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Took my bike in.

Old 02-10-07, 10:09 PM
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Took my bike in.

I took my bike in for it's annual tune-up. My LBS trues the wheels, adjusts the brakes & derailers, etc., cleans & lubes the chain, inpects the brakes, checks the chain, checks & adjusts the head set if need be, checks the frame for anything wrong. Also this year I am having them put a new tire on the rear, time to replace it. It'll cost me about $50.00 total.

How about you? Have you taken yours in yet?
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Old 02-10-07, 10:11 PM
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I do my own work, but for all that and a tire I would say you are doing ok.
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Old 02-10-07, 10:44 PM
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I'd never pay another to do what I can competently do myself so long as I had the tools and the time.
But for all that you mentioned, I'd charge way more than fifty bucks so it sounds like you are getting a good deal. Especially considering that your bike is a bent, places usually charge more to work on those, at least around here.
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Old 02-10-07, 10:49 PM
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I do my own work too, but $50 including a new tire is good deal.
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Old 02-10-07, 11:37 PM
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The tune-up is $35 & the tire is $20. Oops, I was $5 off, it will be $55 plus tax. This does not include if anything has to be replaced, like a cable, etc. Everything should be fine though. I had it overhauled last year.

The LBS I take it too is where I bought it at. They are well versed in working on recumbents.

I do not have the tools to do this myself & on a lot of it I do not have the knowledge.
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Old 02-11-07, 12:19 AM
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if i cant maintain something or take the time to care for it then i dont need it. respect for things we are fortunate to have is often taken for granted.
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Old 02-11-07, 12:29 AM
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Originally Posted by cosmo starr
if i cant maintain something or take the time to care for it then i dont need it. respect for things we are fortunate to have is often taken for granted.
And not everyone has mechanical aptitude. I sure don't.
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Old 02-11-07, 12:42 AM
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Originally Posted by cosmo starr
if i cant maintain something or take the time to care for it then i dont need it. respect for things we are fortunate to have is often taken for granted.
what would you do if one of the tiny fuses on your motherboard blew?
*I* can replace them, can you?

sorry, just felt like being a jack-ass, nothing personal pal
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Old 02-11-07, 01:55 AM
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Originally Posted by cosmo starr
if i cant maintain something or take the time to care for it then i dont need it. respect for things we are fortunate to have is often taken for granted.
By this stupid logic we should all have the mechanical aptitude to fix anything & everything. For example if your phone service goes out & it is on your side of the service, not the phone company do you know how to fix it? I can, but I'm also being formally trained in it & it is what I will do for the phone company I work for. But yet I do not have the ability to work on the electrical system in my home, or the heating cooling system, especially the gas lines. Can you do these things?

What about auto repair? If the head gasket blows in your car engine do you have the ability to replace it? I do. Or what if your vehicle needs an alignment? Are you able to do that? I'm not. Do you have the ability to replace your car tires? I don't, but I can replace my brakes, can you?

BTW when I say ability I mean both the knowledge & the right tools for the job. I have mechanical aptitude & skills, but not for everything that may go wrong.

If you don't have the ability to fix your car or do any kind of home repair then you should get rid of both. You state if you can't take care of it you don't need it. Or can you do these things I mention above?
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Old 02-11-07, 06:39 AM
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Originally Posted by N_C
The tune-up is $35 & the tire is $20. Oops, I was $5 off, it will be $55 plus tax. This does not include if anything has to be replaced, like a cable, etc.
The LBS I take it too is where I bought it at. They are well versed in working on recumbents.
That's still cheap. That'd cost you about $25.00 more in St Louis. If it was up to me I'd upcharge you for it being a recombent too. They're a PITA to work on if you're not set up for them.
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Old 02-11-07, 06:59 AM
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Originally Posted by cosmo starr
if i cant maintain something or take the time to care for it then i dont need it. respect for things we are fortunate to have is often taken for granted.
That's why I'm a bachelor and don't have any pets..........

I should either get the corner of the basement cleaned up so I can work on my bikes or else pay my excellent LBS mechanic to tune up my Giant Cypress. The Surly LHT only has 100 miles on it so far.

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Old 02-11-07, 07:23 AM
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Originally Posted by N_C
By this stupid logic we should all have the mechanical aptitude to fix anything & everything. [...]
I think it's more of a personal mantra. Just like your statement was. 2 34ch th31r 0\/\/n3rz.
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Old 02-11-07, 07:46 AM
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Yes, exactly the same as you but not quite that cheap. My new bike had a 1,000 miles on it so when the current cold spell hit I took it in. It is sitting in the basement ready to go as soon as weather permits!
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Old 02-11-07, 09:43 AM
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should bikers know how to change a tire? oil a chain? I think so.

a bike is NOT an computer controlled internal combustion engine, N_C.

Learn basic maintence like cleaning and lubing a chain, and you might be even more empowered on the bike.
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Old 02-11-07, 10:50 AM
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Originally Posted by Bekologist
should bikers know how to change a tire? oil a chain? I think so.

a bike is NOT an computer controlled internal combustion engine, N_C.

Learn basic maintence like cleaning and lubing a chain, and you might be even more empowered on the bike.
I was going to say that if you only lube the chain on an annual basis, you're about 40-50 weeks overdue

N_C: These are things that need to be done on an on-going basis, not once a year.
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Old 02-11-07, 10:56 AM
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Originally Posted by N_C
I took my bike in for it's annual tune-up. My LBS trues the wheels, adjusts the brakes & derailers, etc., cleans & lubes the chain, inpects the brakes, checks the chain, checks & adjusts the head set if need be, checks the frame for anything wrong. Also this year I am having them put a new tire on the rear, time to replace it. It'll cost me about $50.00 total.

How about you? Have you taken yours in yet?
Are you asking (implying) for a comment on the price you paid? Or are you asking if we all get routine checkups?
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Old 02-11-07, 12:09 PM
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One of the things about any maintenance work to be done is if you can do it and do it competently. Then there is the cost element. If I could find an LBS at the $55 + tax-or $35 + parts- Then I would be putting it into the LBS. Unfortunately- They charge $35 just to give you an Estimate over here.

I can competently service my bike but there are still certain items I get the LBS to do- Rebuild wheels after I have had a year on retrueing them- Rebuild my Boxer forks every couple of years- and fit new headsets(Because that happens infrequently and I don't have the tools). Other than that- I strip and rebuild all my bikes each year- right down to everything off the Frame. Then as it is reassembled, parts are checked and refitted or replaced as the requirement might be. I would like to see any LBS go to that amount of trouble in a $50 service. But then how many riders would go to that extreme in any case.
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Old 02-11-07, 05:06 PM
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I spent most of last sunday giving the bike a checkup. I didn't do a complete strip, but everything with the exception of the bottom bracket (which is going to be replaced) was cleaned/overhauled. I had the LBS order a new hub cone/bearings for the front hub and to save myself the trouble I had them overhaul the rear hub. Once the bottom bracket arrives the LBS will install that as well.

I try to do as much as I can, but I'll let the LBS handle wheel truing and if I needed a headset installed I'd let them do that too. Eventually I'd like to learn how to true wheels though.
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Old 02-11-07, 06:28 PM
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Originally Posted by Garfield Cat
Are you asking (implying) for a comment on the price you paid? Or are you asking if we all get routine checkups?
If your bike gets routine checkups.
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Old 02-11-07, 06:30 PM
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Originally Posted by cyccommute
I was going to say that if you only lube the chain on an annual basis, you're about 40-50 weeks overdue

N_C: These are things that need to be done on an on-going basis, not once a year.
My bike gets maintenance when it needs it. If I notice it is not shifting or braking like it should & the adjustments I make to it do not do any good I take it to the LBS. 9 times out of 10 it needs the cable replaced. The chain is replaced when it needs to be, which is when it is stretched to far to continue using it. During the spring & summer I wash & completely relube my bike once a month.
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Old 02-11-07, 06:42 PM
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Originally Posted by Retro Grouch
That's still cheap. That'd cost you about $25.00 more in St Louis. If it was up to me I'd upcharge you for it being a recombent too. They're a PITA to work on if you're not set up for
them.
That is why I always get an estimate before I let a shop do the work. After I got your estimate I would not bring to you. If you refuse to give me an estimate I would not bring it to you. You want to do business with me it will be done fairly or we won't do business. Recumbents being hard to work on is a myth. Every place I have taken mine, even those not set up to work on them, have never had a problem & have never applied an upcharge for it being a recumbent. I guess we'll never be doing business together if I visit St Louis & I need work done on my bike while I'm there. I'll go to your competitor because of the upcharge.

When my LBS puts my bike in the stand they secure it by the seat frame, the same way they would on a wedgie bike by the seat post. The drive & braking system is identical to a wedgie bike. The chain on mine is 3 chains in one, that just means it is more expensive to buy a new one, but the labor is the same cost.
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Old 02-11-07, 06:44 PM
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Originally Posted by N_C
That is why I always get an estimate before I let a shop do the work. After I got your estimate I would not bring to you. If you refuse to give me an estimate I would not bring it to you. You want to do business with me it will be done fairly or we won't do business. Recumbents being hard to work on is a myth. Every place I have taken mine, even those not set up to work on them, have never had a problem & have never applied an upcharge for it being a recumbent. I guess we'll never be doing business together if I visit St Louis & I need work done on my bike while I'm there. I'll go to your competitor because of the upcharge.

When my LBS puts my bike in the stand they secure it by the seat frame, the same way they would on a wedgie bike by the seat post. The drive & braking system is identical to a wedgie bike. The chain on mine is 3 chains in one, that just means it is more expensive to buy a new one, but the labor is the same cost.
I don't get this post. It seems laden with attitude when all the guy did was say that you got a good deal. I would expect to pay more than $35 for a full tune up around here, as well.
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Old 02-11-07, 07:16 PM
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Originally Posted by N_C
That is why I always get an estimate before I let a shop do the work. After I got your estimate I would not bring to you. If you refuse to give me an estimate I would not bring it to you. You want to do business with me it will be done fairly or we won't do business. Recumbents being hard to work on is a myth. Every place I have taken mine, even those not set up to work on them, have never had a problem & have never applied an upcharge for it being a recumbent. I guess we'll never be doing business together if I visit St Louis & I need work done on my bike while I'm there. I'll go to your competitor because of the upcharge.

When my LBS puts my bike in the stand they secure it by the seat frame, the same way they would on a wedgie bike by the seat post. The drive & braking system is identical to a wedgie bike. The chain on mine is 3 chains in one, that just means it is more expensive to buy a new one, but the labor is the same cost.
I'd charge you $20 more for putting up with your overt ignorance.
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Old 02-12-07, 08:35 AM
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It seems that some LBS folks here do not understand the importance of customer service. Which is the best possible service that fits customer needs at a fair price. Overcharging because the bike is a recumbent or putting up with as one person puts it, ignorance, is not good customer service at a fair price. You will lose customers for this, I would not be surprised if you already have.

I love that if you don't like a customers attitude so you charge money for it, yeah, that's great customer service & sales practices.

I work in both customer service & sales & if I pulled that crap I would be fired. For one it is against my company's code of conduct policy. It is called gross customer abuse. I guess unless you have a policy to follow you can do what ever you want & treat your customers how ever you want. I could jsut hear my mgr's words at the exit interview now. I'd be asked if I knew why I'm being fired. I'd say yeah, I didn't like that customers attitude so I crammed & slammed products onto their account or did not add any of the discount codes, thus charging them extra money on their bill.
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Old 02-12-07, 08:48 AM
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Just for clarification when my LBS does a tune up it is not a complete strip down. That would be an overhaul which I had done late last year.

The tune up they do is:
1. Adjust all cables, brakes, derailers & shifters.
2. Remove the wheels to check for & if needed true them.
3. Inspect frame & fork for any damage, rust.
4. Check the chain & if needed replace
5. Check the chain ring & rear cassette.
6. Inspect & replace cable housing if needed.
7. Clean chain, chain ring & cassette.
8. Relube everything that needs it.
9. Inspect & replace tires if needed, I usually know when it is time to replace a tire so I tell them ahead of time & go down stairs to the shop basement to get the tire I need.
10. Clean frame with their spray on bike cleaner & polish.
11. Check head set & replace if needed.
12. Check wheel bearings & repack if needed.
13. Check bototm bracket, replace if needed.

If anything needs to be replaced it is not covered by the $35 price. It is extra. They call me & let me know if something needs to be replaced & I say yes or no. Since I have been doing business with them, for the past 13 years they know it is ok with out calling me to replace minor things like cables & housing. Anything beyond that they call & let me know.

I sure hope your LBS has as good customer service & raport with you as mine does.
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