P4D 

I've got a frame and all th bits and I'd like to get it put together professionally. I'm in Anaheim...where would you suggest I take it as it needs headset, BB, hubs serviced and set up to ride?

Hillbasher

I know you will think I am crazy or stupid for saying this, but try doing it yourself. Plenty of online help, and this board alone has all the info you need. It may take a few tools you don't have, but either buy or borrow them, and buy a good book, and you will be better off for doing it. Think of all the money you would save on future wrenching. Do it yourself, then you will have no one to blame if not done right. I know that it may seem intimidating at first, but speaking as one that has taken down and built back up a couple of bikes when I knew nothing at all what I was doing, it is not that hard. Good luck.

Cyclcist11023131

I like the idea of doing it yourself...but. Much like rebuilding carburetors, if you do it all the time it gets done right. The truth is no shop will be able to finish your bike just like you want it. That said I have been using different shops to build my bikes for years. They do all the stuff like lining up the chainline and making sure you don't mess up in umteen million ways. Still I've never yet had a buildout that didn't need plenty of tweeking on my part to get right. To sum up, either way you will end up with intimate knowledge of your custom bike, either way its going to cost you some dough. The bike shop way mostly guarantees you of not making elemental mistakes. Doing it all youself will net you plenty of extra parts. My last bike is almost complete, after spending a week at Jaxs, in Fullerton. Ask for John and explain to him EXACTLY what you want from him. That way nothing is misunderstood. Even if you would just like his expertise to order the correct parts to get you job done and than advice while you do it yourself. Perhaps the best way to go.

TJClay

Anaheim Hills bike shop on La Palma and Imperial is a good small shop i've used a couple times with good results.

agent3

if you wanna learn and try to do it yourself, there's a free bicycle repair workshop that's meeting this Saturday in Santa Ana. You bring all the parts and they will supply the tools and knowledge to help you do it yourself. They have the workshop on the last Saturday of every month from 11am-4pm. Here check out the link: https://www.meetup.com/The-Bicycle-Tr...ndar/15941119/

P4D 

Now that sounds like a great idea. I'll have to see if I can get loose for that...thanks!

I need to swap a headset....mo idea or tools to know how. Would I be able to get help with that?

CritEastwood

Beach Cruiser, Hybrid, MTB, Fixed Gear, Road Bike, BMX...what?

P4D 

Merckx MXL that needs to be built out and a Paramount I want to swap the 105 stuff off for the Dura Ace bits I collected. The Paramount is the one I need to swap in the headset. I have all the bits for the Merckx, too, just need to get it together and I'm a super duper novice no nothing mechanic who doesn't want to screw it up.

CritEastwood

I would not trust Anaheim Hills (as suggested in post #4) with inflating my road bike tires, let alone an EM or Paramount reassembly. The Bicycle Tree suggestion sounds the most solid and not because it's free, but because the people who run it are knowledgeable about vintage gear and you'll actually learn something in the process.

P4D 

Right on, thanks for the help. I'm hoping I can get down there with one or both frames this Saturday.

Jed19

I have been to this "co-op". I was not impressed.

CritEastwood

You could probably offer an alternative suggestion and why the alternative may be better.

P4D 

Let me start with the MXL. The Campy BB for it needs to be regreased and installed. I can put on the FD, RD, brakes wheels, as well as the stem and bars, but don't think I have the parts for the crankset. Once the cables are run, it needs to be tuned for the Ergos so it shifts and brakes properly. I know getting it comfortably set up is a matter of getting out on it. I'm just not much of a mechanic is all, so this stuff seems like a big hurdle for me and I know in several cases I don't have the right tools. That's why I was thinking of having someone get it set up for me.

brianstalnaker

I've had great luck and have heard many great words about the service and professionalism over in irvine at A Road Bike 4U. Shon, the service manager has been in the industry for years and years and has built bikes for numerous professionals and local riders and avers in so cal area. Check them out if youre still lookin for a quality shop

Www.aroadbike4u.com

CritEastwood

new member

two posts

both with a link to a new shop

seems spammy

urbanknight

That would be really suspicious if both posts linked to the same shop. Oh wait.

Pamestique 

The only place I can think of that is qualified to handle vintage good quality stuff is Laguna Cyclery in Laguna Beach. Unfortunately its a drive from, where you are and parking and traffic suck. But good knowlegeable people run the shop and they deal in high end stuff. Also maybe King's in Seal Beach.

Jed19

I really don't have an alternative other than the OP do this himself. I just wanted to point out that the particular co-op referred to is not awe-inspiring.

The two people/mechanics/instructor I met there when I stopped by were not confidence-inspiring mechanics. I ended up doing the work myself, even though it was simple wheel truing on two sets of wheels.

I simply knew better than them, even though I had gone there to "learn".

CritEastwood

I met the BT people at an event in Stabba Anna a couple of years ago and they seemed to know quite a bit about vintage bikes, much more so than the average cornflake cookie-cutter riding doofus.

alicestrong

Careful or you'll be assigned to volunteer. When's your next workshop?

iareConfusE

Not spammy, although he's the new guy in our shop, silly boy. We've been around for a couple years. OP asked for a bike shop in SoCal, and that's what he got. You're welcome to stop by and talk to us if you don't believe we're legitimate.

urbanknight

So he's excited about his new job. That's a good thing.

TJClay

Do you anything good to say about anything or just complete negativity?

iareConfusE

Yessir, and he's also new to the internet as well ;o


I read a couple of his other posts and they're all pretty negative. Just filled with trash talk. Elaborate cycling troll?

urbanknight

I thought that was a positive comment (seemed to know quite a bit about vintage bikes), and even I see him as a rogue fire starter sometimes.