That's not too bad
What's your biggest repair bill?!?
- Thread starter Turbo Rider
- Start date
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dr snuggles
Guru
- Location
- winlaton
https://yacf.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=46338.0
This is the same bike. I genuinely love it. Full tiagra groupset, better brakes, wheels, tyres took those annoying centre brakes off, with the extra clearance gives the option of my ice tyres in winter. I ride it at the weekend if the weather's bad and during winter as well as commuting all year round. It's an all round belter. Won't be doing any tours this year but next year I'll be using this (used to use a sirrus but sold it when upgraded this one) .
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Smurfy
Naturist Smurf
- Location
- Smurfette's Kitchen
In the last two years of commuting, I've replaced two sections of mudguard (crud road racers don't like road debris).
However, I've got a big bill coming up, as I noticed the front brake blocks are almost worn down.
However, I've got a big bill coming up, as I noticed the front brake blocks are almost worn down.
summerdays
Cycling in the sun
- Location
- Bristol
I've had a bill over £200 but I can't remember everything it had done. Last one was £95 a couple of weeks ago but they only did the things I asked them to do. Noticed yesterday when some glass stuck in the wheel glistened in the sun that in poking it out that I think I could see the the layer below so I perhaps should have bought a new tyre too!
OP
OP
Turbo Rider
Just can't reMember
- Location
- A compounded speck of dust
Probably aim to to it myself in future, but it's the first time everythings worn out, so wasn't exactly sure what I was doing...or even party...just loads of clunkety clunk going on and now I've had that diagnosed, fixed & sorted I'll know (or have a better idea, at least) where the horror show is coming from...first port of call now is a chain checking tool...first year cyclist over here!
summerdays
Cycling in the sun
- Location
- Bristol
I think I started with the full service and now I feel happy to do the basics but I'm still learning, I took mine in after they spotted the disks had worn down badly (something I hadn't even thought to keep an eye on).Probably aim to to it myself in future, but it's the first time everythings worn out, so wasn't exactly sure what I was doing...or even party...just loads of clunkety clunk going on and now I've had that diagnosed, fixed & sorted I'll know (or have a better idea, at least) where the horror show is coming from...first port of call now is a chain checking tool...first year cyclist over here!
OP
OP
Turbo Rider
Just can't reMember
- Location
- A compounded speck of dust
Ha, ha, same here...went in thinking I needed a new gear cable and maybe a chain..."new cassette" he said..."how much?" I asked..."£40" he said, "but that will be an upgrade as well, so will last longer...but oh...your rings are worn too, so you'll need them fixed and a new upgraded crankset will work wonders and actually come in cheaper"...then I noticed my rear wheel had suddenly gone wonky when I was giving it a wash at the weekend and then the crusty cassette I still had on (because I was waiting for the crankset to arrive) lost engagement on the rear wheel during my ride to work...and to take the bike to the shop afterwards...a massively compounded effort, including ample sods law...so I went for a service as well...only £30 for the labour though and it looks as though the cassette was free and they popped new tubes on as well
Bike looks happy anyway 
confusedcyclist
Veteran
When something goes wrong, my biggest expense is the cost of new components or the tools needed for the job. I like to do my own repairs where practical, being self sufficient in bike repairs is pretty important when it comes to bicycle being your main form of transport, plus it gives me a warm fuzzy feeling when I have a mechanical failure and the next day I'm back out on the road with zero expense. It helps to have a back up bike while you're learning how to solve your problem, as it can be a bit frustrating getting your head around some issues.
I stopped using the LBS when I had them replace a broken spoke, I was charged £25 for a replacement and wheel truing. Shortly after I lost another spoke and realised that I could replace the spoke myself and true the wheel for the cost of the component, £1.50 plus a one off payment of £3.50 for a spoke key. It pays to learn to fix your own bike.
So far, my greatest tool expenditure is the rear alignment hanger from Park Tools (£45.99 on sale), so worth it as it has saved me some serious £££ in LBS fees. In the first 3 months of owning it, I've sorted my hangers 4 times (yes, lots of crashes!). At £20 a pop at the LBS, I'm £34.01 better off. Over the course of it's life it will save many hundreds of pounds. Why people are so lazy to get their bikes repairs at the LBS I will never know!
I haven't had to venture near the hubs or bottom bracket to service them yet, but I expect those will be another set of expensive tools, but again, investment pieces.
I stopped using the LBS when I had them replace a broken spoke, I was charged £25 for a replacement and wheel truing. Shortly after I lost another spoke and realised that I could replace the spoke myself and true the wheel for the cost of the component, £1.50 plus a one off payment of £3.50 for a spoke key. It pays to learn to fix your own bike.
So far, my greatest tool expenditure is the rear alignment hanger from Park Tools (£45.99 on sale), so worth it as it has saved me some serious £££ in LBS fees. In the first 3 months of owning it, I've sorted my hangers 4 times (yes, lots of crashes!). At £20 a pop at the LBS, I'm £34.01 better off. Over the course of it's life it will save many hundreds of pounds. Why people are so lazy to get their bikes repairs at the LBS I will never know!
I haven't had to venture near the hubs or bottom bracket to service them yet, but I expect those will be another set of expensive tools, but again, investment pieces.
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Smokin Joe
Legendary Member
- Location
- Bare headed cyclist, Smoker
It amazes me just how many times I read here or other forums where someone takes a bike for a service and the chain rings are replaced by the shop. The only times in my life I've ever replaced a chain ring is to alter the gear ratios. I've never replaced one through wear in my life.
OP
OP
Turbo Rider
Just can't reMember
- Location
- A compounded speck of dust
Oh bum. I will say though, that going from the FSA Tempo crankset to Sora is very noticably different. Never had such smooth changes between rings before, so I'm happy enough with it...lesson learned though
The man in the garage led me to believe that getting my GTV through the MOT was going to be just under £1k. I hummed and hahhed, because it was only worth a couple of grand and (as I had told him), I was considering getting rid of it for a Fiat Coupe, but I eventually said OK. When I got to the garage a few days later he presented me with a bill for £1950 - VAT and labour costs of course doubling the estimate he'd given me. After much discussion, I paid him, and he then said, that's a really nice car, if you ever want to sell it, give me a call. I said you can have it for £1950. He declined, of course. The garage was Cricklewood Cars. If you ever consider going there, I advise against it.
Worst I've had on a bike was £200 for a rebuild on a warranty frame replacement. I should have just chucked it in a skip like I should have done with the Alfa. Sometimes I don't make wise decisions.
Bryony
Veteran
- Location
- Ramsgate, Kent
I usually pay my LBS in cake!
vickster
Legendary Member
Make one out of a potato
Personally I hate fixing anything mechanical. Much more fun just buying a new bike
