local cycle shop.

[markharry66]

Just taken my bike in for loose spoke. Been quoted over a week for repair, plus £18 for repair sounds steep.
Wont be going back after this

 

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

depends on what is needed to re-true the wheel. Replacing a spoke is not always a straight forward process and you probably have around 20-30 mins labour to take into account once the spoke is in stock (unlikely to be because they are so variable). So a couple of pounds for the spoke plus 20-30 mins labour for £18 sounds reasonably accurate tbh!

 

[BSRU]

My LBS charged £11 and I had the wheel back the next day.

 

[I like Skol]

Just taken my bike in for loose spoke. Been quoted over a week for repair, plus £18 for repair sounds steep.
Wont be going back after this

I've had my own business in the past and that £18 sounds very reasonable in my view. It isn't a charity and I know how to replace a spoke but even if the shop owner did nothing else except replace broken spokes all day at £18 a pop they would never be a rich person after paying all the costs of running a business. Yhey may earn a living but only if business is reasonably consistent.

 

[Soltydog]

I've had a spoke break on a ride, 30 miles from home, cost me £20, but on another occasion I took the wheel to a bike shop for a new spoke & was charged £5. Guess which one has had my custom since

 

[fossyant]

Learn to do it yourself.

As said, £18 isn't much when you add in all the overheads of a shop.

 

[Supersuperleeds]

Think I got charged a tenner last time I did a spoke and they did it there and then, a bit of sweet talking and a packet of biscuits go a long way in my lbs

 

[DCLane]

Most jobs I now do myself or borrow the skills of Velocampus.

When I do need my LBS they always quote a week.

Then the job is done in a day and a half at a very reasonable price.

 

[vickster]

Learn to do it yourself.

As said, £18 isn't much when you add in all the overheads of a shop.

Especially in Greater London (where I believe the OP resides)

 

[fossyant]

Problem is, most wheels that break spokes are factory wheels, so end up a right pig to fix, more so if they use specialist spokes.

 

[Beebo]

last time I looked Evans in London charged £18.95 plus the cost of the spoke. Plus an extra £1 for every additional spoke that needs replacing

 

[Hip Priest]

A little bit more expensive than my LBS, but that's probably London weighting. I certainly wouldn't withdraw my custom because of it.

 

[JoeyB]

Its not the LBS fault if they have a busy workshop....that's surely a sign of a good LBS!

 

[Soltydog]

It would be nice to have a LBS, my nearest decent bike shop is approx 15 miles away But it has meant that I've learnt how to do most things, rather than driving with bike/wheels/etc to get it fixed

 

[Nigeyy]

That might not be too bad (the price that is) if it's a rear wheel. They're going to have to take the cassette/freewheel off as well as truing the wheel. Concerning the time frame -it could be they are a very popular shop -and it's unlikely you'll be top of their list if they have loyal long term customers.

Having said all that, I'd do it myself. Faster, cheaper, less hassle.