Looking for specialist MTB bike mechanic

[DieselnDust]

The big elephant in the room here is the customer “can you fix it BUT I don’t want to spend a lot of money…”

#thereinliestherub

[droo]

13 minutes ago, DieselnDust said:

The big elephant in the room here is the customer “can you fix it BUT I don’t want to spend a lot of money…”

#thereinliestherub

At which point the decent mechanic will supply a quote, and if it's not accepted will encourage said not-a-customer to look elsewhere rather than make his name gat by doing half a job.

As for the "it's too old to work on" - if spares are scarce that's justified. The amount of time spent hunting for parts that'll fit can't be charged for. If it's adjustment, the older it is the easier it is to fix, as a general rule.

[ChrisF]

7 minutes ago, droo said:

At which point the decent mechanic will supply a quote, and if it's not accepted will encourage said not-a-customer to look elsewhere rather than make his name gat by doing half a job.

As for the "it's too old to work on" - if spares are scarce that's justified. The amount of time spent hunting for parts that'll fit can't be charged for. If it's adjustment, the older it is the easier it is to fix, as a general rule.

 

This is key.  

 

The term "full service" has so many different meanings ... until the client has to go back again and again ....

 

Friend of Maritz's 24" was taken to a well known store.  The mom paid for a "full service".

 

This was new tires and brake allignment ....

 

 

The bike was clunking along the trails, so I did a real strip down and rebuild:

1. New V-brakes, and adjustment.

2. Steerer bearings bone dry, but good.  Cleaned and lubed

3. New ball bearings for both front and back wheels ...

4. Gear cluster bearings were bone dry.  Cleaned and lubed

5. Surprisingly the chain was in good nick, just dirty.  Clean and lube

6.  The ball bearing case in the BB had collapsed ... thus the clunking noise.  The bearing surfaces were in bad condition.  Replaced the BB.

7. Pedals were done ... new set.

8. New inner and outer cables for the brakes and gears.

9. New grips on the bars

 

 

Fine and dandy playing at home.  If a workshop charged for this TIME, it would have been cheaper to give the kid a new Makro bike.

 

 

The mom was not happy with the bikeshop, afterall, she paid for a "full service".

 

Droo is 100% correct.  A quick checklist, and the workshop and the client would have known what was and what was not done.

[Sandro]

55 minutes ago, DieselnDust said:

The big elephant in the room here is the customer “can you fix it BUT I don’t want to spend a lot of money…”

#thereinliestherub

No the big elephant is, “sure leave your bike with us, we’ll charge you for parts that we don’t replace and not fix the bike properly.” Don’t put the blame on me, the client here. I’ve paid a lot of money in good faith actually. 

[DieselnDust]

49 minutes ago, Sandro said:

No the big elephant is, “sure leave your bike with us, we’ll charge you for parts that we don’t replace and not fix the bike properly.” Don’t put the blame on me, the client here. I’ve paid a lot of money in good faith actually. 

My post was not directed at you so aplogies if it came across that way.

Bike shops here the "fix it with as little cash outlay as possible" so they become conditioned to behave in a certain way when a bike of low value and high age comes through the workshop.

Charging for parts they didn't fit, that's fraud.

Charging tooo much for low value parts is exploitation.

avoid stores who practice that.

But sadly many shops end p in the high time and labour.  low value repair  situation and the staff just end up stereotyping.

I'm not suggesting its justified, just that it happens

[Steady Spin]

Considering how many shops just replace instead of repair we really should be sold maintenance plans with bikes. 

Think "BMW Model" where mechanics are part fitters and nothing more. 

[DieselnDust]

12 minutes ago, Steady Spin said:

Considering how many shops just replace instead of repair we really should be sold maintenance plans with bikes. 

Think "BMW Model" where mechanics are part fitters and nothing more. 

You don;t want that because the maintenance plan will make you run those pads right down to the metal, CSU's will be replaced at will after 1000hrrs of use because the technician report stated "that'll buff right out". Bikes will 30% more than Unobtanium

[dasilvarsa]

It's a Hoax

 

[RobertWhitehead]

You know what I think the problem is, two or possibly even three fold. really: 

1. Some mechs working at bike shops, not all of them, are just there for the pay cheque, they've never really cycled as a past time / hobby and have no regard for other peoples safety. To them it is just that - work. So if someone brings in a bike the goal is to get it out the door ASAP. This is a cultural thing. 
2. They do not have the technical knowledge to understand the impact of a half ass job. I mean just imagine you take your bike in for a major service and a part comes off at high speed. Who's going to take responsibility for those expenses / pain caused to the user? 
3. If you only have a hammer in your toolbox then everything becomes a nail 😁.

 

[King_Crispy]

On 9/6/2022 at 2:00 PM, RobertWhitehead said:

You know what I think the problem is, two or possibly even three fold. really: 

1. Some mechs working at bike shops, not all of them, are just there for the pay cheque, they've never really cycled as a past time / hobby and have no regard for other peoples safety. To them it is just that - work. So if someone brings in a bike the goal is to get it out the door ASAP. This is a cultural thing. 
2. They do not have the technical knowledge to understand the impact of a half ass job. I mean just imagine you take your bike in for a major service and a part comes off at high speed. Who's going to take responsibility for those expenses / pain caused to the user? 
3. If you only have a hammer in your toolbox then everything becomes a nail 😁.

 

Then Sam at Northcliff Cycles has to rate as one of the best mechanics around.

He always listens, looks and then does a bloody good job.

Take your bike to him for top quality workmanship 

[MTBRIDER1234]

On 9/6/2022 at 2:00 PM, RobertWhitehead said:

You know what I think the problem is, two or possibly even three fold. really: 

1. Some mechs working at bike shops, not all of them, are just there for the pay cheque, they've never really cycled as a past time / hobby and have no regard for other peoples safety. To them it is just that - work. So if someone brings in a bike the goal is to get it out the door ASAP. This is a cultural thing. 
2. They do not have the technical knowledge to understand the impact of a half ass job. I mean just imagine you take your bike in for a major service and a part comes off at high speed. Who's going to take responsibility for those expenses / pain caused to the user? 
3. If you only have a hammer in your toolbox then everything becomes a nail 😁.

 

^this

I always find that mechanics who ride are much better because they can understand and relate to how someone likes their brakes, what angle they run their shifters at, how high they like their seat, how routing cables neatly can make the bike quieter etc.

Also if you ride, you are far more in tune with how a bike feels and what to look for when checking it over

[porqui]

As mechanics who are riders are usually better so riders who are also a bit more of a mechanic too are also better. That way you become attune to your bike and can sort out issues before they become a problem.

So Sandro time to get those hands dirty and if you get stuck or screw up there is always Droo (droo is always willing and loves a chat)

It's not all that difficult though just a bit of common sense needed maybe.

Edited September 8, 2022 by porqui

[love2fly]

On 9/4/2022 at 7:13 PM, Sandro said:

For those who asked, this is the famous chainring. Looks pretty worn to me but I'm no mechanic?

Its a Scott Spark 960 by the way, 2014/2015 model I suspect. Excuse the dirty bike.

Is it me or is the pin that prevents the chain dropping behind the crank in the wrong place?