A couple of weeks ago I decided my wife's front wheel needed attention. It is a Light Bicycles wheel that has an Industry Nine Road Torch disk hub, in orange. (The bike itself is a Sage Titanium frameset I built up for her.)

Rather than risk the rest of the bike at the shop, I just took the wheel off and brought that in. I also took the disc rotor off, along with the orange bling lock-ring, and the orange aluminum cap on the Peaty's valve. This would facilitate getting at the bearings as well as further lower the risk of having one or more of these other items go missing. In other words, I just brought in what needed repairing.

They put in new bearings and didn't say a word about the cheapskate origins of the wheel (apart from a dud bearing -- it was always a bit rough -- the wheels have been great). I think the whole thing came out to $80, but I didn't have the extractor/press to do it myself, and I wanted to make sure it was done right.

When I picked it up, they first handed me the wrong wheel. Apart from that, everything was good, and I gave them a small tip (which I swiped out of my wife's handlebar bag).

I then threw a huge tantrum, screaming that they had lost the valve cap, the blingy lock-ring, the disc rotor, and the rest of the bike that was attached to the wheel.

They didn't fall for that, but they gave me an old moldy bike helmet someone had left at the shop 3 years ago.

I think I will keep them as my LBS.

Opine.

Let’s get Larry Deason to chime in!

My LBS closed about 3 or 4 years ago. But shortly before it did, my Bontrager Flare light died and I took it in hoping for a warranty replacement. Of course I didn't save my receipt, but I figured the worst thing that could happen was they would tell me no. The manager was the only person working in the shop and he simply looked up my purchase in the computer and gave me a new light without any hassle. I've always regretted that it worked out like this because I couldn't be a Karen and request a manager. I would have then posted about it here how the shop was going to lose thousands of dollars in future sales.

That was the only LBS we had and I miss them because I would like to have called them the other day to see if they would babysit my helmet if I left my bike for service.

I hear lbs employees like to spit in those.

Really, this is so sophomoric.

I love a good parody thread. I give this one 4 out of 5 stars.

I have three different bike shops in my area. I only visit them if I need parts or tires. I do my own bike maintenance at home. I also don't give tips to bike shops. They're just a regular retail business like everything else. I don't tip cashiers or store employes at grocery stores or anywhete else , so why tip bike shops ?

I don't know if I'm allowed to post this:

Wooden Wheels in Newark DE - excellent personalized service, bikes come back from service as expected - ready to rock. They actively support the local MTB community, help with trails...

Bike Line (yep, at least one still exists) Middletown DE - I've now purchased 5 bikes from them, and most of my parts/accessories and will continue to do so. They employ some young local racers that often help with race (for my son) related advice. Have bikes in stock or readily available for delivery, are easy to work with on warranty issues.

Are there petty things I could complain about - yes, if I was petty.

But we need these shops, we need these mechanics, we need the support they provide to the cycling community, we need these LBS's.

However, I almost boycotted all of them because they wouldn't hold on to my dirty bike shorts while I changed and walked home...!!

I am switching bike shops. I rode my bike in for service, almost 8km, and asked they hold my helmet overnight so I could better enjoy the walk/jog home and the return trip the following day.

They initially refused but then relented, however I found the Service Manager rude so I will not return.

There are countless bike shops in Toronto to chose from. I have had very good experiences with the shop that sold me my Roubaix and I will use them exclusively going forward.

Bad idea for a thread.

Closed.