Your rants here.
Comments
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True. I wouldn't have left it there anyway if I didn't have a guarantee they will service it by Friday.Slowbike wrote:vpnikolov wrote:Walked in Condor Cycles with the hope to get the rear wheel bearings serviced by Friday, got told they are booked up for the following three weeks. :shock: Is this the standard nowadays in Central London?
At least they were honest with an approximate timescale - worse would be "yes - leave it with us" and then not get around to it for the next 3 weeks.0 -
"Last one left" on sites, that have disappeared by the time you've gone through checkout, registered as a new customer, received the email, confirmed the email address, then hit the pay button, only to find it's no longer in stock....
Who'd have though getting a new 50T chainring for 5750 chainset was so difficult/expensive.Intent on Cycling Commuting on a budget, but keep on breaking/crashing/finding nice stuff to buy.
Bike 1 (Broken) - Bike 2(Borked) - Bike 3(broken spokes) - Bike 4( Needs Work) - Bike 5 (in bits) - Bike 6* ...0 -
Buy one of these - https://www.spacycles.co.uk/m2b0s210p30 ... cral-OuterWolfsbane2k wrote:Who'd have though getting a new 50T chainring for 5750 chainset was so difficult/expensive.
Spend your time/money saved at pub.0 -
Shingles.0
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TimothyW wrote:
Buy one of these - https://www.spacycles.co.uk/m2b0s210p30 ... cral-OuterWolfsbane2k wrote:Who'd have though getting a new 50T chainring for 5750 chainset was so difficult/expensive.
Spend your time/money saved at pub.
Ah, cheers. That's the price I was looking at for the shimano ones on CRC before it disappeared.
Also, it explains why in was having some issues finding the right size. BCD for prowheel crankset is 130, 5750 is 110...Intent on Cycling Commuting on a budget, but keep on breaking/crashing/finding nice stuff to buy.
Bike 1 (Broken) - Bike 2(Borked) - Bike 3(broken spokes) - Bike 4( Needs Work) - Bike 5 (in bits) - Bike 6* ...0 -
Pleasant ride home ruined by a nobber on a Handsling. He was taking tows of everyone and then decided to overtake me on the left through the park after I'd just gone round a pedestrian.
Total arseflute.Mud - Genesis Vapour CCX
Race - Fuji Norcom Straight
Sun - Cervelo R3
Winter / Commute - Dolan ADX0 -
Veronese68 wrote:
You just need to plan a schedule of breakages and book it in accordingly.vpnikolov wrote:...got told they are booked up for the following three weeks. :shock: Is this the standard nowadays in Central London?
Suspect they'd get the right hump if people started booking in well in advance then cancelling the slot if they found it wasn't needed.
my lbs doesn't let you book in advance like that, well wont let me book in advance like that at least
I think they do mates rates for some of the local club riders so if you hit a time before a set of club races or big rides you are screwed as a normal customer.
last time I tried to book a service they went "sorry booked up for a month"
"oh" trying my best pouty disappointed look down the phone, and thinking well its a service 4weeks wont hurt if its booked in some time I know it will get done
"can I book it in after that ?"
"no"
"oh, ok...thanks I think"
annoyingly they do service bikes quite well, and they later claimed they were ultra busy when Id tried and failed to bag a service slot, because of lack of staff/mechanics, which theyve sorted, cant say Ive tried again lately even though my bike probably could do with a proper service again0 -
Why not just learn to maintain your own bikes? Then you can fix stuff when it needs fixing, rather than according to some arbitrary service schedule.Pannier, 120rpm.0
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I did this out of necessity as much as anything, but if someone has the money and inclination to pay someone else to maintain their bike then why shouldn't they?TGOTB wrote:Why not just learn to maintain your own bikes? Then you can fix stuff when it needs fixing, rather than according to some arbitrary service schedule.
I'd much rather Mamils spent money supporting local bike shops instead of on branded and overpriced lycra (not that the two are mutually exclusive!)
It is a tricky one for bike shops though, as the work is seasonal (plus I'm sure in the summer they'd rather be spending their time riding bikes than doing overtime in the workshop....)0 -
Because it's clearly enough of a pain in the a*se that they're here on the rants thread complaining about it.TimothyW wrote:
I did this out of necessity as much as anything, but if someone has the money and inclination to pay someone else to maintain their bike then why shouldn't they?TGOTB wrote:Why not just learn to maintain your own bikes? Then you can fix stuff when it needs fixing, rather than according to some arbitrary service schedule.
I reckon it would probably take me half an hour to drop my bike off at the nearest bike shop and get back home. And then another half an hour to go back and pick it up. Other than building wheels, I'm struggling to think of any bike maintenance job that takes a full hour...Pannier, 120rpm.0 -
I do most of my bike maintenance and resort to a shop only if really needed. Given that my hub needs to be sorted ASAP before the bike gets shipped to mainland Europe, I prefer to pay for the service than do it myself for the first time and spend ages figuring out how to do it when never done before.
Oh, and tools.
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Takes me 5 minutes to get to the LBS near where I work, they usually have it sorted for me to collect by the time it's time to ride home. If they're busy, I buy the parts and sort it in my lunch break.
Admittedly the one near home is more like a 20 minute walk (but a 5 minute drive if I'm so inclined).
Either way, I can post a rant on the internet very quickly and without getting my hands dirty.0 -
TGOTB wrote:
Because it's clearly enough of a pain in the a*se that they're here on the rants thread complaining about it.TimothyW wrote:
I did this out of necessity as much as anything, but if someone has the money and inclination to pay someone else to maintain their bike then why shouldn't they?TGOTB wrote:Why not just learn to maintain your own bikes? Then you can fix stuff when it needs fixing, rather than according to some arbitrary service schedule.
I reckon it would probably take me half an hour to drop my bike off at the nearest bike shop and get back home. And then another half an hour to go back and pick it up. Other than building wheels, I'm struggling to think of any bike maintenance job that takes a full hour...
In fairness, when I lived in London, there was nowhere to a) keep all the tools you need to make them and b) no-where practical and easy to do them.
S'alright if you have a garden, but in a flat, or even a block of flats where space is a premium...0 -
I used to do all my bike maintenance when I lived in a small studio flat. Toolbox was barely larger than a shoe box; bike was maintained in the same location as it was stored, sometimes with a bit of newspaper laid out to protect the carpet. Same when I was a student...Rick Chasey wrote:In fairness, when I lived in London, there was nowhere to a) keep all the tools you need to make them and b) no-where practical and easy to do them.
S'alright if you have a garden, but in a flat, or even a block of flats where space is a premium...Pannier, 120rpm.0 -
awavey wrote:my lbs doesn't let you book in advance like that, well wont let me book in advance like that at least I think they do mates rates for some of the local club riders so if you hit a time before a set of club races or big rides you are screwed as a normal customer.
last time I tried to book a service they went "sorry booked up for a month"
"oh" trying my best pouty disappointed look down the phone, and thinking well its a service 4weeks wont hurt if its booked in some time I know it will get done
"can I book it in after that ?"
"no"
"oh, ok...thanks I think"
annoyingly they do service bikes quite well, and they later claimed they were ultra busy when Id tried and failed to bag a service slot, because of lack of staff/mechanics, which theyve sorted, cant say Ive tried again lately even though my bike probably could do with a proper service again
Which LBS is it?Ben
Bikes: Donhou DSS4 Custom | Condor Italia RC | Gios Megalite | Dolan Preffisio | Giant Bowery '76
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ben_h_ppcc/
Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/143173475@N05/0 -
TGOTB wrote:
I used to do all my bike maintenance when I lived in a small studio flat. Toolbox was barely larger than a shoe box; bike was maintained in the same location as it was stored, sometimes with a bit of newspaper laid out to protect the carpet. Same when I was a student...Rick Chasey wrote:In fairness, when I lived in London, there was nowhere to a) keep all the tools you need to make them and b) no-where practical and easy to do them.
S'alright if you have a garden, but in a flat, or even a block of flats where space is a premium...
Fair enough. I wouldn’t dream of doing it inside.0 -
There are lots of things I probably* could do, painting, tiling, minor woodwork, plumbing, car repair, fetching my own groceries, bike repair, accounts, kitchen fitting etc.
I'm time poor though so I would rather someone else did it for me more quickly and effectively than I could ever hope to learn and spend time doing however.
* I probably couldn't do bike repairs. Experience proves that even relatively minor fettling results in me becoming apoplectic, and taking a small pile of parts to the LBS anyway,Bianchi C2C - Ritte Bosberg - Cervelo R3
Strava0 -
I will happily replace cables, chains, cassettes, tyres, bleed disc brakes, tighten the odd bolt but once a year, it gives me peace of mind to have a pro cast his eye over things in case I have missed something. That said, I would never attempt to strip, clean and rebuild a full suspension mountain bike !0
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Rick Chasey wrote:TGOTB wrote:
I used to do all my bike maintenance when I lived in a small studio flat. Toolbox was barely larger than a shoe box; bike was maintained in the same location as it was stored, sometimes with a bit of newspaper laid out to protect the carpet. Same when I was a student...Rick Chasey wrote:In fairness, when I lived in London, there was nowhere to a) keep all the tools you need to make them and b) no-where practical and easy to do them.
S'alright if you have a garden, but in a flat, or even a block of flats where space is a premium...
Fair enough. I wouldn’t dream of doing it inside.
I've been known to bring a wheel into the sitting room, remove the bearings, clean, re-lube and refit.0 -
I always build wheels in front of the TV. I remember knocking up 2 sets of CX wheels whilst watching the final stage of the TDF a couple of years ago...Slowbike wrote:I've been known to bring a wheel into the sitting room, remove the bearings, clean, re-lube and refit.Pannier, 120rpm.0 -
I must confess I don't get this. Pro's doing the same thing day in and day out are at least as likely to miss something as a keen amateur taking his time over a job and with rather more of a vested interest in it being done right.Ricky h wrote:...it gives me peace of mind to have a pro cast his eye over things in case I have missed something.0 -
Second pair of eyes, more experienced than mine, that's all. There are good bike mechanics out there worth listening to, so that's what I do0
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Yes. Also they're under pressure to do things in minimum time. The last two times I took a bike in to do something I hadn't done myself, it came out with potentially life-threatening omissions (1. failure to tighten up stem to steerer after a headset replacement, only discovered trying to steer along Embankment. 2. another occasion: failure to tighten the stem-handlebar bolts, leading me to nearly go over the bars as the handlebars rotated forwards under braking).Veronese68 wrote:
I must confess I don't get this. Pro's doing the same thing day in and day out are at least as likely to miss something as a keen amateur taking his time over a job and with rather more of a vested interest in it being done right.Ricky h wrote:...it gives me peace of mind to have a pro cast his eye over things in case I have missed something.
I now do everything myself, except build wheels, and that's on the list to learn.Dolan Titanium ADX 2016
Ridley Noah FAST 2013
Bottecchia/Campagnolo 1990
Carrera Parva Hybrid 2016
Hoy Sa Calobra 002 2014 [off duty]
Storck Absolutist 2011 [off duty]
http://www.slidingseat.net/cycling/cycling.html0 -
Well I've put my cards on the table as to who I use and he has never rushed a job and will tell you if he discovers more problems/needs more time. Sure there are some bad mechanics out there and I would never use someone I thought was cutting corners. This is usually pretty obvious from a basic once over when you pick the bike up from them0
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There's a LBS I use from time to time - the owner is a cyclist and he (or rather his mechanic) does do a good job. I tend to do most of it myself, but sometimes I just haven't got the right tools or experience - so I've taken a frame in for the bottom bracket to be replaced (just couldn't budge it with my lightweight tool) and had a spoke replaced. I'll probably get the headset replaced on the best bike too - it's just something that needs to be done properly first time and it could be expensive if I get it wrong.0
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That you did, and I'd forgotten. I was thinking more of a random mechanic in a random shop. If you are dealing with the person that is doing the work and you trust them it is a different matter I accept.Ricky h wrote:Well I've put my cards on the table as to who I use and he has never rushed a job and will tell you if he discovers more problems/needs more time. Sure there are some bad mechanics out there and I would never use someone I thought was cutting corners. This is usually pretty obvious from a basic once over when you pick the bike up from them0 -
Veronese68 wrote:
That you did, and I'd forgotten. I was thinking more of a random mechanic in a random shop. If you are dealing with the person that is doing the work and you trust them it is a different matter I accept.Ricky h wrote:Well I've put my cards on the table as to who I use and he has never rushed a job and will tell you if he discovers more problems/needs more time. Sure there are some bad mechanics out there and I would never use someone I thought was cutting corners. This is usually pretty obvious from a basic once over when you pick the bike up from them
I do some things but let the shop do others, I’d probably, in fact would do it differently if the bike shop wasn’t so local and independent ie your talking to the mechanics/shop owners and handily they all have the same name!
Always fairly surprised how vague the chain stores are, I chose not to take the free service on the new bike, I may get the shop to look at the gears at some point, they always do a better job that I.0 -
TGOTB wrote:Why not just learn to maintain your own bikes? Then you can fix stuff when it needs fixing, rather than according to some arbitrary service schedule.
its not about not knowing how to do these things, Id only rate my skills as average at best as a bike mechanic, so my servicing is functional, I can make things work, but I always struggle to ever find that final perfect setup. whereas I know I can take it to a good shop and they service it and can strip the bike back and then reassemble it and it runs like a dream afterwards, why wouldnt you pay to get that ?0 -
I do all my own maintenance, often in the front room in front of the tv (when the wife is out), sometimes in the garden on nice days.
Only thing i don't do, like Rower, is wheel building. I don't have masses of tool, a £40 bike hut starter set and a few other bits and pieces picked up over the years. I don't (shock horror) even have a bike stand. Although I do admit i could probably do with one.
I don't trust a professional more than I trust myself, especially after seeing some of the shoddy work that's come back official Mercedes service centres on my car.
I know cars are different, but you'd imagine they've received more training than a mechanic in your lbs0 -
Because I'm tight :oops:awavey wrote:...why wouldnt you pay to get that ?0
