They say support your lbs . . .
Discussion
. . . but some of them don't half make it hard for you to do so!
Need to have a bike rebuilt due to a frame problem so lacking time/all the tools needed/some of the skills needed took the bike and the new frame round to the lbs this morning:
Me: Hi, I need a bike rebuild, can you do it for me?
LBS owner: No, we are chocca at the moment, can't do it until next week.
Me; Ok, no hurry, can I leave it for when you have time?
LBSO: No, I haven't got room for it, you'll have to bring it back.
Me: Ok, when can you do it?
LBSO: >Sucks teeth, consults workshop diary< Tuesday next week is the earliest.
Me: Ok, can I book it in please?
LBSO: Yes. >looks over counter at new frame< You'll need a new headset for that frame, old one won't fit.
Me: Can you order one in for me please so I get the right one?
LBSO: No, get in touch with the frame builder and get one from them.
Me: Ok, see you next Tuesday!
I think a tool catalogue and a maintenance course are my next ports of call!
Need to have a bike rebuilt due to a frame problem so lacking time/all the tools needed/some of the skills needed took the bike and the new frame round to the lbs this morning:
Me: Hi, I need a bike rebuild, can you do it for me?
LBS owner: No, we are chocca at the moment, can't do it until next week.
Me; Ok, no hurry, can I leave it for when you have time?
LBSO: No, I haven't got room for it, you'll have to bring it back.
Me: Ok, when can you do it?
LBSO: >Sucks teeth, consults workshop diary< Tuesday next week is the earliest.
Me: Ok, can I book it in please?
LBSO: Yes. >looks over counter at new frame< You'll need a new headset for that frame, old one won't fit.
Me: Can you order one in for me please so I get the right one?
LBSO: No, get in touch with the frame builder and get one from them.
Me: Ok, see you next Tuesday!
I think a tool catalogue and a maintenance course are my next ports of call!
Mine did a supposed full service on the MTB and a needed suspension overhaul but when I got it back the chain and jockeys had obviously not been touched at all.
If a bike shop services my bike properly I expect it to clean around gears and parts to do its job properly... to me, they failed so I'll not be using a particular shop in Bromley any more....
If a bike shop services my bike properly I expect it to clean around gears and parts to do its job properly... to me, they failed so I'll not be using a particular shop in Bromley any more....
itsnotarace said:
You may have been bumped up the queue should you have purchased the frame or groupset from them
I don't think it was the wait, it was the attitude re: the headset. OP, Bikes are so easy to work on, it's easier and faster (and you know the job is up to your standards) to do it yourself and just take in the bits you might not be happy fiddling with - Brakes / Dampers / Forks / etc.
My LBS is brill, went in on Sunday afternoon as I had tried all morning to get a flatspot out of a radial spoked wheel and thought f
k it, let the boys do it. 10 minutes later and its back all nice and roundy! Whilst he was doing that I took an old Klein Mantra for a spin he had in the shop.... smart bd knows I have a weakness for old metal. I'll probably end up owning that mantra fairly soon haha
k it, let the boys do it. 10 minutes later and its back all nice and roundy! Whilst he was doing that I took an old Klein Mantra for a spin he had in the shop.... smart bd knows I have a weakness for old metal. I'll probably end up owning that mantra fairly soon haharhinochopig said:
I don't think it was the wait, it was the attitude re: the headset.
OP, Bikes are so easy to work on, it's easier and faster (and you know the job is up to your standards) to do it yourself and just take in the bits you might not be happy fiddling with - Brakes / Dampers / Forks / etc.
I agree at some point if your building new frame up or changing frames, ie. removing and fitting cranks and headsets you are going to need to face/ream frames and the tools to do it properly are not cheap and within the realms of your average bike tinkerer.OP, Bikes are so easy to work on, it's easier and faster (and you know the job is up to your standards) to do it yourself and just take in the bits you might not be happy fiddling with - Brakes / Dampers / Forks / etc.
We have a Bike Doctor at work who comes round once a month, free labour, so I give him the headset & crank jobs, I supply the parts from online purchases and do the rest of the stuff myself.
Edited by anonymous-user on Tuesday 4th October 14:35
okgo said:
And paid 3x the cost no doubt.
They really are onto a loser half the time.
If you'd ever spent time working in a bike shop you would hear the following phrase very often:They really are onto a loser half the time.
"Excuse me mate I've bought this bike off ebay/lidl/<insert s
tty internet supplier here> and it arrived in pieces in a box and it needs to be built up, when can you fit me in"itsnotarace said:
If you'd ever spent time working in a bike shop you would hear the following phrase very often:
"Excuse me mate I've bought this bike off ebay/lidl/<insert stty internet supplier here> and it arrived in pieces in a box and it needs to be built up, when can you fit me in"
I've worked in a bike shop thanks."Excuse me mate I've bought this bike off ebay/lidl/<insert s
tty internet supplier here> and it arrived in pieces in a box and it needs to be built up, when can you fit me in"And no I never heard that, mind you it was 10 years ago, besides who cares where it comes from? Most LBS charge utterly ubsurd labour rates anyway, so its not like they don't make money out of that kind of thing!
itsnotarace said:
If you'd ever spent time working in a bike shop you would hear the following phrase very often:
"Excuse me mate, can you do some very simple work exactly in line with your expertise, for which I will pay you money in exchange for your labours?"
FTFY"Excuse me mate, can you do some very simple work exactly in line with your expertise, for which I will pay you money in exchange for your labours?"
Must be hell running a business with customers.
How do they cope?
Best bike shops are those who's staff actually ride and have a passion for bikes - I am very lucky and have 3 really decent lbs's near me.
Bought a new road bike from Merlin last year, could not quite get the setup right so took it to the lbs (road bike specialist) on a quiet Sunday morning. Guy's were great, took time to get the setup correctl, including turning the stem over, re-sighting the brake levers and adjusted the saddle position - all gratis on the condition I have it serviced with them when its needed!
Recently built a Ragley Blue Pig from scratch, didn't want to fit the BB (and chain device) or headset myself for fear of screwing the frame up, so took it to my other lbs and asked them to fit it. Took them a good hour or so to fit them (due to issues getting the chain device and bb sitting correctly) - total cost?; £20 and a costa coffee!
There are some great lbs's out there but they don't tend to have great shop fronts, and tend to be in the slightly crappy end of town!
Bought a new road bike from Merlin last year, could not quite get the setup right so took it to the lbs (road bike specialist) on a quiet Sunday morning. Guy's were great, took time to get the setup correctl, including turning the stem over, re-sighting the brake levers and adjusted the saddle position - all gratis on the condition I have it serviced with them when its needed!
Recently built a Ragley Blue Pig from scratch, didn't want to fit the BB (and chain device) or headset myself for fear of screwing the frame up, so took it to my other lbs and asked them to fit it. Took them a good hour or so to fit them (due to issues getting the chain device and bb sitting correctly) - total cost?; £20 and a costa coffee!
There are some great lbs's out there but they don't tend to have great shop fronts, and tend to be in the slightly crappy end of town!
itsnotarace said:
walm said:
FTFY
Must be hell running a business with customers.
How do they cope?
You ever bought car tyres from the internet and then taken them locally to be fitted only to find the local tyre places charge £20 per tyre for fitting? And then wonder why that is?Must be hell running a business with customers.
How do they cope?
But that seems entirely reasonable to me.
They have every right to charge what they like.
I imagine they have to cover rent, wages, depreciation on their capital equipment - just like every other business.
I am not complaining about the cost of the "labour" - I am complaining about people complaining about HAVING PAYING CUSTOMERS.
M42 East/West area: Recommend Cult Cycles in Earlswood
Both times I've turned up there with a bike I didn't buy from them, the guy in the shop (the owner I think) stopped what he was doing and attended to the bike I brought in with me without booking an appointment. On one occasion he resolved my issue for a very small bit of folding, and the other time he felt the bike was OK as-is and didn't charge.
The place where I bought the bikes from, Red Kite in Shirley, are always too busy for "drop ins". In fairness, they too do a good job and it's probably a consequence of their good service that they're always busy.
Both times I've turned up there with a bike I didn't buy from them, the guy in the shop (the owner I think) stopped what he was doing and attended to the bike I brought in with me without booking an appointment. On one occasion he resolved my issue for a very small bit of folding, and the other time he felt the bike was OK as-is and didn't charge.
The place where I bought the bikes from, Red Kite in Shirley, are always too busy for "drop ins". In fairness, they too do a good job and it's probably a consequence of their good service that they're always busy.
i still wonder why people dont just buy a workstand and a bike maintenance book but complain about high costs or not ebing able to get fitted in for menial jobs. i appreciate not everyone has the space but for an intial outlay of £100 you can get everything at home done bar headset/bb fitting and suspension work.
whilst actually learning a bit more about how its all bolted together - though i appreciate its not rocket science its useful to know in case of roadside emergencies...
thankfully I have found Bad Ass Bikes just south of Bristol who are everything I ever need in a bike shop, ex-factory suspension guy and a penchant for custom road stuff too, last time i was there two high end lynskeys were in the build process..
whilst actually learning a bit more about how its all bolted together - though i appreciate its not rocket science its useful to know in case of roadside emergencies...
thankfully I have found Bad Ass Bikes just south of Bristol who are everything I ever need in a bike shop, ex-factory suspension guy and a penchant for custom road stuff too, last time i was there two high end lynskeys were in the build process..
pablo said:
i still wonder why people dont just buy a workstand and a bike maintenance book but complain about high costs or not ebing able to get fitted in for menial jobs. i appreciate not everyone has the space but for an intial outlay of £100 you can get everything at home done bar headset/bb fitting and suspension work.
whilst actually learning a bit more about how its all bolted together - though i appreciate its not rocket science its useful to know in case of roadside emergencies...
thankfully I have found Bad Ass Bikes just south of Bristol who are everything I ever need in a bike shop, ex-factory suspension guy and a penchant for custom road stuff too, last time i was there two high end lynskeys were in the build process..
Honestly, you would be shocked at just how inept some people are!whilst actually learning a bit more about how its all bolted together - though i appreciate its not rocket science its useful to know in case of roadside emergencies...
thankfully I have found Bad Ass Bikes just south of Bristol who are everything I ever need in a bike shop, ex-factory suspension guy and a penchant for custom road stuff too, last time i was there two high end lynskeys were in the build process..
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