thejanitor

I've been needing to take my bike in to get it tuned up for a while now. Well, I'll be honest, I haven't gotten it tuned up the whole time I've owned it, which has been 2 years (2000 miles) now... I know, I won't ever let this happen again.

Anyway, I just called the two LBSs in my area and one has a waiting time of 3 days to get a bike tuned up while the other has a waiting time of 5 days. What gives? Is this normal? Who wants to be without their bike (even one that is making noise like crazy because it needs to be tuned up) for 3 to 5 days?

lvleph

Five days seems a bit much but three is reasonable.

thejanitor

Ok, thanks for the info. It still seems outlandish to me that people would be ok with leaving their bikes in the shop for 3 days, but whatever.

Bohh

Two local shops in my area are two weeks out and three weeks out on tune ups. I can't believe it and am unwilling to leave my bike for that long.

Psimet2001 

It's all about the shop load. At 2,000 miles there probably isn't much that really needs to be done. The lead time has everything to do with how busy they are, and not with how much work there needs to be done on your bike. I am not shocked to hear 5 days, but every market and shop is different.

I'm a strong advocate for teaching people how to do the work on their own. You could do a lot more fr a lot less if you do it on your own.

hoodooguru

What the heck is a tune up for a bike?

mbjackson1979

Here in chicago at Uptown Bikes on the north side, they told me 3 weeks! can you even imagine that? i almost threw up right there,...and then i went to another (smaller) shop...the 3 day wait was so much nicer.

thejanitor

Well, I don't feel bad now seeing that the rest of you are suffering with me (and some worse!).

I'm thinking I'll take Psimet2001's advice and maybe get myself a repair book and start getting some tools to do this stuff myself.

Mouserue

Tuen up?! Psh. I've put about 6000 miles on my bike in the past year and a half. You think I got a tune up? $100? Ha! I'll ride that wreck into the ground before I tune it up! Sure it shifts unexpectedly, the cranks click when I put more than 100 watts into them, and the brakes are virtually nonexistant, but at least it moves. The extra effort it takes to turn over those pedals only leads to a better workout! I may get dropped on even the slowest citizens RR, but just you wait until I unleash this primed aerobic engine and these piston-like legs on a 15-pound Pinarello!

...If I can ever scrape together the money to afford one...

Treker

Tune up in Feb/March when the LBS is less busy and the turn around time is minimal. (Northern locales of course )

thejanitor

Hehe... I think you are mostly being sarcastic, but that's actually how my bike has been the last few months, which is why I wanted it tuned up.

I think I'll just buy my new bike earlier than I was planning on

DataJunkie

My beat up touring bike I tuned up myself. My new tarmac will probably see a shop.
Personally, I try to time my shop tune ups in Fall or Winter. I ride less and the wait is much shorter or nonexistent.

group105

Didn't I see you at the LBS in Bloomington?...they had a guy there who sounded just like you...

He would also respond to any question with "I think that sounds about right"....

merlinextraligh

see if they'll give you an oppointed day to dro p it off in the morning and pick it up that night. Even if it's a week or two out, you won't be without the bike

botto 

where i am you can make an appointment, drop it off in the AM and it's done at the end of the day.

that said i go to the best shop in town, where you drop it off in the AM and it's ready the next day PM.

thejanitor

I can't believe I didn't think of that! It's a great idea, and at least worth a try... I'll talk to both places and see what they say. Thanks!

Mouserue

Haha, that certainly does sound like me, but the last time I was in a Bloomington LBS was late April. I just stopped in to get some bike polish. I pretty much gave everyone the cold shoulder, though; so unless you were the cashier, I doubt we spoke. I don't work in one or anything, unfortunately.

We might've unknowingly met out on the road somewhere, though. I try to wave at every fellow road cyclist I see.

mleess

How can you be outraged at a 3-day wait? The LBS has to consider staffing requirements and can't automatically have staff on duty to handle any and all requests at a moment's notice. Well I guess they could if they charged exhorbitant amounts for a tune-ups. But then people would ***** at the price.

chrism32205

Just recently checking on that at two LBS here, one way a 3 days, the other was 2 weeks.

Avalanche325

Spark plugs, points and condenser. What else would it be.

Talewinds

Take bike down to basement.
Adjust derailleurs.
Adjust Brakes.
Clean Grime.
Grease/ Lube.
Spit Shine Bike.

Done in less than an hour.
Jesus, if a guy can make toast, he can tune up his own bike.

waterrockets 

Yuck! My bike hasn't been in a shop since I bought it in 2000. DIY: higher quality, cheaper, and faster.