Bicycle Mechanics - Casette and chain + LBS woes

Hello,

I have a little situation. I have to pay for being stupid, which is how it works, but id like to minimize the cost.

I've had this full ultegra K2 bike for two years, and i've done my own adjusting and tweaking... but finally decided to go to an LBS for a good tune up. Well the bill came up to $300... something i just can't afford (can barely afford 1/3rd of that for a basic tune up with wheel truing).

Basically, i've screwed up my chain and casette. My bike is full ultegra so i figured i would need the better parts (dura-ace chain + ultegra 10sp casette?). Well, they charge a bit more for partS (can find cheaper online) and for labor alone it is around $120.

Now, i do have a basic tool kit from pricepoint http://www.pricepoint.com/detail/14585-325_SET215-0-Search--/Sette-Torx-ST-21-Tool-Kit---21-Tools.htm but i was wondering if i would be able to do such an operation myself, and how hard would it be for someone who have never done anything that would require a bike-specific tool. Or should i just give up and somehow over the next few months just get it fixed at the LBS.

Oh yes, there is a little play in the bottom bracket, but its a bit and i dont think ill be touching it for awhile and hopefully can fix that myself as well.

Outrageous. Buy the two or three tools you'll need, buy the parts online, and change them yourself. Changing a cassette and a chain is child's play!

You'll need a chain whip, cog remover, chain tool.

See: http://www.parktool.com/repair/readhowto.asp?id=48

The bike is two years old? Doesn't it have 9-speed Ultegra 6500? Then why the 10-speed cassette? I presume they put on a 10-speed chain, too.

Other than that, what's the question? The LBS has already tuned the bike, right? They're not going to un-tune it.

You can't "fix" the BB. It's a cartridge. You can only replace it, and unless it feels rough there's no point.

Tools don't make a mechanic. Knowledge makes a mechanic. Learn about your bike and then you'll know what tools you need.

$120 labor to replace a chain and cassette? That seems extremely high. You have a chain tool and a whip in the kit. Not sure if it includes a cassette tool or not.

$120 labor to replace a chain and cassette?
I read it that the $120 labor is for the whole deal, not just the cassette. Basic tuneup it likely about $75; add another $20 or so for wheel truing.

$180 seems very high for parts, though.

Ah well i just ordered a casette remover to add to my kit. The overall price was 300 which included a tune-up, 10speed ultegra casette ($80) and a dura-ace (or maybe ultegra) chain ($40).. also they said they'd tune up the play in the BB (even though its very slight). So they were charging around 180 for a tune up and the rest of labor.

It's a nice play, and they do everything very well, and i guess for someone who can afford it (quite a bit of rich individuals here in boston) its a good deal.. but im just gonna have to do it myself. Cycling is probably not the best hobby for a broke college student.

For a broke college student who doesn't ask for a quote before proceeding with the work, you mean.

Btw, one alternative is to leave the old chain and cassette on the bike and just ride it. You know the cassette is too worn to live with a new chain, but the two are happy together now. The worn chain will eventually wear out the crank rings, but that won't happen for quite some time.

And be thankful someone doesn't give you a BMW Z4.

Has this work been done or not?
At first it sounds like the work was performed. Then it sounds like you got a quote.

It also sounds like you have a 9spd bike so you don't need the 10s cass. Why not just put a 105 level 9spd cassette on and a 105 level chain, that would be $60-70 for both plus the labor.

Cycling is probably not the best hobby for a broke college student.

Oh? Ever own a car? Bikes are almost free by comparison.

I don't recommend asking for a "full tune up". I used to work for a bike shop, and our tune ups consisted of going over the bike, adjusting the shifters and cables, wiping it down with a rag and cleaner, and recommending any replacement parts that were worn. If you have half a mind (you're going to college, so there's a good chance) you can tell, or learn how to tell, when something is wrong on the bike. When it is, have the shop fix that.

When I worked for the shop, the only difference between a guy who walked in and asked for a tune up and the guy who said "my bike shifts funny" was about $40 in labor.
Adjust derailleurs $10-20
Adjust brakes $10-20
Tune up (adjust derailleurs and brakes) $65

Oh? Ever own a car? Bikes are almost free by comparison.
OP said hobby, which implies a different mode of transportation. But if it is feasable, I highly recommend commuting to college by bike. Saves money and builds muscle.

Wow! I'm confused. :rolleyes:

Me too.

Yes, it's confusing as to whether he already had the work done or not, but I imagine he didn't because if he did, there would be nothing for him to "minimize the cost" on anymore.

The work was not done, as urban mentioned i wouldn't be asking for advice if it was. I am sorry about any confusion, i made the post 10 minutes after i woke up before going to work.

The bike is a K2 mod 4 i believe and i got it just when all the new bikes were going double and 10sp, so it is a 10sp bike. I will do the work myself eventually.

My comment about being a broke college student was more to emphasize how much one pays for the fact that all of this is cycling specific and both the parts and repair markets seem to be really overpriced. I usually only purchase, if anything, online and on sale... got my bike that way with full ultegra, mid range mavic wheels, and a frame with as much carbon as possible without it being a carbon frame for $1150.


I am aware that i can just ride it, and i will, i am just sort of anal about riding something broken and am a bit scared that it might cause more widespread damage (which it probably won't, but still). I'd like to get into cycling mechanics and upkeep the bike myself after this ordeal, i think we all learn by mistakes.

Thank you for the help!

My advice would be to get an older steel framed bike until you can afford a more expensive new one. And if you can't afford top of the line parts, go for something cheaper or second hand.

I had a 9 speed cassette changed w/ new chain for around $80. The parts are SRAM. I doubt he charged me much more than minimum shop rate for the labor. Earlier, I had a "tune up" - derailleur and brake adjustment, check wheels (didn't need truing), check hubs. I think it was $50.

Yeah. Cassette and chain are dead easy to change.

Have you found the Park Tools repair site?

My comment about being a broke college student was more to emphasize how much one pays for the fact that all of this is cycling specific and both the parts and repair markets seem to be really overpriced..


I have been wondering this. What criteria is used to decide that something is overpriced?

The feeling that it is overpriced? Because this is not valid.

You saw an online ad that had a lower price? Neither is this one
.
Camparison of all simialr pricing in a given locale? This is a valid way of doing it.

An actual knowledge of wholesale cost and grasp of basic economics combined to come up with a valid price for comparison? This is the best method.

This should make you feel better. When I was in college, I was driving a decent 5 year old, 6 cylinder Camaro that ran just fine. I came across my childhood dream car (1989 Trans Am GTA, black with t-tops) and traded my Camaro straight up. Being an older sportscar with stiff suspension, I ended up rebuilding the transmission and replacing the pop-up headlamps, hatch pulldown motor, radiator, freeze plugs, and long block engine, and neglecting the radio controls, foglamps, and cruise control that didn't work either. I had sunk my entire life savings plus my CD savings, and had enlisted the help of my parents as well before selling it and getting a sensible commuter car for the rest of college.

Your mistake is costing around $300, mine cost around $6000

The work was not done, as urban mentioned i wouldn't be asking for advice if it was. I am sorry about any confusion, i made the post 10 minutes after i woke up before going to work.

The bike is a K2 mod 4 i believe and i got it just when all the new bikes were going double and 10sp, so it is a 10sp bike. I will do the work myself eventually.

My comment about being a broke college student was more to emphasize how much one pays for the fact that all of this is cycling specific and both the parts and repair markets seem to be really overpriced. I usually only purchase, if anything, online and on sale... got my bike that way with full ultegra, mid range mavic wheels, and a frame with as much carbon as possible without it being a carbon frame for $1150.


I am aware that i can just ride it, and i will, i am just sort of anal about riding something broken and am a bit scared that it might cause more widespread damage (which it probably won't, but still). I'd like to get into cycling mechanics and upkeep the bike myself after this ordeal, i think we all learn by mistakes.

Thank you for the help!

This is as great an excuse to do your own repairs that i've ever seen. Repairing a bicycle isn't rocket science, material to help you is widely available in the form of books or the internet. You may need some special tools - does your campus have a bike shop?

Ours has a free bike repair facility (free as in you can use the tools for free), but you do the work yourself. I think it's a godsend to any poor college student with a bike.

Here:

http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?category=&subcategory=&brand=&sku=11026&storetype=&estoreid=&pagename=Show%20All%20Products

+


http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?category=&subcategory=&brand=&sku=19154&storetype=&estoreid=&pagename=Show%20All%20Products

+

http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?category=&subcategory=&brand=&sku=17212&storetype=&estoreid=&pagename=Show%20All%20Products

There for $140 plus shipping you have everything you need including a tool kit that will help you fix just about anything you will ever need to fix again.

I have been wondering this. What criteria is used to decide that something is overpriced?

The feeling that it is overpriced? Because this is not valid.

You saw an online ad that had a lower price? Neither is this one
.
Camparison of all simialr pricing in a given locale? This is a valid way of doing it.

An actual knowledge of wholesale cost and grasp of basic economics combined to come up with a valid price for comparison? This is the best method.

Something more like the market being somewhat limited and the supply and demand ratio not being in the favor of the consumer. This is just a "feeling" but it seems valid to me.

Urban, big ouch

Rev, are you in a relationship? If so, you should know that feelings outweigh all logical arguments and rational thought.

This is as great an excuse to do your own repairs that i've ever seen. Repairing a bicycle isn't rocket science, material to help you is widely available in the form of books or the internet. You may need some special tools - does your campus have a bike shop?

Ours has a free bike repair facility (free as in you can use the tools for free), but you do the work yourself. I think it's a godsend to any poor college student with a bike.
you are in toronto, which university are you talking about? UofT? Ryerson? York?

I started doing my own repairs and upgrades shortly after getting my first real road bike. It really isn't rocket science, and you can do a surprising amount with a set of allen keys, a chain tool, and a spoke wrench. Two years back, I wanted to get a bike repainted. I carefully removed everything I could, had a shop take out the headset and BB. When it came back from the painters, I had them put in a new headset and BB, and then I put the whole thing back together, having taken apart and re-greased every component. And it runs better than ever.

IMO, nothing makes a bike YOURS quite so much as building it up with your own hands.

At the shop where I work, a tune up is $55 and includes derailleur and brake adjustment, wheel truing, headset and bottom bracket adjustment, and a thorough cleaning. You're getting hosed if you're paying $300 for those services + a cassette and chain (which I paid $100 throught icycles.com).

+ as everyone has said, its amazing what you can do with a good y hex wrench and some lube and simple green. Learn (and save) by doing!

-Steve

Shimano 105 10-spd cassette and chain should save you some money compared to staying with higher-level stuff.

Shimano 105 10-spd cassette and chain should save you some money compared to staying with higher-level stuff.
Plus they ususally last a bit longer since most of the high end stuff is more geared towards light weight instead of longevity.

good call

i probably shouldn't have even gotten a full ultegra bike in the first place. Sort of silly riding on very mediocre to bad wheels while sporting full ultegra.. damn advertising ;p

Thanks again for all the help guys

Plus they ususally last a bit longer since most of the high end stuff is more geared towards light weight instead of longevity.

+1 billion

Plus they ususally last a bit longer since most of the high end stuff is more geared towards light weight instead of longevity.

WHAT?!? You mean titanium cogs wear out faster than steel? Say it ain't so! :D

^ I wonder how long carbon fiber cogs would last. Anybody wanna buy into that market? :D

Let me put one on my 12 spoke rear wheel.....

after similar fiasco, i am now running a small repair kiosk in a university campus...

Does you school have a bike coop and/or a cycling team? Might the place where you could use some tools and fix everything yourself.