Repair the bike or buy a new bike?

[vickster]

Well that's reasonable I suppose but in the end it's got to be better to tell the mechanic your approximate budget and let him supply the parts because he will know what works and won't waste time trying to make inappropriate parts work.

When I snapped off my rear mech, I supplied a nearly new one from ebay (not available new and I didn’t want the model down). Also needed a new 10 speed chain, the LBS supplied one was £35. I’ve never paid more than £15 for a perfectly correct one
I’ve never supplied cables other than for a full build as I wanted coloured ones

If the OP is supplying parts, he should make sure they’re right and of decent genuine quality (not some hooky copies off eBay )

 

[vickster]

That's the problem. The OP doesn't seem to absorb any of the excellent advice that members of CC are giving on here.

Well not yet, but we have time to drill it in to him by the time he takes the bike to the shop

 

[vickster]

Ref pedals and cleats, buy the cleats of the same make, don’t skimp (and don’t bother buying them from Germany)

these come with a set of yellow beginner cleats so no need to buy cleats. They’ll fit your cranks, just read the instructions when attaching
https://www.chainreactioncycles.com/mobile/shimano-r550-spd-sl-clipless-road-pedals/rp-prod106714

 

[SkipdiverJohn]

Well that's reasonable I suppose but in the end it's got to be better to tell the mechanic your approximate budget and let him supply the parts because he will know what works and won't waste time trying to make inappropriate parts work.

The thing is, if you spend a lot of time DIY tinkering and have done so for years, you get to know what bits can be mixed and matched and can be expected to work. I doubt most mechanics would object to making a fitting fee, for fitting bits that will work correctly. What they won't want to get involved with is pissing about trying to bodge up incompatible stuff handed to them by the customer, then having the customer moaning to all and sundry afterwards what a shite mechanic they are and what a bad job they did. Sometimes an easy job (in any trade) is worth doing for a bit of beer money, sometimes either the job or the customer, makes it just not worth the aggro.

 

[BigMeatball]

I don’t mean to be a pain in the arse, I just want things to go smoothly.

If you want things to go smoothly, you should just bring the bike to a shop and let the professionals do what they do best.

That's it. If you want to buy shoes and pedals, buy shoes and pedals. But buying random bits and bobs for the bike like chain and cassette and wheels and whatever else is just a waste of time and money. Let the mechanics do their job.

 

[vickster]

I guess he’s looking to buy the parts to avoid being messed around as with the other LBS who didn’t have the parts.
I don’t see any issue with providing a chain and cassette (the correct ones of good quality) to the shop to fit, ditto the wheels (but not £50 a pair ones) especially if having a new cassette.
Just don’t expect it to be done for free 👍

 

[Black Sheep]

I’m after a pair of road shoes and clipless pedals. I’ve already linked to a pair of shoes and pedals I like. What does everyone think about them? Should I only pay £50-100 for a pair of shoes?

I’ve already bought new handlebar tape and a

One thing I do want to mention is that I’m not so much after comfort, I’m going for the more racing style.

I paid about £90 and for that I got a pair of road shoes, cleats and pedals AND a set of touring shoes, pedals and cleats for my wife's bike from Decathlon.

While there is some truth about 'buy cheap, buy twice' there is also sense in buying decent starter kit and finding out what suits you before splashing the cash on high end of the same type.

Get the bike working and ride it, then start upgrading. This way you're less likely to be selling things on that didn't work / didn't fit.

Pedal spindles are a fairly standard size, my Decathlon ones went on a set of 1970's and also a set of 1980's cranks with no issues.

 

[Ajax Bay]

I am a perfectionist which is self-explanatory, so I want everything to be the best of the best.

You are deluding yourself. No doubt you'd like to see yourself as a perfectionist. The challenge you're facing, in the context of this bike, is that you don't understand what 'perfect' looks like and, despite best efforts of us on here, I don't think you're going to gain that insight any time soon.
This neglected bike has probably had a prang and the rear wheel has been replaced with one with a 9sp cassette on, despite the fact that it's 8 speed (when it was sold by Halfords to your brother a few years ago). I suspect it has not been ridden since. I recommend you hand it back to your brother. The LBS you have booked it into on 29 May expects to replace 2 spokes, true both wheels, fit a rear gear cable and index the gears. £50 seems OK.
But the LBS doesn't know you need the cassette and (therefore) the chain replaced too. The LBS should but may not have those parts. Fitting cassette and chain is a max 10 minute job.
A cheap wheelset (front and rear) with an 8sp cassette fitted and a new chain will cost at least £140. But you're a perfectionist. I don't think you'll be content with a wheelset (ready to ride) which you can buy for less than £200.
If you want to get out and ride a bike, buy one (for £300 say), in good working order: one that's the correct size for you too. Clearly if you can envisage spending £230 on shoes and pedals then you will be prepared to buy a nice bike you can enjoy riding in the sunshine.

 

[overmind]

You are deluding yourself. No doubt you'd like to see yourself as a perfectionist. The challenge you're facing, in the context of this bike, is that you don't understand what 'perfect' looks like and, despite best efforts of us on here, I don't think you're going to gain that insight any time soon.
This neglected bike has probably had a prang and the rear wheel has been replaced with one with a 9sp cassette on, despite the fact that it's 8 speed (when it was sold by Halfords to your brother a few years ago). I suspect it has not been ridden since. I recommend you hand it back to your brother. The LBS you have booked it into on 29 May expects to replace 2 spokes, true both wheels, fit a rear gear cable and index the gears. £50 seems OK.
But the LBS doesn't know you need the cassette and (therefore) the chain replaced too. The LBS should but may not have those parts. Fitting cassette and chain is a max 10 minute job.
A cheap wheelset (front and rear) with an 8sp cassette fitted and a new chain will cost at least £140. But you're a perfectionist. I don't think you'll be content with a wheelset (ready to ride) which you can buy for less than £200.
If you want to get out and ride a bike, buy one (for £300 say), in good working order: one that's the correct size for you too. Clearly if you can envisage spending £230 on shoes and pedals then you will be prepared to buy a nice bike you can enjoy riding in the sunshine.

I cannot up-vote this post enough. My sentiments exactly. I find this thread really depressing. it's like watching a slow motion car crash.

 

[DSK]

I don't see the point of buying parts now. The next shop he's booked in at seems happy to get him sorted the same day (dare I say whilst he waits). They would have asked what needs doing and no doubt the OP has explained enough.

 

[jay clock]

This is getting painful to watch

 

[Ajax Bay]

Guys
We're only on 8 pages, Let's have a bit more enthusiasm. The OP started another thread on Wednesday (36 hours ago) and it's on Page 10.
https://www.cyclechat.net/threads/is-there-a-stigma-to-only-wear-a-cap.261126/
OP:

Hopefully sometime next week I’ll be finally riding a road bike. I don’t have a helmet at the moment. But, I did buy a cycling cap from the 1990s earlier today on eBay which I intend to wear when I’m out on the bike.
Do you wear a cycling cap? If so, do you think other cyclists judge you because of it?

 

[vickster]

I don't see the point of buying parts now. The next shop he's booked in at seems happy to get him sorted the same day (dare I say whilst he waits). They would have asked what needs doing and no doubt the OP has explained enough.

You think? If I was getting a neglected unridden bike back on the road, I’d get the chain and cassette changed too, especially if getting new wheels 👍

 

[BigMeatball]

They would have asked what needs doing and no doubt the OP has explained enough.

You would think so...

But the OP seems to have a limited knowledge so who knows what the OP told the shop. Maybe the OP can't see everything that's wrong with the bike and it may turn up to be a bigger job. In this case, just phoning the shop was a bit pointless. Would have been much better to just pop in to the shop and any decent mechanic can give you a good enough estimate of what's needed/cost/how long it would take; THEN they book you in.

I think the mechanic made a bit of a mistake to commit to get the bike fixed the same way without seeing the bike. Chances are OP is going to bring in the bike just to be told to leave the bike in the shop or to come back at X date.

 

[BigMeatball]

You think? If I was getting a neglected unridden bike back on the road, I’d get the chain and cassette changed too, especially if getting new wheels 👍

I would get a new chain, cassette and wheels if the mechanic at the shop told me I need them. I wouldn't just randomly buy parts with zero knowledge of what I'm buying