Rip off price for a bike service

[Globalti]

I'm with you @coffeejo I find it takes me a while to learn how to do each step and it's nice having the LBS to sort out my mess if I give it a go. I know I struggle with strength too, so find pulling the cable tight enough to start adjusting it difficult! But once I master a skill I feel really pleased with myself!

Now that I've discovered that two pannier struts have broken, I'm trying to decide if I'm able to do it myself! Theoretically sounds easy but I have disk brakes. And do I stick to the identical rack because I know that it should fit?

Post a photo on here and we'll suggest ways of fixing the rack. My bet is that you could buy some thin alloy tubing and fill it with Araldite then shove both ends of the broken bit inside but that assumes the break is in a nice straight section of a spar.

 

[Big Nick]

Adjusting gears are hard

I agree especially if they're SRAM which don't seem to like downshifts into lower gears !

 

[User6179]

What do you do with the parts you replaced?
Shops are charged for the rubbish & tyres/innertubes can no longer go to landfill.
Part of the cost that many don't take into account.

Actually most parts have a scrap value , chains cassettes ,cranks, etc which should offset any charges for dumping plastic , rubber, etc .

Shop rates on the other hand after rent is the killer and where going to a small back street repair shop should be cheaper than going to one of the big retailers on the high street .

 

[classic33]

Actually most parts have a scrap value , chains cassettes ,cranks, etc which should offset any charges for dumping plastic , rubber, etc .

Shop rates on the other hand after rent is the killer and where going to a small back street repair shop should be cheaper than going to one of the big retailers on the high street .

But to keep them until you have an amount worth weighing in, is going to take up space.
Costs a £1 to "recycle" a tyre or innertube, locally. For a business, for me nothing.

 

[User6179]

But to keep them until you have an amount worth weighing in, is going to take up space.
Costs a £1 to "recycle" a tyre or innertube, locally. For a business, for me nothing.

That much , used to be £2 for a car tyre , don't know how much now but judging from all the car tyres I see dumped recently it must be a lot more.

If I was an LBS I might be tempted to cut the tyres up and sell them as tyre boots on ebay, 20 for a £1

Btw a friend who has a his own business lets the local travellers take away his scrap metal .

 

[summerdays]

Post a photo on here and we'll suggest ways of fixing the rack. My bet is that you could buy some thin alloy tubing and fill it with Araldite then shove both ends of the broken bit inside but that assumes the break is in a nice straight section of a spar.

It's on both sides but diagonally opposite. I have been know to carry quite a bit in there whether it is shopping or work stuff, probably exceeding the limit at times! Further down the struts the metal is visibly worn away by the pannier rubbing slightly so it is probably worth replacing them. It's between the two horizontal bits.

 

[classic33]

Looks as though the weld has given

 

[summerdays]

Looks as though the weld has given

Yes in two places, one on either side

 

[User16625]

I think my first service cost me £200 almost, but I didn't know how to do very much and there were various parts in that too. But it did make me realise that it was important to agree what was likely to be done beforehand, and to maintain it a bit myself. Now I'm clearer about what I want them to do when I get it serviced. But in comparison to the cost of the bike servicing is going to add up. That's why I don't have a problem for MPs claiming bike mileage, if they have cycled, as it isn't completely free once you have a bike as some people think!

Look at it another way, how much would you be spending on public transport instead and do you want to be riding a well maintained bike or something likely to let you down.

I have a huge problem with it. Whats so special about these ****ers that they are entitle to get stuff paid for? Normal people have to spend their own money. So should they. MPs have it easy at taxpayers expense.

£200 seems a bit pricey. You can service a motorcycle for that but it would depend on what is done obviously.

 

[summerdays]

I have a huge problem with it. Whats so special about these ****ers that they are entitle to get stuff paid for? Normal people have to spend their own money. So should they. MPs have it easy at taxpayers expense.

£200 seems a bit pricey. You can service a motorcycle for that but it would depend on what is done obviously.

If they drove they would get it paid, so better that it's cycle mileage, and it should only be for business use.

 

[classic33]

Yes in two places, one on either side

You'd be as well changing it for a new one. Unless you know a local garage that may be able to weld it for you.

 

[Cuchilo]

Yes in two places, one on either side

Get yourself some whipping twine and whip it together .

 

[classic33]

Get yourself some whipping twine and whip it together .

I'd have gone with wire, as a temporary measure.

 

[User16625]

If they drove they would get it paid, so better that it's cycle mileage, and it should only be for business use.

I understand that part. My point was MPs should pay using their own money like everyone else, regardless of mode of transport, circumstances etc. Where do me and you for example, get travel expenses (or any other expenses) paid for?

 

[User6179]

I have a huge problem with it. Whats so special about these ****ers that they are entitle to get stuff paid for? Normal people have to spend their own money. So should they. MPs have it easy at taxpayers expense.

£200 seems a bit pricey. You can service a motorcycle for that but it would depend on what is done obviously.

To be fair to cycle mechanics, car and motorcycle services without the need of specialist computers was simply oil change . spark plug , air filter , my m8 who was a post office mechanic would do that for £30 if you supplied the oil