My grump about bike shops

[magnatom]

I have three kids, and a busy job. Despite the fact I have a technical mind, I don't have time to fettle bikes. I'd love to. I'm sure I could spend hours fettling away.

So to get my bike fixed/serviced I depend on the LBS. Hmm. I have to say, I've never had any great experiences with bike shops.

Every bike shop I have ever put my bike into to get serviced I have had issues with. Either, they were doing unecessary work, taking two weeks to service it, or more likely the bike has had some problems when I've got it back. I don't think I have ever had a bike back from an LBS which I haven't had to fiddle with to get it right.

For example recently I put my Ribble in for a service. I knew it needed a fair amount of work and it cost a reasonable amount. I get it back and 50 yards down the road, CRUNCH. Another 50 yards, CRUNCH. I have to give up and take my other bike. So I take it back to the LBS and the front chain rings need replaced. Why didn't they spot that first time (i.e. during the test ride they say they do)?

That's fine, so I get it back and commute to work on it. It still isn't right. The rear derrallieur is set up wrong. It changes up fine, but is sticky going down. I sorted with a bit of fiddling. Fine. Then a day or so later the front derrallieur stops chaging onto the small ring. A bit of roadside fiddling and I finally get that right.

What did I pay for?! This is from a well respected bike shop as well.

So am I alone in feeling like this? Does anyone else hate taking the bike to the LBS, for fear of cost and the fact that you might get it back with more problems than you started with?

Rant over!

 

[bauldbairn]

Had the same problems 30 years ago with LBS's and the same two bike shops are still the only ones in town - if I could fix it when I was 12 years old out of necessity I can do it now. Although sometimes I wish there was a shop I could trust when I don't have the time.

Anyone on here tried Bespoke Bikes in Dunipace - found them the other day while on a diversion???

 

[gaz]

I take my bike to the shop for piece of mind, knowing that someone who knows that they are doing is looking at my bike. But like you, i get my bike back in a bad condition. Recently i got it back with 3 spoke nuts broken and now i can't true my wheel if i need too (in the process of sorting this out). They fiddled with the front de-railure for better shifting,not now i can't use my 34t chain ring with my 25t sprocket on the back as the chain rubs on the de-railure!

 

[bobg]

Ditto on the rare occassions I use bike shops - recent wheel redishing came back oval and a powdercoat had patches of exposed frame! It's the same with plumbers, glaziers, electricians, car mechanics, roofers, plasterers, painters, kitchen fitters et al. I can safely say that I have never had a job done by any professional in the last 30 years that has been done to a standard that I would class as even "good" In fact I have reached a stage where I would rather not do a job at all if it's beyond me and requires outside help. I'm sensitve about this at the moment as 50% water from my roof misses the gutters, in 2 places the gutters run uphill, in 3 places the downpipe joints leak and every gutter braket is secured by only one screw The highly qualified roofer is currently waiting for £2k for doing this....

 

[psmiffy]

I only take my bike to the LBS for things that I have not got the tools to do - not much really - I hardly do any bike "fettling" on a day to day to day basis - if I have done it in the first place then it very rarely needs to be touched until whatever it is needs replacing - much more time efficient than getting the LBS to do it almost right

 

[Smokin Joe]

If you attend to things as they crop up no bike needs a service. An adjustment here and a tweak there as soon as something feels out of tune and maintainance takes very little of your time.

 

[al78]

My LBS is very good. Never had a problem with any bike that they have worked on. I do like to try and fix things myself when necessary as the problem with bike shops is that you take the bike in and it a case of "it'll be ready in about a week". Imagine if car servicing was like that.

Typically anything that involves wheelbuilding goes to the LBS, because I haven't learnt to do that and I hear it takes ages for a beginner, and I value my time. Having said that today I got quoted £100 for a replacement wheel hub and re-build, plus replacement spokes if necessary. When I got home I found a complete replacement wheel on Chain Reaction Cycles for £62.00.

 

[bauldbairn]

My LBS is great. They take time over repairs and they do things properly. And I sometimes get offered a free beer if I have to wait. But they'll probably close it and retire in a year or so as they're not making any money any more.

That really is a shame UM as I know there must be some LBS's who do a Sterling job!!!

 

[palinurus]

I get the LBS to do some stuff on my bikes, most often wheelbuilding, headset replacement and getting stuck things off. I've always been happy with the work they've done, they call me if they spot something else that needs doing. I generally do stuff myself since there is usually several days wait to book a bike in and, until recently, they were never open when I wanted to drop off or pick up the bike (they now open late on Thursdays though). On a couple of occasions they've done small jobs immediately when I've been in a fix, and not charged me for it either.

 

[aoj]

I have three kids, and a busy job. Despite the fact I have a technical mind, I don't have time to fettle bikes. I'd love to. I'm sure I could spend hours fettling away.

So to get my bike fixed/serviced I depend on the LBS. Hmm. I have to say, I've never had any great experiences with bike shops.

Every bike shop I have ever put my bike into to get serviced I have had issues with. Either, they were doing unecessary work, taking two weeks to service it, or more likely the bike has had some problems when I've got it back. I don't think I have ever had a bike back from an LBS which I haven't had to fiddle with to get it right.

For example recently I put my Ribble in for a service. I knew it needed a fair amount of work and it cost a reasonable amount. I get it back and 50 yards down the road, CRUNCH. Another 50 yards, CRUNCH. I have to give up and take my other bike. So I take it back to the LBS and the front chain rings need replaced. Why didn't they spot that first time (i.e. during the test ride they say they do)?

That's fine, so I get it back and commute to work on it. It still isn't right. The rear derrallieur is set up wrong. It changes up fine, but is sticky going down. I sorted with a bit of fiddling. Fine. Then a day or so later the front derrallieur stops chaging onto the small ring. A bit of roadside fiddling and I finally get that right.

What did I pay for?! This is from a well respected bike shop as well.

So am I alone in feeling like this? Does anyone else hate taking the bike to the LBS, for fear of cost and the fact that you might get it back with more problems than you started with?

Rant over!

I can't speak for all bike shops some must be good.

I've bought three new bikes in the last two years ( two for me and one for my wife, a fair ratio don't you think? ) Her bike and one of mine needed the brakes and gears completely setup by me straight from the different shops. I never bothered to take them back for the two week bedding adjustment they offer, this must be a way of a "get out" for the crap state they send them out in.

I had no experience of bicyces before this. Thanks to YouTube I continue to expand my knowledge and unexpectedly my experience due to the wear & tear after riding one of my bikes through he last two winters and approx 5000 miles.

Your probably better with the owner/mechanic type shop as like the car and motorcycle trade the employed mechanic's wages are poor hence the poor quality of servicing in my opinion, though I may be wrong.

 

[aoj]

Ditto on the rare occassions I use bike shops - recent wheel redishing came back oval and a powdercoat had patches of exposed frame! It's the same with plumbers, glaziers, electricians, car mechanics, roofers, plasterers, painters, kitchen fitters et al. I can safely say that I have never had a job done by any professional in the last 30 years that has been done to a standard that I would class as even "good" In fact I have reached a stage where I would rather not do a job at all if it's beyond me and requires outside help. I'm sensitve about this at the moment as 50% water from my roof misses the gutters, in 2 places the gutters run uphill, in 3 places the downpipe joints leak and every gutter braket is secured by only one screw The highly qualified roofer is currently waiting for £2k for doing this....

Ditto on this ..... Sadly if you want it done right you a better doing it yourself! But like Magnatom we don't always have the time.

 

[HLaB]

I think out of all the biles shops I've used I've only had one where I didn't have to fettle the gears, etc. I think when they've replaced x number of y's they just become detached. Ironically the one time when it was perfect, was probably the quickest and the cheapest shop.

 

[downfader]

Have been to a couple of shops where I've had some very bad experiences. Then my Father's mate kind of found two local ones worth their weight in gold (we have a fair few shops here - about 3 Halfords in the Southampton area, 2 shops in the city centre, one in portswood, one really good one in thornhill I'm always in, one really good on in Park Gate.. etc)

There used to be one on Station road outside a school. Went in there when I was 18 to ask about new tyres. The guy was so rude and abrupt I walked out and never went back in there. I think He went bust about 8 years back.

 

[buggi]

my LBS is brill (red kite in shirley)

take it in, get it back the same day (i do have to book it in about 2 weeks in advance tho).

always runs smooth after.

only gripe is the cost. needed a lot replacing last time and cost was through the roof. their labour isn't too bad, just cost of the bits.

They asked me if i wanted to downgrade to 105 to save on cost but then i suppose it would be a bit pointless buying the bike with Ultegra groupset if i did that.

another LBS has opened and he's already got a good rep, and he's started doing hour long maintenance courses for about a tenner. i might sign up so i can do a bit of work myself in future.

 

[Bromptonaut]

Try only to use shops for jobs I can't do (mainly wheel related). Last time the brommy went to the LBS they did OK with the chain and worn sprockets but spoiled the job by fitting a nasty pattern gear cable that was too short by an almost immeasurable margin. Just short enough to pull at every fold and to fail after 15months 'cos the crappy plastic ferrule split.