MattFashion

i'm going to have to agree with the folks who think the lbs should comp you.
if you're purchasing 1300 dollars in parts from ONE INDIVIDUAL LBS, then they should be willing to assemble your bike for you. if you are bringing in 1300 dollars worth of parts from this guy and that guy and this website and that, then no, charge away.
business in the biking industry is largely based on repeat business.
just my opinion.
certainly they way it was done at the bikeshop i grew up working in.

sers

the folks at broadway are good people. they have every tool imaginable, and they can help a bit during assembly without charging. they charge $25 to teach you how to use things like a headset press if you've never used one before.

best to invest in someone to help you. it's possible to make some expensive mistakes like stripping your bb shell, ovalizing your headtube or cutting your fork too short.

cc700

if a shop doesn't like you chances are they won't comp stuff.

they're doing the work, you should expect to pay them what they charge. most shops have a labor chart, and i'd expect anything between 50 and 200 dollars to build a complete bike, spec'd out and custom.

that said, "no one pays retail anymore" and of all the different kind of shops, i think bike people are some of the nicest and most laid back of workers. they may not do stuff for you for free, but the chances they'll cut you a break after you drop that kind of coin are pretty high most places. you could probably get by with spending less than $50 on tools provided you have a wrench set and some other odd tools around... you'll need a headset press and any splined tools for the bb but other than that most stuff goes on with allen wrenches, box wrenches, and grease.

njm

Same kind of thing happened to me at Cambridge Bicycle near Central Square. I was looking for a little metal stand to hold my bike upright, like they use on the showroom floor. The girl looked it up in the catalog, QBP I think, and I saw the price was $21.

"It would be forty dollars," she said. "Would you like me to order it?"

I've been in to Broadway Bicycle once, and everyone was super nice. I ended up buying a new bike elsewhere so I can't actually comment on the service experience, but they definitely have agood attitude and everything.

mander

The bike coop is a great idea, better than just building the bike yourself. I think I must have ****ed up 8 out of 10 of my first bike repairs, just using my Haynes manual and the park tools website. I didn't do any major damage to anything but it really is the hard way to learn.

Chrysiptera

OP never did tell us where this went down for him..

Southernwayfare

What is "OP"? Opening post?

I don't want to say which bike shop. Over all they seemed like cool people. As I said, I don't feel like $50 for the build is a ripoff by any means but if I'm buying $1300 at retail with no discount maybe they could toss in the build. Frankly, it was the 'look it up at Ben's and double the price' move that really put me over the top and that may have just been one guy's fault. If they wouldn't have been so wishy washy about giving me prices and telling me if and when they could get parts I probably would have done it. I went into the store 3 times and could never get anyone who was proactive. Seems like if a dude walks in and wants to drop $1300 on a bike someone might want to quit comparing tattoos and pay attention.

Whatever the case, I've decided to build it myself at Broadway Bicycles with the help of the folks there when I need it. I'm sure it will be much more satisfying this way. Several things are on backorder at Ben's so I'll be waiting a few weeks unless I find them elsewhere. Hopefully you'll be seeing a picture of the build soon.

cvstodes

OP = original poster

I'd be interested in which shop you went to as well as I'm also in the area.

MPH2

I would save my $50 and spend $80 on this:
https://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?c...bcat%3A%20Kits

Pretty much a complete set of tools to allow you to build the bike and you will have them in the future. The only thing you won't be able to do is press on the head cups and install the fork race. You should be able to get the LBS to throw in that for free. You may need to borrow a hacksaw to cut the steerer, otherwise you will be good to go.

kemmer

Or install the star nut. I use a seatpost with a ID just bigger than the steerer to install fork races. It works pretty well, I have one for 1" and one for 1 1/8".

wyardley

I built up my bike at a local co-op, and while yours sounds more expensive than the ones here in LA, it's a great way to get access to the right tools, and learn how to do stuff yourself. That way you're more comfortable making at least basic adjustments yourself.

The mechanic rates sound a little expensive, so you might consider seeing if you can find a friend who's more experienced who could help you do most of it.

MPH2

OK here is one for $10

https://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?c...t%3A%20Headset