Chuck5.2_in_CA

I took my 2004 Trek Medone 5.2 to the Anaheim Hills bike store for a tune up, a new chain, and since I usually mess it up a nice new bar wrap. Here's what I got back: Front breaks with the release open and when closed a rubbing on the rim. A bar wrap with the end 1/4 inch sticking out from the handle bar. A reccomendation for a new cassette which I went for. When I took it back to the store they told me that I needed to get new cables and housings...every year ! When I took it out to ride what once was a merely annoying occasional phantom gear change, it is now shifting when it pleases not when I shift it. If I stand on the pedals I get a crunching shift. Of course I'll never go back but now I need a reccomendation on whom to take my bike for service. I am in Yorba Linda but will drive to get a competent wrench to work on my bike. I'd apppreciate any recommendation from the forum.

The Carpenter

Those are all worth learning to do yourself.

Chuck5.2_in_CA

I almost guaranteed..."Do it yourself" would be the first comment I received. First if I wanted to do it myself I would have. Second I am a big believer in doing what you're good at and lot other people do what they are good at too. Third I worked hard ( at what I am VERY good at) and have the money to hire out jobs the either do not interest me or take up too much of my time) bike repair being one of them. The question remains...suggestions for a competent Trek wrench in the OC or maybe even in the IE.

alicestrong

Is there anyone at Anaheim Hills to complain to?

Give them a chance to make it right?

Chuck5.2_in_CA

I did that. First they tried to hammer the bad bar wrap in with their hands. Next they blamed it on me for not having cables and housings done once a year. They offered to "adjust the brakes" but didnt get the idea whatsoever that letting the bike go out without at least checking that the front break was properly adjusted was a problem. If I would have been riding and happened to notice the quick release lever was up and reached down to close it, I would have ended up over the handle bars ! I will never go in that store again, nor if I can help it let any of my friends walk in the either.

cjbruin

Sorry, I don't have any advice for a shop in your area. I'm a fan of Edge Cycle Sports & Cycle Care but they are both in the Lake Forest/Laguna Hills area.

The reason I'm posting is to applaud you for your 2nd post in the thread. I read carpenter's post and immediately thought, "OK, but that's not what the OP asked."

Chuck5.2_in_CA

Thanks CJ. I know alot of the forum members are great wrenches and take pride in doing everything themsleves. I congratulate them on their skill and their enterprise. Like I always tell my wife, just because I like to eat doesn't mean I want to become a chef !

spinerguy

Sorry to hear that Chuck. The master mechanic at Performance Tustin is very good, have work done there without disappointments. It is a complete BS having to replace brakes/housing every year, these can last forever but it's a good idea every 3-4 years.

Popeyecahn

I suggest you do a search through Yelp.com, I've found it a useful networking site that has a variety of topics that people review and are candid about but respectful all the same.

Did you speak with a manager or the owner of the store?

StrangeWill

Actually I don't do that because of the chances a bump can send your fingers into the spokes. It's a low chance, but the image in my mind is just... ugh.

abmtnbkr

Chuck5.2 ....I would recommend you visit Switchback Cyclery in the city of Orange. Tim and Sherry, who own the shop, will treat you right and give you a no bs assessment of your bike.

Chuck5.2_in_CA

The new owner of the shop heard every word the mech said as he was peacefully munching a burger. I knew I was in trouble when he said the cables and housings had to be replaced yearly. I am a dumb wrench...but not quite that dumb ! Switchback sounds like its pretty close.

GP

I change my shift cables every year. It might be overkill but I'd rather be overly cautious than to have one break in the middle of BFE.

I don't change the brake cables though.

Chuck5.2_in_CA

If he would have asked me how many miles I ride a year or in what kind of weather I would have cut him some slack but to say cables and housings need to be repaced yearly on a bike that might be ridden 50,500 or 5,000 is just plain ridiculous. Any other Bike shop suggestions?

Socalcycling

+1 Do it yourself. If you have $$$ to blow on a shop telling you to get a new cassette and cables, housing... you can afford a nice stand and a few tools. Strip the bike down and put it back together.
You will be amazed at how simple it is and might even enjoy it.
I personally don't understand how anyone can be serious about cycling without know how it all works.

UmneyDurak

I have to agree. Basic mechanical skills are a must. It's not even about "I have the money so why should I learn." It's more about being able to ride the next day instead of waiting for a shop to fix it.

UD

roadfix

Lots of good, strong riders, including pros, have absolutely no mechanical skills. Nothing wrong with that....

Socalcycling

Does not take many mechanical skills to adjust a derailleur. Good, strong riders, including pros can become every better, stronger riders if they knew how it all worked.

LCI_Brian

+1 to that recommendation.

Regarding the "do it yourself" comments - I know how to do and have the tools to do most bike repairs myself, but since I have a busy work and family life, sometimes it's a lot easier to take it to a shop you can trust rather than burning the time yourself.

surfrider

Jenson USA in Corona (next to the Harley-Davidson dealer near the auto mall). A friend who lives in Corona takes his bike there for work and likes the service.

Orange Cyclery. Just south of the traffic circle on Glassell in the City of Orange. Older bike shop with great reputation.

Like others mention above, those are fairly basic maintenance skills that are easy to learn if you want to save some $$$ and time in the shop.

efficiency

If you're installing new components, this might be true. I can't see it being true for simpler things though. My experience with shop work is that some things that would take you an hour to do would require you to:
1) Drive to the shop (10-30 minutes)
2) Put in service request in the shops work backlog
3) Drive Home (10-30 minutes)
4) Wait for shop to get to your bike in their work backlog (2-7 days)
5) Drive back to the shop (10-30 minutes)
6) Pick up bike.
7) Drive back home (10-30 minutes)

All that driving back and forth is time you could have spent doing it yourself, plus, you're out of a bike for a couple of days. This is not a time saving measure. This is why so many people recommended learning to do things yourself.

Fat Boy

Surf City Cyclery in Huntington Beach is good.

Cables and housings once a year isn't necessarily overkill. Twice a year is normal for a person that rides a lot. It depends how much you ride.

The stuff that you described shouldn't happen.

You can probably fix the phantom shifting by adjusting the barrel where the cable stops right before your rear derailler. Spin it one way a turn and see if it's better or worse. Continue until fixed.

Extort

No suggestions from me on shops, but a forum member works at Jensen USA in Corona... so you might want to mention BF when you get in there...

As for maintenance, changing cables, chain, cassette and other things on a routine basis is a bogus ploy. Bicycling Magazine says to change your chain every 1k miles. I broke down and bought a new chain for the road bike after about 7k, because it finally started stretching and at the same time the cables needed to be replaced because I snapped one putting the bike into my car. I am not even going to talk about cassettes because those only need to be replaced when the wear is plainly evident, and even then you might just change the rings which are most commonly used.

next thing I hear will be about how everyone is meticulous about never going over 3k miles in their car without an oil change...

WhiteCarbonDude

I beg to differ. https://www.mybikesite.com/shops/open...cal&lbs=oc__74

Santiago Cycling in Tustin is where I go, but then again I'm bias. Kings in Seal Beach is great too but a little far for you.

rooftest

The Anaheim Hills Bike Shop on La Palma, right? I'm actually surprised that those guys are still in business, they are so bad.

You could always try Rock N Road on the other side of the freeway - I've never had service done there, but they've always been cool and helpful - and accomodating with returns. I've heard comments from people on this board that like them. They aren't cheap, but it would be just around the corner for you.