If you clearly asked for a 39 then a 39 is what you should get, no questions asked.

If you just said "I want a new middle chainring," well, that's what they gave you.

You would probably have to be at the inner part of the cassette more often so that you could keep your cadence up. While it would make you stronger, you have to go with what is right. Thusly, I agree with the others that you should force the LBS to honor what you asked for, not what they think you want, or pawn off random stock on you and think you won't notice...

Joseph is interested in a 42 tooth ring. http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...h-vs.-39-teeth

Did you/they save the old ring? If your old one was indeed a 39, and you requested a 39, and paid them to put on a 39, you should receive a 39. If you just asked them to replace the middle ring, and assumed that you would get a 39, they may have had a 42 laying around with the right BCD, and knowing that 42 is a common middle ring, installed it without counting (or looking for stamp) number of teeth.

If you noticed it before riding, you shouldn't ride if you expect a new replacement part free of charge. Especially if you intend to keep this your LBS of choice despite their mistake on this matter. Lots of LBS mechanics and employees remember customers... the really good ones and the really difficult ones. Just because it appears to be their fault, doesn't mean they will see it that way even if they offer the olive branch of replacing the ring free.

Either way, its pretty poor of the LBS not to at least TELL you that they substituted parts. I would probably avoid taking my bike back there if I could avoid it.

Agreed, should the LBS's action have been an intentional means of removing an in-stock item from inventory rather than ordering the correct part. A competent mechanic could easily make such an error if he were over-confident in his chainring knowledge. May not have told because they may not have realized the error

I am going to ride it but I'm probably gonna find a new LBS. There were a couple things in particular that bothered me about it. 1. Quoted me 35 for the part, put on a different part that cost 45 and didn't call me to see if it was ok. 2. When I called to ask him about the mistake he made me feel like I shouldn't be upset because he wouldn't be.

OK, wrong on all counts.

Riding a higher gear will not make you faster or stronger. Lots of people grinding high gears in that belief never end up going any faster because bikes and bodies just don't work that way.

If a shop provides the wrong part you take it back and get the right one put on. They eat the labor cost and the bad will. Being able to "test ride" a new part and then take it back in condition where they can no longer sell as new is not OK.


As for the bike - that's right, it's HIS Bianchi. It belongs to the rider, not Bianchi and he "should" do whatever he wants with it.

It's all about what works for the OP. If he's spending a lot of time when he is in the 39 on the small rear cogs then the 42 may be a better choice.

Just take it back immediately. Probably an honest mistake. Don't assume the worst and go after the LBS with guns blazing. Most LBS shops are running on paper thin margins with people coming in with cheap parts purchased on line and expect the guy to install the parts for nothing. The LBS like insurance isn't needed often but when it is he has a compliment of tools that the average person doesn't have. Be nice even if a little frustrating.
What is the brand of the crankset? I have a campy triple which was originally a 50-40-30. I changed the middle chain ring to duplicate my double which used a 39 ring. I had to use a T/A Specialities chain ring...works well. The usual combination that uses the 42 starts with a 52 or 53 outer chain ring for a triple.

Instead of yakking at you, I looked at my standard gearing SS. If you really have a 50 for a big ring, they did you a major favor. You're going to love it. Much better split out of the cassette between those rings. 42 was the standard middle ring for the 9-speed. Now they've changed it to 39. As soon as they did, I bought a few 42T middle rings, because I do go through them. I probably have enough to wear out my brifters now. But you'll like that 42. I once had a broken left shifter and lost my big ring. Worked fine with just the 42-30. You'll have a nice wide range in that ring. The 39 spins out way too early.

go back to the LBS and but a compact or a standard. need for a triple anywhere.

Seperately, on my commuter I have a 42 in a 1x9 setup. 42x11-34 covers an extreme range with very little weight.

what's your rear cluster gearing ?
On my sport tour bike I have a 50-42-30 with a 7spd 13-24 this works well for me. It wouldn't hurt to have both, the switch is pretty easy.

I've been riding the 42. I'm quite a bit faster with it. It is more work for my legs but not too much and I figure that if I take care of them with protein and lots of water they will get stronger. But it does take some getting used to its like having a different bike. I mean it's only three teeth but the difference is amazing.

A good point. Context of the conversation / request is everything. Did you ask specifically for a thirty-nine, did you indicate something like a thirty-nine? Most bike shops are going to try and fill a customers request with whats on hand. Maybe they should have contacted the customer.

At what point did you notice the discrepancy?

Even if "something like a 39" was what was requested, if the part to be used is anything other than a 39 it calls for a customer confirmation.

I have a campy double set with 50/42 pulled from an old Raleigh. My Dad's Gitane TDF is a 52/42.

When I called I asked how much for a 39 tooth middle chainring he said $35 part only $45 installed. When I picked it up the price was $45 part only with labor bringing it up to $55 Didn't think anything of it at the time because I wanted to get it home to get it ready for my tuesday night group ride. When I got home noticed the difference. Most likely had he called I would have OK'd it but I feel he should have called when the part and the price changed.

Guess the shop gave away a customer to a competitor ..

I would be sending an email to the owner. If they are substituting the part for one of a higher price, they should have contacted you. If they had messed up and accidentally put on a 42 (or whatever reason it may have been) that's up to you to call them out on it, but to place a higher priced item than what was quoted without your consent is not appropriate.

Email the owner, then decide who to do with your future business with depending on the result. Mistakes happen in every business, it's how the business goes about correcting them that shows whether or not they are a good company.