Should I trust this bike shop?
03-26-15, 08:44 AM
#1
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Should I trust this bike shop?
Before anyone says: "Do all your own work" please understand that I do most of my own work. However, I don't always have the time or tools to do everything.
I recently dropped of a well preserved 1986 Serotta at a bike shop I've never done business with. I noticed an older bike on a stand, and the clamp was placed on the seat-tube. So I told the person writing the ticket to only put the clamp on the seat post and never on the seat-tube or any other painted surface.
Another person, who may have been higher up the seniority system, chimed in:"We never put a clamp on a seat-tube, and no customer should ever be concerned".
So I said, "If you will look behind you, you will see a bike being held by the seat-tube".
Then he said, "that's a defective frame, that is headed for scrap". I looked at the bike, and it was clearly used recently with multiple accessories attached.
Should I trust these guys?
I recently dropped of a well preserved 1986 Serotta at a bike shop I've never done business with. I noticed an older bike on a stand, and the clamp was placed on the seat-tube. So I told the person writing the ticket to only put the clamp on the seat post and never on the seat-tube or any other painted surface.
Another person, who may have been higher up the seniority system, chimed in:"We never put a clamp on a seat-tube, and no customer should ever be concerned".
So I said, "If you will look behind you, you will see a bike being held by the seat-tube".
Then he said, "that's a defective frame, that is headed for scrap". I looked at the bike, and it was clearly used recently with multiple accessories attached.
Should I trust these guys?
Last edited by Barrettscv; 03-26-15 at 10:49 AM.
03-26-15, 08:51 AM
#2
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That is only a call you can make. It sounds like you are uncomfortable so if there is another choice then I would take it. When I go to a shop I generally don't make judgement till the job is done.
03-26-15, 09:20 AM
#5
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I'd be leery of that shop, but I also would have scanned the situation a bit more.
Was there enough seatpost to grab with the clamp? Could be it was stuck.
Was there something in the way of clamping the seattube? The toptube? Downtube just sounds like a strange place to be clamping a bike, anyway.
Was the bike a complete beater? Was there a shop rag in the clamp, between the painted surface and the clamp?
Trust but confirm -- take pix of the paint on your Serotta, and examine the paint while you're picking up the bike. My only worry would be that some uninformed mechanic-monkey might think, "Meh, just another older steel bike."...
Was there enough seatpost to grab with the clamp? Could be it was stuck.
Was there something in the way of clamping the seattube? The toptube? Downtube just sounds like a strange place to be clamping a bike, anyway.
Was the bike a complete beater? Was there a shop rag in the clamp, between the painted surface and the clamp?
Trust but confirm -- take pix of the paint on your Serotta, and examine the paint while you're picking up the bike. My only worry would be that some uninformed mechanic-monkey might think, "Meh, just another older steel bike."...
03-26-15, 09:41 AM
#8
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Not sure. I'm often not comfortable with other people though, so I might not be a fair judge.
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03-26-15, 09:43 AM
#9
Banned
See what happens when they cannot afford to pay a decent wage , and retain skilled mechanics ?
03-26-15, 10:33 AM
#10
Steel is real
i often clamp the seat tube if there isn't enough seat post to clamp - if i can't i bothered adjusting the seat post, haven't done any damage to the frames using my PSC- 10 park tool stand, the jaws are pretty well made.
and also working on a bike that hasn't got a seat post...can't be bothered to fit one, easy just to clamp the tube untill i decide which seat post and seat to fit for the bike
and also working on a bike that hasn't got a seat post...can't be bothered to fit one, easy just to clamp the tube untill i decide which seat post and seat to fit for the bike
Last edited by le mans; 03-26-15 at 01:57 PM.
03-26-15, 10:42 AM
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Your bike is steel correct?? As long as jaws are rubber I see no harm on steel frame. Carbon yes - steel no.
03-26-15, 10:55 AM
#12
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I don't trust bike shops, and have learned to do all work myself. Its truly the way to go. Invest in the tools, just do it.
03-26-15, 11:17 AM
#13
Steel is real
as for my personal bikes - alloy framed..i've either clamped them on the seat post or tube, if on the tube i'm mindful not to over tighten
03-26-15, 11:30 AM
#14
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I wouldn't take this as an indicator either way. Some of the worst looking shops have the best mechanics, and some of the best looking shops have the worst.
You have to make your on decision based on vibes, reviews/referrals, and any other clues you want to give weight to.
You have to make your on decision based on vibes, reviews/referrals, and any other clues you want to give weight to.
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Just because I'm tired of arguing, doesn't mean you're right.
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WARNING, I'm from New York. Thin skinned people should maintain safe distance.
03-26-15, 11:33 AM
#15
incazzare.
Yeah, this is pure paranoia to me, and I see it repeated here a lot. Clamping a stand with rubber jaws on your steel bike is unlikely to hurt it unless you go crazy with the force. My bikes never have enough seatpost exposed to clamp it, and I have never had an issue clamping on the frame.
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03-26-15, 11:45 AM
#17
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Yeah, this is pure paranoia to me, and I see it repeated here a lot. Clamping a stand with rubber jaws on your steel bike is unlikely to hurt it unless you go crazy with the force. My bikes never have enough seatpost exposed to clamp it, and I have never had an issue clamping on the frame.
Trust and comfort are important regardless of the actual details. If you leave your bike to be serviced by someone you're not comfortable with, then everything that follows will be viewed in that light.
When people come to me for wheels or some complicated service, I refuse the work if I sense any discomfort on their part. Likewise, if I'm not comfortable with any professional, ie. lawyer, or doctor, I look elsewhere.
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An ounce of diagnosis is worth a pound of cure.
Just because I'm tired of arguing, doesn't mean you're right.
“One accurate measurement is worth a thousand expert opinions” - Adm Grace Murray Hopper - USN
WARNING, I'm from New York. Thin skinned people should maintain safe distance.
FB
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An ounce of diagnosis is worth a pound of cure.
Just because I'm tired of arguing, doesn't mean you're right.
“One accurate measurement is worth a thousand expert opinions” - Adm Grace Murray Hopper - USN
WARNING, I'm from New York. Thin skinned people should maintain safe distance.
03-26-15, 03:47 PM
#18
incazzare.
I suspect that it' not about the clamp. It's about the OP feels comfortable trusting the mechanic.
Trust and comfort are important regardless of the actual details. If you leave your bike to be serviced by someone you're not comfortable with, then everything that follows will be viewed in that light.
When people come to me for wheels or some complicated service, I refuse the work if I sense any discomfort on their part. Likewise, if I'm not comfortable with any professional, ie. lawyer, or doctor, I look elsewhere.
Trust and comfort are important regardless of the actual details. If you leave your bike to be serviced by someone you're not comfortable with, then everything that follows will be viewed in that light.
When people come to me for wheels or some complicated service, I refuse the work if I sense any discomfort on their part. Likewise, if I'm not comfortable with any professional, ie. lawyer, or doctor, I look elsewhere.
I get that, but it sounds like the mistrust is based on the clamping method. My point was less about the trust and more about the clamp method, which I think is fine.
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03-26-15, 03:54 PM
#19
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I agree that it's OK, but let's imagine that the OP leaves the bike there based on our reassurance, or just because it's the only game in town. If anything goes wrong, and there should be some kind of scratch on the frame, or anything else, he'll blame the shop, and himself for going against his instincts. Even if the scratch or issue has absolutely nothing to do with the clamping method.
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An ounce of diagnosis is worth a pound of cure.
Just because I'm tired of arguing, doesn't mean you're right.
“One accurate measurement is worth a thousand expert opinions” - Adm Grace Murray Hopper - USN
WARNING, I'm from New York. Thin skinned people should maintain safe distance.
FB
Chain-L site
An ounce of diagnosis is worth a pound of cure.
Just because I'm tired of arguing, doesn't mean you're right.
“One accurate measurement is worth a thousand expert opinions” - Adm Grace Murray Hopper - USN
WARNING, I'm from New York. Thin skinned people should maintain safe distance.
03-26-15, 04:14 PM
#20
Banned
You can put your bike in their stand to your satisfaction and hover and ask a Lot of questions if you want, I dont mind.
03-26-15, 05:24 PM
#22
incazzare.
I agree that it's OK, but let's imagine that the OP leaves the bike there based on our reassurance, or just because it's the only game in town. If anything goes wrong, and there should be some kind of scratch on the frame, or anything else, he'll blame the shop, and himself for going against his instincts. Even if the scratch or issue has absolutely nothing to do with the clamping method.
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03-26-15, 06:18 PM
#23
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To me it's not about the clamp.
"That's a defective frame, that is headed for scrap." Am I the only one who thinks that statement is BS?
I hate liars. Once I catch somebody in a lie they might be the best mechanics in the area but I'd still never feel like I could trust them.
"That's a defective frame, that is headed for scrap." Am I the only one who thinks that statement is BS?
I hate liars. Once I catch somebody in a lie they might be the best mechanics in the area but I'd still never feel like I could trust them.
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03-26-15, 06:55 PM
#24
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It might have been BS, yes. But then again, the guy might have been telling the truth. When we get a bike in for a frame warranty issue, and if there is indeed a frame replacement coming because of a crack, defect, or whatever, the bike shows up in the shop with accessories attached, and it probably has been ridden recently. We're going to strip that frame of its parts, and as far as where we clamp it in the work stand, at that point it really doesn't matter much, it will never be used again anyway.
03-26-15, 07:47 PM
#25
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This, and the bald face lie really has me concerned. I doubt that I wound get any justice in case of a complaint.
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