Originally Posted by
FeatherLight
Hey, I just got a new stem, headset, pedals, and cog for my bike.
How much would the installation cost? Would it be more cost effective for me to install the cog, stem and pedals by myself? Or would an LBS group it into an hourly charge and just knock it out for the same price.
Also, how much is it to install an uncut steer carbon fork?
Thanks
As others have said, the answer depends on how much you want to spend on tools and on your particular LBS.
Fork, headset and stem: I recently had a fork cut and installed, old headset removed, new headset pressed in, and new stem installed by a LBS for under $30. Although another shop quoted me $50. Installing a headset and cutting a fork is not a job for someone new to bike mechanics. If that describes you, let the LBS do the work.
Stem: This is simple to do yourself and requires nothing more special than an allen wrench. But if the LBS installs the fork, it makes sense to have them do the stem as well.
Pedals: If your old pedals can be removed and your new ones installed using only an allen wrench, then do the work yourself. If either requires a special pedal wrench, you'll spend about $10 on one. Which is more than the LBS would charge for installation. But as others have said, tools and learning to do your own repairs are good investments.
Cog: As mentioned by others, this is a relatively simple job requiring about $25 worth of tools. Again, the LBS will probably charge less, but it's a good investment.