My grump about bike shops

[bauldbairn]

http://www.youtube.c...h?v=dSINO6MKtco

Not the Nine O'clock News ........ brilliant.

That's the fellas!

 

[aoj]

If it wasn't for servicing and repairs most bike shops would go bust. the margins on new bikes is very, very small.

We always test ride every bike and then get the customer to do the same before taking the bike away.

Servicing a bike to most people on here isn't difficult but a lot of people just don't want to do it themselves and why should they? I'm perfectly capable of working on my cars and motorbikes but I just don't want to and have enough disposable income to pay people to do the work.

I don't work on my modern bikes either - I just take it into the workshop and tell a mechanic to fix it.

Wouldn't let them touch my Penny, though.

Lets have a few comments from the good LBS mechanics out there about the awkward and miserable of us customers who want owht for nowt!

We are big enough to take it aren't we?

I've been in bike shops when someone has come in complaining the bike they have serviced 2 years ago was not working properly and they should fix it free.

They also have to compete with online prices for the stuff they have on the shelf of the shop they have to pay for etc.

The better bike shops are that because they know how to deal with customers good or bad and help the less knowledgeable type of cyclist as they see it as a potential for income. Resulting in repeat business

The not so good bike shops ( and small businesses ) are usually run by the type who are genuine enthusiasts to begin with and are now jaded.

They are OK until you raise a concern then they tend to become almost hostile. Resulting in customers never going back.

 

[Evilcat]

My problem is deciphering what components are compatible with what. For example, if you want to replace your bottom bracket in theory it is not a difficult job but in practice you have to find one that is compatible with your frame, and compatible with your cranks, plus there are different types as well, and it isn't obvious which type you currently have if you are not in the know (new bikes don't come with the instruction manuals for the individual components). It can be an expensive mistake to buy the wrong thing.

That's what Google is for... my LBS claimed that my FSA bottom bracket could be directly replaced by a Dura Ace as that was what they had in stock. Nope: a bit of Google research told me that they are almost, but not quite, compatible. As I found out when removing the FSA cranks which were pretty much stuck fast in the BB. Grrr...

I got my partner to buy me a Park Tool kit a year ago for Xmas and now do pretty much everything other than wheel building myself.

EC

 

[soulful dog]

 

Mag - you have a pm.  Would post it publicly but everyone would want a shot of his special bike.  His Cervelo frame is so light - the sort of thing I can only aspire to.....

I'd be interested to know your recommendation too, though I'm currently taking my bike to the guy at Common Wheel as it's fairly local and will probably continue to do so as he's been pretty helpful.

Unfortunatley, I'm one of those people who has no mechanical aptitude whatsoever and learning how to change tyres, brakes and clean the chain (or attempt to) is probably about as good as it'll get. Like my car, I'll have to rely on the experts to service/fix it, even if it is more expensive.