KDB

I picked the PKN up from the LBS (Handlebars in Buffalo, NY) today. They got it nicely tuned up for a very fair price. They repacked and adjusted the BB; which was the real problem. My sense is that I just don't have enough experience in adjusting the cups. They also did the FD and RD while they were at it and it operates beautifully

At the bottom of the tag the mechanic wrote and circled: Bike is Getting Old!!


Hmmm, a hint that maybe I should look into a newer bike? Like something from the 1990s perhaps

cudak888 

Send him a note back: "So is everything else - including the brand new bikes on the shelves - time marches on!"



-Kurt

Grand Bois

If he can't adjust bottom brackets, he's no mechanic.

McDave

No, a hint that you need to look for an older mechanic.

Blue Order

The last time I took my '77 Motobecane to an LBS, the first LBS spent a few minutes telling me why I shouldn't bother, because it was outdated, and it was impossible to repair, and that I should just buy a new bike instead.

I took my Motobecane to another LBS that did the repairs without the bad attutude. I will never buy a bike, or anything else, from the first LBS. Period.

Bikedued

I would take it as a complement. ,,,,BD

roccobike

+1, Send him a "Thank You" note.

John E

Old = open bearing (noncartridge) bottom bracket, which is evidently beyond the skills of some contemporary bike "mechanics." If he thinks your ca. 1980 PKN-10 is "old," we need to keep him away from my Capo.

I do worry that some of today's mechanics cannot handle good ol' freewheels, either. Find a different shop or learn to do your own work (it ain't hard).

Poguemahone

"learn to do your own work (it ain't hard)."

+ 1

greybeard87

+2

An excellent book is "Zinn and the art of bicycle repair" . Both modern and vintage components are addressed and without prejudice . The $24.95 investment will pay off the first time you do a repair yourself.

oldy57

I would tell him he is older than the bike is and if he was implying the bike should be traded in then maybe the mechanic should be too. If he is younger than the bike is tell him he has only a few more years to go.

ollo_ollo

I love my LBS, they work on vintage stuff from cheapo to top end & are very helpful to self wrenchers. Owner Bill Stevenson has a personal stash of vintage parts he will sell, mostly Campy but also some French & Japanese. When I brought my Zeus frame in for repairs, the mechanics (all younger than the bike) reaction was "Wow, look at this beauty". Don

RK1963

A while back, I read that bike shops have to move 1 million in merchandise to earn a profit of $50,000. If this is true, I could see why some (bad shops) are tempted---and give in to, pressuring customers to buy new bikes.

Buglady

I was in a LBS yesterday looking for tires for my 1984 Raleigh tourer. I had called TWICE, making it clear that this was an older bike that used non-standard tires, and had twice been reassured this was not a problem. I wanted to go to that shop because it is on my commuting route. Got in there and the tech (who probably was about the same age as the bike) sneered at me and told me the bike was obsolete, and if I wanted to get any tires I should let them swap out the steel rims for modern alloy in a standard size. I walked out, and called the original LBS where this bike was bought (I bought it from its first owner; the bike shop is still owned by the same family) and they had the tires in stock. They keep a supply on hand because they know a lot of their customers DO hang onto their bikes for 25 years.

A certain bike shop is not getting any of my money - I don't spend $1000 at a time, but I can be counted on for a hundred or two every payday.

Trade my steel rims for some cheap modern crap, no bloody way...

MajorA

Sadly, when some folks are faced with an inability to do a job well, whether it's because of lack of training or experience, or lack of the proper tools, or something else, they blame it on the job. My wife's '66 Mustang is a case in point. We went through a lot of mechanics before we found one who likes, and is good at, working on a cool old car with a carburetor, points, and spark plugs. Before we started working with him, you'd be amazed at the reasons we heard for the car running poorly after it was worked on. And it's not like her car is a 1936 Duesenberg; from 1964 to 1966, Ford only made about 1.5 million Mustangs.

Old Fat Guy

My LBS sneered at my Cinelli. I don't go there anymore, nor do I recommend them to anyone.

Blue Order

Perhaps trade your steel rims for some quality vintage alloy rims?

Buglady

I have some research to do in that area, -I readily admit I don't know much about rims yet - but I generally shy away from buying the cheapest new thing on the shelf. I'm pretty sure that I'd be disappointed in the quality, while if I go vintage, it will take more research, but I can probably find something better than both the new part and the basic part that was original to the bike. If that makes any sense...

miamijim

Not true.
Bikes have a profit margin of 35%. 35% of a mill is $350,000 minus expenses. Accesories and such have a profit marging of at least 50%. 50% of a mill is $500,000 minus expenses.


As an ex-mechanic I can relate to what alot of you are saying. I was trained in the early '80's before indexing and cartridge this and that. Back then bikes and the parts on them were fixed. After the technological revolution of the late '80's and early '90s bikes and their parts weren'T fixed, they were replaced. Modern mechanics no lnoger diagnose and fix they simply replace.

MajorA...I can relate to your Mustang story. I have 1970 Corvette I'm restoring to a 'period correct' state. $400 for a reproduction fan shroud assembly and I need to use my Dremel tool to make it fit!!! It was fun setting the point the gap with Dwell meter.

GCRyder

Are you sure that wasn't code for "OOPS, I cross-threaded the cups into the BB shell"?

Blue Order

Alloy rims are going to be far, far better than steel rims, for two reasons. First, alloy rims will stop when wet, steel rims won't. Second, alloy rims will be lighter, and they say a pound off your wheels is worth two pounds off your frame.

Find a nice set of alloy rims in the proper size, and you won't be sorry. You'll be improving your bike, and it will still be period correct.

Buglady

I've learned something already! OK, I won't rule it out then, but I do want to make sure I'm not trading a good (if slightly harder to fit) part for a lower-quality one. That was my biggest concern. I didn't trust that particular sales-tech to set me up with the right parts.

Antipodes

Either that, or it's code for "I only know how to install cartridge BBs"...

KDB

I didn't speak to the mechanic who did the work, so I can't be sure what he really meant. But, the bike is working perfectly so it appears he knew what he was doing (I am even assuming it was a he). I think I somehow had the cups tightened wrong or maybe I didn't put the spindle in correctly...I dunno, I just couldn't get it to work properly. This is one of 2 shops that I frequent and I think they are okay. I'm sure they'd prefer I came into spend $3000 or more on a new bike, but they always treat me well and fix what I ask to be fixed.

I went for a nice ride today, everything working perfectly, then on the last 1/2 mile home I heard a crunching noise and just knew I hit a piece of glass! Sure enough my rear tubular tire started to lose air! I walked the last few blocks home and now I need to learn about repairing tubular tires and see if this one can be repaired...ARRRRR!! I hate flats! The worst part of cycling as far as I'm concerned.

Blue Order

Make a thread in this forum about changing to alloy wheels, you'll get all sorts of great recommendations.