Expensive service!!!

[In trouble]

Just had Mrs In Troubles bike serviced over the weekend. the bike is only 8/9 months old, and unbeknown to her, the bottom bracket has worked loose, and caused damage to the interior of the frame when she's been pedalling along (she does around 40 miles a day round trip).

Upshot of it all is that it needed a new bottom bracket, new pedals, front mech and lots of other bits to make it roadworthy. Total cost £216.

To be fair it was done at our LBS, and I trust the guy so am happy that he has done the best for us and not screwing us over, but not a great price when the bike was worth £800.

Mine however.......sailed through.

What is the most expensive service you have had?

 

[gavintc]

Too late now, but I would propose that this is a warranty problem and you should have asked for the shop to discuss the problem with the importer. Especially, if you bought a complete bike rather than a frame and had it built up

As to the most expensive service. Last summer, my rear derailleur was playing up and needed replacement. It was clear that I was going to need a cassette and chain as well. The shop had a 105 groupset in stock and I decided to go for a complete upgrade - so not really an expensive service, but still an expensive visit to the LBS - it cost me £300.

 

[fossyant]

DIY....DIY..............

 

[palinurus]

Most expensive service? about £150. A while back I'd just thrash my commuter bike through the winter and then clean it up (got to keep the LBS sweet) and put it in for a service in the spring. I'd leave instructions to change anything than needed doing. The £150 was a complete transmission overhaul and replacement of all cables and headset, fair enough.

I was busier back then, I do my own servicing now and a bit more preventative maintenance. Now they only build wheels and do headsets for me. And fix up my mistakes of course.

 

[gavintc]

DIY....DIY..............

Yep, I am doing the Edinburgh Bicycle maint course this weekend to hopefully reduce my servicing costs. I just need more confidence at fiddling with things and I have not a clue about how to replace a chain.

 

[marinyork]

Thing that annoys me with DIY is however much you fiddle you can never get the brakes set up as well as in the shop and often it just sticks for the hell of it .

 

[redjedi]

Mine will be this weekend. Wheels trued (last thing on my list of things to learn) and bearings replaced in the headset. Looking at around £30-40.

Not bad for 2 years of riding, learnt to do my own services as I went along.

 

[Gerry Attrick]

Thing that annoys me with DIY is however much you fiddle you can never get the brakes set up as well as in the shop and often it just sticks for the hell of it .

That is how it can appear I accept. However, buy yourself a good bicycle maintenance book and just have a go yourself. You won't get it all right for a while, but given time and experience, you will see that bike mechanics is not a dark art, and the mechanics in the lbs are not supermen, and finally that rocket science does not equate to tightening the bottom bracket.

In short, if you don't try, you won't learn.

 

[redjedi]

I usually look up videos online for whatever needs doing.

http://bicycletutor.com/ is a good one, and actually seeing what is going on really helps.

http://www.expertvillage.com/ is another one I have used recently

Just this weekend I changed my first bottom bracket and it was easier than my lbs made out.

 

[Gerry Attrick]

I usually look up videos online for whatever needs doing.

http://bicycletutor.com/ is a good one, and actually seeing what is going on really helps.

http://www.expertvillage.com/ is another one I have used recently

Just this weekend I changed my first bottom bracket and it was easier than my lbs made out.

Er...what is this business of removing gum from hair? What have you been up to?

 

[Crackle]

Never had a bike shop service my bike. Had them replace headsets which needed shimming or something but I do my own servicing. Even when the bike shops setup my kids bikes I spent an hour re-adjusting/checking everything.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

People actually pay to have their bikes serviced? Dear God. One thing MTB'ing has taught me is there are no LBS's up on the tops; if it breaks you better be able to fix or bodge it or you've got a long walk home...

How could a shot BB result in you having to have new pedals and a new front mech and all sorts of other bits? A new BB sure but if the old one was so shot the chainrings were hitting the front mech how on earth was anyone riding it.

Why wasn't it a warrantly claim.

 

[redjedi]

Er...what is this business of removing gum from hair? What have you been up to?

I do masticate quite a lot

Apparently everyone gets chewing gum in their. Happens to me at least once a week

 

[Bigtwin]

I thought the internet was for putting expensive services into the long grass?

 

[HJ]

Yep, I am doing the Edinburgh Bicycle maint course this weekend to hopefully reduce my servicing costs. I just need more confidence at fiddling with things and I have not a clue about how to replace a chain.

That course is fun, my bike hasn't been the same since...