john_dun

Hello, hopefully someone will beable to make things clear for me.

I bought a new bike a few weeks ago and I want to upgrade the V-Brakes to disc brakes. If I was to upgrade would I have to buy new shifters for the gears?? as well as a brake lever? (ive got acera), or could the disc brake cable be attached to combined shifters ive already got (it would be mechanical disc brakes). Also how much should I pay for a good set?, (I dont care about how light they are).

Thanks.

heres a couple of pics of my bike.(specialized hardrock 2003 model)

john_dun

[here's the other]

mechBgon

The shifter/brake lever set should be fine with discs. I can't see your left fork blade well enough to confirm that it has tabs for the caliper.

The Avid mechanical disc brakes are the ones to get, so check an online store for a general idea of what your LBS pays for them, then mark that up about 30%.

You will need your wheels rebuilt with disc-compatible hubs too. All in all, I think you would spend the better part of what your bike originally cost. Is it worth it? I have a Shimano hydraulic front disc brake, and if I had a non-disc front wheel I would put it back on and abandon the whole disc thing.

zorafex

a few weeks old? See if your LHS will take the bike back and get the hardrock pro disc bike

Waldo

That's a good rule of thumb for pricing on some items, but there are many online that are (significantly) less than our cost. Maybe I can get some of the other shop weenies to back me up on this one...

a2psyklnut

Well, seeing that a lot of online retailers sell their products for less than what we (LBS) can buy them for, then 30% is about right. This of course bodes the question, "Who is going to install them for you?" or "Who is going to warranty the part if there is something wrong with it?" and "Who is going to rebuild your wheel with the disc hub?".

Many online retailers buy so much inventory, that they get special pricing. If they have frames made for them, then they can qualify for OEM pricing, which is sometimes as much as 50% off of wholesale!! Tough for a small single owner or Mom & Pop type shop to compete price wise.

The only way to remain open, is to offer what mail-order shops don't. That's service! The question to ask yourself, is how much is that service worth? To some, a lot. To others, not much. So, go buy your stuff online, but don't complain when all the small shops are out of business, and you have to drive an hour to a big shop that's part of a big chain.

What comes around, goes around!

We (as LBS) have no choice but to deal with online competition. The ONLY way we can do this is to charge you for installing the parts you bring us. A charge normally waived if you buy the product from us to start with. Guess what? That charge is going to be about equal to the savings you received from online purchases. Case in point; Chris King Headsets. On-line cost $99.99 (avg.), plus shipping ($10-15) figure on the high side of $120 total. Our cost from a supply house ($108) , avg MSRP about $140.00, plus tax figure $150.00. How much do you think we should charge to install it? Zero if you buy from us. I'm guessing $25-30 if you bring it in for us to install.

Total about the same, but if you buy from us, you've become a customer and we've established a relationship. We'll more likely help you out when your in need of a quick minor repair.

If you bring us a part to install. You have no loyalty to us, and we have none to you. Oh, you need your bike tuned for the race on Sun, and it's Friday afternoon. Sorry dude, there are 12 bikes in front of yours. We'll try to have it by late Sat. afternoon, but we can't make any promises. Oh, your front shock has blown a bushing, take it back to where you bought it!

Sounds harsh, but that's the way it is! Support your LBS, and they'll support you!

L8R

BikerRyan

Right on a2psyklnut!!!!

-Ryan

Waldo

BEST POST EVER.