coolbrew

I recently bought a Trek 7100 from my local LBS. They offer free tune-ups for 10 years and free wheel truing for 1 year. My question is, how often should I take it in? Since they are going to be free, I will take it in more often than if I had to pay. I figured 1st at 100 miles, than at 250 miles, than every 500 miles after that. Does that sound reasonable? Too much, not enough? Thanks.

Marlin

I think that is way too often. Assuming no obvious problems that need attention, first one at a few hundred miles, then maybe once a year if you ride a lot. I think I took mine in the first time at about 2000 miles, only because a wheel needed a slight truing. They checked it over and adjusted the FD ever so slightly. 2 years and 6000 miles later, it hasn't needed to go back. I have replaced the chain twice.

v1k1ng1001

Take it in when something's not working right. Otherwise all you're doing is depriving yourself of your bike for a couple of days until the mechanic can run through the gears and, 30 seconds later, say, "works just fine, like it did last month and the month before that."

Routine maintenance includes making sure everything's tightened, keeping the bike clean, tires inflated...you can do that on your own.

And really, you shouldn't become dependent upon your shop anyway. Learn to wrench a little bit and when you run into a snag, fall back on your shop. If the mechanic is not busy, ask if you can watch.

Halfast

There is normal cable stretch after the first couple of hundred miles. I bring mine in then, again when the shifting starts getting grumpy which is about a year and 5000 miles!!

coolbrew

Thanks for the responses. What you're saying makes sense about not taking it in so often. I just figured that since tune-ups were unlimited that I'd take it in from time to time to make sure everything is running smooth. Seems like that is unnecassary. Thanks for the advice.

nymtber

learn how to tune a bike yourself. https://www.sheldonbrown.com/home.html that should get you started, sheldon knows his stuff

i took my road bike in and regretted doing so because i didnt have it for a few days, and they didnt bother tensioning the wheels even (so i had to tighten a few loose spokes when i put my michelins on) My next step is to buy a truing stand and tensionometer.

i have a bike in pieces right now in the basement...an old Schwinn Woodlands 10 speed "mtb" thats getting repainted and cleaned up, should be one hell of a beater bike when im done

once you learn to tune your bike and keep maintanace done, youll never worry. I repack bearings every few years (more with use) and keep everything lubed. when you change cables, clean the derailleurs well, when you change chain, clean cassette, crank, and take bb out and re-grease or re-anti seize the bearing cups and properly torque them....

theres more too...

piper_chuck

I have been shopping for a bike so I naturally hit all the local shops. One of them offered "free lifetime tuneups". When I inquired what that meant they told me it was adjusting brake clearance and shifting. After this I found myself not being very interested in free lifetime tuneups any more. Brake clearance is a very simple adjustment. Adjusting the shifting is not much harder, if one takes a bit of time to learn how.

nymtber

I actually saw a guy come into the bike shop the other day when i was there, and asked why he kept getting flats. well his tires were worn down to threads on the rear (in some places, not all) then he was gonna pay them to replace the tires on top of it all what a dummy.

for what he probably paid for one tires, i got two michelin krylion 23c tires on ebay....shipped. online is easier for me, i live about 40 minutes from the closest shop anyways...making shipping about the same as gas.

i dont blame the shop, they arnt gonna say no it would be easier to change the tire yourself...I wish i could start up my own shop...id be in heaven

howsteepisit

i dont blame the shop, they arnt gonna say no it would be easier to change the tire yourself...I wish i could start up my own shop...id be in heaven [/QUOTE]

and you'd be broke, especially with all your potential customers shopping e-bay.

Nachoman

I bought my bike from a shop that offered free lifetime tuneups and they shut down six months later.

operator

Waste of time. You should bring it in for a checkup once in a while, 500 miles. Without knowing how often you ride and how long you'll be blowing through 500 miles it's impossible to say.

Bringing it in every week or two would be overkill. Learn how to adjust the small things that go wrong yourself, if you can't deal with it or are unsure that you can fix it, then bring it in. The knowledge and the skills you gain fixing these small problems at home is invaluable everywhere else (like when you're riding a ways from civilization).

Waldo

When I worked at a shop that had a lifetime tune-up policy, I'd always tell customers to bring it in whenever they noticed an issue. We'd pre-stretch the cables as best we can but typically you would still want to get it in after a few hundred miles for its first check-up. The mileage intervals are going to depend on how you ride and your riding conditions, so it's hard to give any hard and fast mileage intervals.

wahoonc

I don't have a shop per se but do work on bicycles. If I do a complete tear down or major overhaul with all new cables I suggest a tune up at around 200-300 miles or 30-90 days unless something feel wrong. Some people can't tell if something is wrong or not. I had one person tell me the bike felt sluggish...they had a huge rub mark on the inside of the chainstay where the tire (under inflated) and rim had rubbed the paint away and was working on the metal. But they had kept riding it anyway Others can tell the second a cable stretches more than a couple of millimeters

Aaron

papedaler

About 30 years ago I got a lifetime subscription to a magazine. They folded a couple of years later but I'm still kicking around.

wahoonc

yep...but whose lifetime were they referring too Looks like to me you came out the winner

Aaron

Aaron_F

Take it in after a few weeks and have them check the spoke tension (in front of you so you know they're really doing it; trust no one). Then just do everything else on your own. In the time I'd spend driving back and forth to/from the shop, I can pretty much just fix whatever I needed to and nor have to put up with traffic/people.

apclassic9

and the other thing about free tune-ups.... the replacement parts are NOT free. All the shop is offering is not to charge for labor for the basic once over; if they replace something that was worn or broken, they may or may not charge for labor, but they should contact you & ask before they do anything you'll have to pay for.

GeoLes

:: kinky ::

Halfast

Yes my new Fuji Team RC has 385 miles and is going back for the initial tuneup this week mainly to adjust for cable stretch. I also changed from a 12-23 to a 12-27 cassette myself, and am not sure I got the "B" screw set correctly.

knotty

I do everything on my bike from day one so never took it back to the shop. It's a terrible feeling to be far from home and have something go out of adjustment and no idea how to fix it.

knotty

tpelle

When I recently purchased my Surly LHT the bike shop requested that I bring it back at about 200 miles. After that, they really didn't specify. I figure at least once per year, or if something goes wrong. BTW I get free tune-ups for life.

knotty

I just bought a bike and my LBS said tune ups and 15% off all accessories for life.

knotty

operator

I don't know where you shop, but this is almost never appropriate. If we wanted you to be able to watch we'd do it in a place that would allow that.

papedaler

I once saw a sign in a gas station that said, "Labor Rates, $40/hr; If you watch $50/hr; If you help $60/Hr.