My bike is obsolete and can't be fixed any more.
07-10-15, 09:46 AM
#26
Friendship is Magic
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...this issue probably generates 15-20% of our walk in business at the bike co-op here. Actually, at least one of the real bike shops sends some of them to us.
...this issue probably generates 15-20% of our walk in business at the bike co-op here. Actually, at least one of the real bike shops sends some of them to us.
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07-10-15, 09:46 AM
#27
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Never underestimate the combination of deviousness and stupidity. It can work in our favor though. I picked up a nice gitane tdf for $20 at a shop. They were going to donate it as the "mechanic" insisted the head tube had "wollowed" when he could remove the (aluminum) stronglight headset with his bare hands when a customer came in for a simple adjustment. The customer just left the old bike after purchasing a new one. The mechanic didn't see any value in the bike and was happy not to have to try and fix it for their bikes for kids charity that he proceeded to rail on about.
07-10-15, 09:54 AM
#28
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I think the comparison to cars is valid.
In both worlds, there is an insidious pressure from manufacturers, from the media, and from friends who have been sucked into the 'New is Nice' mind-set.
I don't know how it is in the States, but in Britain, to run any car more than 10 years old is considered to be slightly odd. You find yourself 'making excuses' to people when the topic comes up in conversation.
With bicycles, there are odd terms such as 'old fashioned' which are bandied about to make you feel as though you have something 'lesser' than other people. There are trade-in deals at bike shops - to clear the old dross off the streets. People who take up cycling are often subconsciously pushed towards a new bike, rather than old. Friends of mine will say they want a bike, but will only consider a new bike, not 'some old thing which is difficult to ride'.
Sure, there are a lot of people who might drive round in older cars, or ride round on older bikes. But we're seen as 'eccentric' by the majority of the public.
Many years of conditioning by marketing people, sloppy service from repair shops and a modern unwillingness to get their hands dirty, have created a society where 'New is Nice' and old is 'Dirty' or 'Inconvenient', or even 'Dangerous'...
In both worlds, there is an insidious pressure from manufacturers, from the media, and from friends who have been sucked into the 'New is Nice' mind-set.
I don't know how it is in the States, but in Britain, to run any car more than 10 years old is considered to be slightly odd. You find yourself 'making excuses' to people when the topic comes up in conversation.
With bicycles, there are odd terms such as 'old fashioned' which are bandied about to make you feel as though you have something 'lesser' than other people. There are trade-in deals at bike shops - to clear the old dross off the streets. People who take up cycling are often subconsciously pushed towards a new bike, rather than old. Friends of mine will say they want a bike, but will only consider a new bike, not 'some old thing which is difficult to ride'.
Sure, there are a lot of people who might drive round in older cars, or ride round on older bikes. But we're seen as 'eccentric' by the majority of the public.
Many years of conditioning by marketing people, sloppy service from repair shops and a modern unwillingness to get their hands dirty, have created a society where 'New is Nice' and old is 'Dirty' or 'Inconvenient', or even 'Dangerous'...
07-10-15, 10:03 AM
#29
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At least as far as MTB, he's not wrong. I just tweaked my SLX 9 speed rear derailleur and none of the online stores have replacements. LBS quoted me $90. I can get XT but will cost much more than 10 speed. All the higher end stuff will disappear soon. For that matter, try and buy higher end 9 speed brifters.
07-10-15, 10:04 AM
#30
feros ferio
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I think the comparison to cars is valid.
In both worlds, there is an insidious pressure from manufacturers, from the media, and from friends who have been sucked into the 'New is Nice' mind-set.
I don't know how it is in the States, but in Britain, to run any car more than 10 years old is considered to be slightly odd. You find yourself 'making excuses' to people when the topic comes up in conversation.
With bicycles, there are odd terms such as 'old fashioned' which are bandied about to make you feel as though you have something 'lesser' than other people. There are trade-in deals at bike shops - to clear the old dross off the streets. People who take up cycling are often subconsciously pushed towards a new bike, rather than old. Friends of mine will say they want a bike, but will only consider a new bike, not 'some old thing which is difficult to ride'.
Sure, there are a lot of people who might drive round in older cars, or ride round on older bikes. But we're seen as 'eccentric' by the majority of the public.
Many years of conditioning by marketing people, sloppy service from repair shops and a modern unwillingness to get their hands dirty, have created a society where 'New is Nice' and old is 'Dirty' or 'Inconvenient', or even 'Dangerous'...
In both worlds, there is an insidious pressure from manufacturers, from the media, and from friends who have been sucked into the 'New is Nice' mind-set.
I don't know how it is in the States, but in Britain, to run any car more than 10 years old is considered to be slightly odd. You find yourself 'making excuses' to people when the topic comes up in conversation.
With bicycles, there are odd terms such as 'old fashioned' which are bandied about to make you feel as though you have something 'lesser' than other people. There are trade-in deals at bike shops - to clear the old dross off the streets. People who take up cycling are often subconsciously pushed towards a new bike, rather than old. Friends of mine will say they want a bike, but will only consider a new bike, not 'some old thing which is difficult to ride'.
Sure, there are a lot of people who might drive round in older cars, or ride round on older bikes. But we're seen as 'eccentric' by the majority of the public.
Many years of conditioning by marketing people, sloppy service from repair shops and a modern unwillingness to get their hands dirty, have created a society where 'New is Nice' and old is 'Dirty' or 'Inconvenient', or even 'Dangerous'...
There is nothing "obsolete" about my road bikes, all of which have 6-speed freewheels and friction shift.
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"Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." --Theodore Roosevelt
Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
Peugeot: 1970 UO-8, S/N 0010468
Bianchi: 1982 Campione d'Italia, S/N 1.M9914
Schwinn: 1988 Project KOM-10, S/N F804069
"Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." --Theodore Roosevelt
Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
Peugeot: 1970 UO-8, S/N 0010468
Bianchi: 1982 Campione d'Italia, S/N 1.M9914
Schwinn: 1988 Project KOM-10, S/N F804069
07-10-15, 10:06 AM
#31
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Never underestimate the combination of deviousness and stupidity. It can work in our favor though. I picked up a nice gitane tdf for $20 at a shop. They were going to donate it as the "mechanic" insisted the head tube had "wollowed" when he could remove the (aluminum) stronglight headset with his bare hands when a customer came in for a simple adjustment. The customer just left the old bike after purchasing a new one. The mechanic didn't see any value in the bike and was happy not to have to try and fix it for their bikes for kids charity that he proceeded to rail on about.
07-10-15, 10:10 AM
#32
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I tried to take my wifes old Schwinn into the same LBS I bought my bike to with an issue I could not quite understand. "Nope, it's 25 years old, can't get parts". They wouldn't so much as look at it. They wanted to show me a replacement though. I declined.
I looked in the telephone book (remember what those are?) and found a bike shop I wasn't even aware existed any more. I had been there years ago and forgot all about it. The had torn down some of the stores in the area and rebuilt them back up, the LBS was now behind a bunch of other stores.
Not only did it get fixed it actually required NO parts. It was an alignment problem. he said it was probably that way form the factory and just got worse with age and wear. He bent the part back into alignment and it was BETTER than new. Cost? 9$. I gave him a $20 and told him to keep the change, would of been $50 if I happened to have one in my wallet.
Once that guy is gone, there will be no one in my area that I know of that can do this kind of stuff. As much as I would like to do it myself I just don't have the time or wherewithal to do it.
So it's an economic, age and knowledge issue. The old bike mechanics are just few and far between. Everything else is a
throw away" society from cell phones, computers to lawn mowers and now bikes. too. It's a shame, but unless you are willing to look around and do some of the leg work, let alone do the work yourself, it just isn't "feasible" anymore.
I looked in the telephone book (remember what those are?) and found a bike shop I wasn't even aware existed any more. I had been there years ago and forgot all about it. The had torn down some of the stores in the area and rebuilt them back up, the LBS was now behind a bunch of other stores.
Not only did it get fixed it actually required NO parts. It was an alignment problem. he said it was probably that way form the factory and just got worse with age and wear. He bent the part back into alignment and it was BETTER than new. Cost? 9$. I gave him a $20 and told him to keep the change, would of been $50 if I happened to have one in my wallet.
Once that guy is gone, there will be no one in my area that I know of that can do this kind of stuff. As much as I would like to do it myself I just don't have the time or wherewithal to do it.
So it's an economic, age and knowledge issue. The old bike mechanics are just few and far between. Everything else is a
throw away" society from cell phones, computers to lawn mowers and now bikes. too. It's a shame, but unless you are willing to look around and do some of the leg work, let alone do the work yourself, it just isn't "feasible" anymore.
07-10-15, 10:32 AM
#33
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So much of the mechanical is transitioning to digital or electrical.
Distributors to coil over sparkplugs
climate control from wire "cables" to body control management
Carbonators to mechanical fuel injection to electronic fuel injections
Mechanical fuel pumps to electric ones in the tank
Odometers run by a peg on the spoke to GPS.
Mechanical shifting to Electronic shifting.
It is getting more simple from the users perspective, even the repair perspective, but more complex designs up front.
In some ways, the computer generation replaced the hotrod generation. The challenge is related to the complexity and knowledge set required of the design. Early PC's were composed of many boards, mechanical drives, both floppy and hard. Today you can buy one in a package that looks like a flash drive that plugs into your smart TV.
The mechanic is slowly being turned into a parts replacement service person.
Distributors to coil over sparkplugs
climate control from wire "cables" to body control management
Carbonators to mechanical fuel injection to electronic fuel injections
Mechanical fuel pumps to electric ones in the tank
Odometers run by a peg on the spoke to GPS.
Mechanical shifting to Electronic shifting.
It is getting more simple from the users perspective, even the repair perspective, but more complex designs up front.
In some ways, the computer generation replaced the hotrod generation. The challenge is related to the complexity and knowledge set required of the design. Early PC's were composed of many boards, mechanical drives, both floppy and hard. Today you can buy one in a package that looks like a flash drive that plugs into your smart TV.
The mechanic is slowly being turned into a parts replacement service person.
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Bikes don't stand alone. They are two tired.
Bikes don't stand alone. They are two tired.
07-10-15, 10:34 AM
#34
working on my sandal tan
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So much of the mechanical is transitioning to digital or electrical.
Distributors to coil over sparkplugs
climate control from wire "cables" to body control management
Carbonators to mechanical fuel injection to electronic fuel injections
Mechanical fuel pumps to electric ones in the tank
Odometers run by a peg on the spoke to GPS.
Mechanical shifting to Electronic shifting.
It is getting more simple from the users perspective, even the repair perspective, but more complex designs up front.
In some ways, the computer generation replaced the hotrod generation. The challenge is related to the complexity and knowledge set required of the design. Early PC's were composed of many boards, mechanical drives, both floppy and hard. Today you can buy one in a package that looks like a flash drive that plugs into your smart TV.
The mechanic is slowly being turned into a parts replacement service person.
Distributors to coil over sparkplugs
climate control from wire "cables" to body control management
Carbonators to mechanical fuel injection to electronic fuel injections
Mechanical fuel pumps to electric ones in the tank
Odometers run by a peg on the spoke to GPS.
Mechanical shifting to Electronic shifting.
It is getting more simple from the users perspective, even the repair perspective, but more complex designs up front.
In some ways, the computer generation replaced the hotrod generation. The challenge is related to the complexity and knowledge set required of the design. Early PC's were composed of many boards, mechanical drives, both floppy and hard. Today you can buy one in a package that looks like a flash drive that plugs into your smart TV.
The mechanic is slowly being turned into a parts replacement service person.
If you think about it, the LBS employees referenced in the OP can't process how to fix older bikes, so their training leads them to see the whole bike as the part to be replaced... problem solved.
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RUSA #7498
Originally Posted by noglider
People in this forum are not typical.
Last edited by ThermionicScott; 07-10-15 at 10:39 AM.
07-10-15, 10:44 AM
#35
Hogosha Sekai
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Funny enough in my area there's two shops that cater more towards people from this subforum, one is a retrofitter.. they rebuild the bikes from the ground up to similar to the exacting standards of certain members here for a serious premium. The other wrenches on and sells old bikes in their patina glory, heck the guy even sells old parts on a pegboard in the back corner of his shop. Most of the other shops around here will actually direct customers to the latter when presented with what has been described in this thread. I guess we're just lucky around here to have shops that cater to such a small niche.
07-10-15, 10:45 AM
#36
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Shops do not want to stock parts for older bikes, or source the 'obsolete' parts and charge a mark-up, OR they'd have to supply the customer with used parts which opens up another whole 'nother can o' worms. Most times it just isn't worth the trouble.
Let's put this in another perspective - would any car dealer/repair shop stock parts for a 20-to-40-year-old car???
Let's put this in another perspective - would any car dealer/repair shop stock parts for a 20-to-40-year-old car???
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Life is too short not to ride the best bike you have, as much as you can
(looking for Torpado Super light frame/fork or for Raleigh International frame fork 58cm)
Life is too short not to ride the best bike you have, as much as you can
(looking for Torpado Super light frame/fork or for Raleigh International frame fork 58cm)
07-10-15, 10:54 AM
#37
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I think the comparison to cars is valid.
In both worlds, there is an insidious pressure from manufacturers, from the media, and from friends who have been sucked into the 'New is Nice' mind-set.
I don't know how it is in the States, but in Britain, to run any car more than 10 years old is considered to be slightly odd. You find yourself 'making excuses' to people when the topic comes up in conversation.
With bicycles, there are odd terms such as 'old fashioned' which are bandied about to make you feel as though you have something 'lesser' than other people. There are trade-in deals at bike shops - to clear the old dross off the streets. People who take up cycling are often subconsciously pushed towards a new bike, rather than old. Friends of mine will say they want a bike, but will only consider a new bike, not 'some old thing which is difficult to ride'.
Sure, there are a lot of people who might drive round in older cars, or ride round on older bikes. But we're seen as 'eccentric' by the majority of the public.
Many years of conditioning by marketing people, sloppy service from repair shops and a modern unwillingness to get their hands dirty, have created a society where 'New is Nice' and old is 'Dirty' or 'Inconvenient', or even 'Dangerous'...
In both worlds, there is an insidious pressure from manufacturers, from the media, and from friends who have been sucked into the 'New is Nice' mind-set.
I don't know how it is in the States, but in Britain, to run any car more than 10 years old is considered to be slightly odd. You find yourself 'making excuses' to people when the topic comes up in conversation.
With bicycles, there are odd terms such as 'old fashioned' which are bandied about to make you feel as though you have something 'lesser' than other people. There are trade-in deals at bike shops - to clear the old dross off the streets. People who take up cycling are often subconsciously pushed towards a new bike, rather than old. Friends of mine will say they want a bike, but will only consider a new bike, not 'some old thing which is difficult to ride'.
Sure, there are a lot of people who might drive round in older cars, or ride round on older bikes. But we're seen as 'eccentric' by the majority of the public.
Many years of conditioning by marketing people, sloppy service from repair shops and a modern unwillingness to get their hands dirty, have created a society where 'New is Nice' and old is 'Dirty' or 'Inconvenient', or even 'Dangerous'...
07-10-15, 11:08 AM
#38
Senior Member
So it's an economic, age and knowledge issue. The old bike mechanics are just few and far between. Everything else is a
throw away" society from cell phones, computers to lawn mowers and now bikes. too. It's a shame, but unless you are willing to look around and do some of the leg work, let alone do the work yourself, it just isn't "feasible" anymore.
throw away" society from cell phones, computers to lawn mowers and now bikes. too. It's a shame, but unless you are willing to look around and do some of the leg work, let alone do the work yourself, it just isn't "feasible" anymore.
In some ways, the computer generation replaced the hotrod generation. The challenge is related to the complexity and knowledge set required of the design. Early PC's were composed of many boards, mechanical drives, both floppy and hard. Today you can buy one in a package that looks like a flash drive that plugs into your smart TV.
The mechanic is slowly being turned into a parts replacement service person.
The mechanic is slowly being turned into a parts replacement service person.
In car dealerships repair shops, parts are no longer rebuilt but replaced as I'm sure the cost (or price) of labor would make it cost prohibitive. When was the last time you saw someone rebuild a wheel cylinder or disc caliper, but instead just replaced it? Sometimes with rebuilt, sometimes new.
As squirtdad points out, sometimes older technology is still replaceable while newer is not. This exists in audio equipment (and electronics): many semiconductor devices are discontinued with no applicable replacement available (anywhere in the world), whereas you can still replace tubes in tube equipment.
07-10-15, 11:09 AM
#39
Senior Member
OK, I've tried going into a few of the shops around here and asked for a 27" tire and was snickered at, or offered a cheap Chinese tire at best. Same goes so asking about a 27" rear wheel that would take a thread-on freewheel. How 'bout a 5-6 speed chain? Or heck even a 6-speed freewheel other than the cheap Shimano TZ-20. Friction derailleur? No to any of the above. "Oh, we can order one" (yeah, so can I).
Only two of the nine shops I went to had a bin of 'old parts'.
Classic Mustangs are collector cars which have a HUGE aftermarket following. Try a quarter panel for a 71-73 Cougar - which is essentially the same car as a 71-73 Mustang under the skin. How 'bout a throttle cable for a '89 Crown Vic or '81 Tempo - or a wheel opening trim for the same? They made tens of thousands of those cars but just about everything is 'obsolete'.
Only two of the nine shops I went to had a bin of 'old parts'.
You can even build a new classic 1964 1/2 Mustang from the ground up using Ford-approved reproduction parts.
07-10-15, 11:13 AM
#40
meh
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Tax laws don't favor keeping inventory.
Some repair shops specialize in old makes and "collect parts". There was an old Alfa dealer and there still is an old MG dealer who did/do that around here.
Banford bike used to focus on Campagnolo small parts, they used to buy up parts stock. Don't know if they still do.
Some repair shops specialize in old makes and "collect parts". There was an old Alfa dealer and there still is an old MG dealer who did/do that around here.
Banford bike used to focus on Campagnolo small parts, they used to buy up parts stock. Don't know if they still do.
I have two LBS that I trust with my bikes, my number one shop works on any bike I bring them, including a 1980 Schwinn Traveler and 1996 Mondonico. These bikes have a ton of obsolete parts on them, but there are new parts available to replace the old ones, no big deal. The mechanic is always excited to see the bikes I roll in with, he was very excited to help with the rebuild on the Mondonico this spring.
A co-worker went to one of the huge bike shops in town (22 stores in the two-state area), she was told that her 90s MTB was too old to service and she'd need to replace it. I let her know that that was just the shop trying to sell new bikes. And I have this on good authority, since I interviewed for a sales job at this shop way back in my college days (late-80s). The owner of the chain made it clear to me in the interview that you need to get the customers to buy before the leave the shop, or they will not come back... HIGH PRESSURE SALES. I didn't get that job; ironically, I've had a very successful career in sales over the last 20 years (just not in the bike industry).
07-10-15, 11:18 AM
#41
meh
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after thought.... another great thing about living in Minneapolis, we have OOOBS: coffee shop and bike shop upstairs and this 'junk yard' in the basement:
07-10-15, 11:23 AM
#42
Bike Butcher of Portland
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We shouldn't complain about things that we can't change. But I will anyway.
Bought a new bike a few years ago in the SF Bay Area for commuting after years of not riding, mostly due to neck issues, so I got a 3 speed, upright bike. It had no front QR, I wanted one, and to make the sale the salesman said no problem, service can put one on for you. Wheeled the bike back to service, told the guy it just needed a hollow axle, looked like it was compatible with something he probably had in his parts drawer (LBS I worked at decades ago kept such things in stock). The guy looked at me like I was from Mars, and brought the service manager over. He said he couldn't do it. I showed him right on the receipt where the sales guy wrote in that the front hub would be changed out to QR. Sales guy and service manager huddled together, sales guy came over and said he'd have to order a wheel. I told the service guy to hand me an adjustable wrench-I pulled one of the nuts off, and told him to take me to his parts drawer. I found a used hub with a suitable axle, disassembled it, took the axle and the QR and told him he could order a new wheel out of the shop's pocket, or I could take the parts home and do it myself. He mumbled something about voiding the warranty, and I damn near went off on him about me working on bikes when he wasn't even a twinkle in his parent's eye, but just told him I work on my own bikes, thank you very much.
Now living in the Portland metro area, I'm lucky to have several bike shops that do mostly repair and don't sell many new bikes. Several of them keep parts bins of old parts around. This has got to be one of the most C&V friendly areas in the nation. Riding old steel is cool.
By the way, I don't consider the bike chains as an LBS.
And Gran Torino was a damn fine movie.
Bought a new bike a few years ago in the SF Bay Area for commuting after years of not riding, mostly due to neck issues, so I got a 3 speed, upright bike. It had no front QR, I wanted one, and to make the sale the salesman said no problem, service can put one on for you. Wheeled the bike back to service, told the guy it just needed a hollow axle, looked like it was compatible with something he probably had in his parts drawer (LBS I worked at decades ago kept such things in stock). The guy looked at me like I was from Mars, and brought the service manager over. He said he couldn't do it. I showed him right on the receipt where the sales guy wrote in that the front hub would be changed out to QR. Sales guy and service manager huddled together, sales guy came over and said he'd have to order a wheel. I told the service guy to hand me an adjustable wrench-I pulled one of the nuts off, and told him to take me to his parts drawer. I found a used hub with a suitable axle, disassembled it, took the axle and the QR and told him he could order a new wheel out of the shop's pocket, or I could take the parts home and do it myself. He mumbled something about voiding the warranty, and I damn near went off on him about me working on bikes when he wasn't even a twinkle in his parent's eye, but just told him I work on my own bikes, thank you very much.
Now living in the Portland metro area, I'm lucky to have several bike shops that do mostly repair and don't sell many new bikes. Several of them keep parts bins of old parts around. This has got to be one of the most C&V friendly areas in the nation. Riding old steel is cool.
By the way, I don't consider the bike chains as an LBS.
And Gran Torino was a damn fine movie.
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If someone tells you that you have enough bicycles and you don't need any more, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
If someone tells you that you have enough bicycles and you don't need any more, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
07-10-15, 11:24 AM
#43
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My bike shop doesn't mind if I supply parts when they are doing repairs, so they don't have to try to find my obsolescent 9-speed gear. I often buy used or NOS parts on eBay and other sources, but always end up buying some new parts from the bike shop as well, when appropriate.
07-10-15, 11:25 AM
#44
Bike Butcher of Portland
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Bikes: It's complicated.
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07-10-15, 11:45 AM
#45
Banned.
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I avoid shops like the plague these days unless it's to buy consumables (cables, tubes and such). After last summer's rear wheel spacing debacle (Will would know about that) and the fact that EBB closed its doors at the start of the year, I'm done with shops.
DD
DD
07-10-15, 11:57 AM
#46
Sunshine
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3 shops in my metro couldn't fix a broken original Shimano uniglide freehub.
Its dead technology, lasted a short while, and was 35 years old.
...but 2 of the 3 didn't even attempt. One said that its old, just replace it. I explained that it cant be replaced, the entire wheel needs to be replaced, based on what ive learned. That blew the mechanic's mind. Another wouldn't even look at it, they said it would be 3 weeks to look at something for free. I am not sure why they thought I wouldn't pay, im guessing its cuz I had an old wheel in my hand?
The 3rd shop tried, but they weren't able to fix it. They didn't have what was needed to replace what was broken/failed. I didn't get to talk to the mechanic who tried, but at least they tried. They are one of two shops that I even consider going to with my bikes when I cant fix the issue.
Its a shame, but its also economics- sell whats new and is easily plug-n-play. less time spent on work that way.
Its dead technology, lasted a short while, and was 35 years old.
...but 2 of the 3 didn't even attempt. One said that its old, just replace it. I explained that it cant be replaced, the entire wheel needs to be replaced, based on what ive learned. That blew the mechanic's mind. Another wouldn't even look at it, they said it would be 3 weeks to look at something for free. I am not sure why they thought I wouldn't pay, im guessing its cuz I had an old wheel in my hand?
The 3rd shop tried, but they weren't able to fix it. They didn't have what was needed to replace what was broken/failed. I didn't get to talk to the mechanic who tried, but at least they tried. They are one of two shops that I even consider going to with my bikes when I cant fix the issue.
Its a shame, but its also economics- sell whats new and is easily plug-n-play. less time spent on work that way.
07-10-15, 12:21 PM
#47
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The reason people won't try, honestly comes down to an hourly rate.
If someone walked in knowing nothing about bikes, and needed a new swiss bb or replacement parts for a 1st gen freehub...would the customer honestly pay 40/hr for the 3-4 hours of research it might take to find a new or used replacement part? If the customer even agreed to that, would the customer complain if the only replacement was used and not 100%?
It's just not cost effective for the shop to spend 3 hours messing with an old freehub.
What it boils down to, is that people do t want to lay what real labor is worth.
If someone walked in knowing nothing about bikes, and needed a new swiss bb or replacement parts for a 1st gen freehub...would the customer honestly pay 40/hr for the 3-4 hours of research it might take to find a new or used replacement part? If the customer even agreed to that, would the customer complain if the only replacement was used and not 100%?
It's just not cost effective for the shop to spend 3 hours messing with an old freehub.
What it boils down to, is that people do t want to lay what real labor is worth.
07-10-15, 12:37 PM
#48
multimodal commuter
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A broken freehub isn't that hard to replace, is it? Take out the axle, insert a ten millimeter Allen wrench, and off it comes. replace with a modern one; they'll need a new cassette and probably chain, but it's not that hard to do.
In the case of French or Swiss threads, I have some sympathy for the mechanic who won't mess with it. But what about the guy on my first anecdote, who wanted new clincher wheels for his track bike: what bike shop can't sell him a pair of fixie wheels? I'm guessing the mechanic was scheming to pick up a free bike.
In the case of French or Swiss threads, I have some sympathy for the mechanic who won't mess with it. But what about the guy on my first anecdote, who wanted new clincher wheels for his track bike: what bike shop can't sell him a pair of fixie wheels? I'm guessing the mechanic was scheming to pick up a free bike.
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07-10-15, 12:41 PM
#49
Friendship is Magic
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07-10-15, 12:51 PM
#50
Zip tie Karen
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I converted an acquaintance's 7-speed Uniglide freehub to Hyperglide, with new cassette, chain and chainrings. It was on an early 90s Trek 520 tourer that had been ridden hard, but was worth keeping.
He had brought it to a Trek dealership who told him that the parts were obsolete and couldn't be sourced. He just wrote me after two years to tell me how much he's enjoying his new-born 520 in tours all over the U.S.
He had brought it to a Trek dealership who told him that the parts were obsolete and couldn't be sourced. He just wrote me after two years to tell me how much he's enjoying his new-born 520 in tours all over the U.S.