keys, 4, 5 and 6 mm. If you're doing the cables you'll need cable cutters and a pair of ordinary pliers.
Post some pictures of your chainrings, in detail. I suspect that Evans are 'avin a larrrrff about the need to change them. I'd be tempted only to change the cassette and chain and see how you get on. Oh, and buy a chain checker or look up how to measure wear with a ruler.
Shop around.... Wiggle and Chain reaction do some decent budget tools.