Originally Posted by
road1bike
The rim hits the brake pad at a certain point on every revolution. If I had been made aware of the problem I would gladly have paid to have it repaired.
Indeed, it's in both your interest and the shop's to fully inform you. It's not acceptable to put out a bike that's rubbing on the rim.
Originally Posted by
road1bike
Any advise on tire upgrades.
If you are having flats from road hazard punctures (as in the thorn) I have had good experience with Kevlar belted tires. "Pinch flats" occur when tires are underinflated or too small for conditions. It's important to know what caused the flat to know how to avoid future ones. The cause of a flat is also something a shop should ideally convey to the customer.