Bicycle Shop issues

[RobynE 🚵‍♀️]

12 hours ago, MarcoDeS said:

But a more general question. I see lots of guys propping up mechanics that do good work. Can we not keep a list of good/bad service from shops to assist any newbies and experienced riders without time alike? Will probably save someone out there lots of headaches, frustration and time. 

Experience is relative. The shop you’re talking about is my LBS and I’ve had nothing but joy from them, so would a list really help? 

[MarcoDeS]

12 minutes ago, RobynE 🚵‍♀️ said:

Experience is relative. The shop you’re talking about is my LBS and I’ve had nothing but joy from them, so would a list really help? 

Happy for you. Not a list per se but an active review page. Law of large numbers. But this is not practical just my wishful thinking. 

[Sandro]

I've brought this topic up before and been told to learn to do it myself, which I have been doing more and more lately. This really is the only way. I don''t understand why the level of service is so appalling, from the small local guys to the big brand names. In fact the big brands are the worst in my experience. The worst decision I made was buying a Campagnolo groupset for my road bike a few years ago, I will never make that mistake again. Easier to find a good mechanic for an Alfa Romeo.

[Kulhavy747]

1 hour ago, RobynE 🚵‍♀️ said:

Experience is relative. The shop you’re talking about is my LBS and I’ve had nothing but joy from them, so would a list really help? 

I must second this. They have looked after all of my bikes for the past 8 years, and have only had exceptional service!

If there ever is an issue, they are extremely swift to rectify it!

I would never change my LBS

[Mamil]

56 minutes ago, Sandro said:

 Easier to find a good mechanic for an Alfa Romeo.

My cousin is an excellent alfa romeo mechanic - he's owned several since we were kids - always in immaculate condition.

[DJR]

1 hour ago, Mamil said:

My cousin is an excellent alfa romeo mechanic - he's owned several since we were kids - always in immaculate condition.

A bit like a Land Rover (yes, that's me), if you own one for a while, you become a good mechanic.....

Edit: Come to think of it, the same often goes for riding bicycles........

Edited November 20, 2025 by DJR

[betaboy]

On 11/18/2025 at 6:36 PM, ChrisF said:

 

Robbie there are people that take their bike to the "authorised dealer" to have a valve CORE replaced 

 

His face when I took a spare core out of my saddle-bag ....

 

He declined, insisting the bike MUST go to the dealers ....

 

They live among us .....

That proper “hardcore” 🤭

[Mamil]

Also - although I do work in a pay for a service industry, I am very pleased not to be in a retail / restaurant / bike mechanic space where entitlement is given such free reign. I observe the way a significant minority of people behave in these contexts and am often astonished by the forbearance and grace that service staff, including my LBS display in those interactions.

We all want our bikes serviced nicely of course but there's something about the "I demand excellent service" that is sometimes a bit narcissistic maybe.

I'm sure that bike shop managers / staff/ owners could write a pretty powerful thread regarding their experiences of customers - wouldn't be good for business of course but ...

[Headshot]

19 hours ago, RobynE 🚵‍♀️ said:

Not my pic but here’s a multi-faceted conundrum…

Colour clash or valve align?

What if valve align IS colour clashing? Schrodinger’s valve? 

Knife edge stuff boys. 

I think the only logical solution here is to drill another hole for the valve. 
 

Nope, he needs to change tyre brand - Maybe Spesh

[The Ouzo]

2 hours ago, Mamil said:

Also - although I do work in a pay for a service industry, I am very pleased not to be in a retail / restaurant / bike mechanic space where entitlement is given such free reign. I observe the way a significant minority of people behave in these contexts and am often astonished by the forbearance and grace that service staff, including my LBS display in those interactions.

We all want our bikes serviced nicely of course but there's something about the "I demand excellent service" that is sometimes a bit narcissistic maybe.

I'm sure that bike shop managers / staff/ owners could write a pretty powerful thread regarding their experiences of customers - wouldn't be good for business of course but ...

you can add car workshop staff to that list.

Some of the stories I heard from them when I was a salesman, yoh!

[droo]

1 hour ago, Mamil said:

Also - although I do work in a pay for a service industry, I am very pleased not to be in a retail / restaurant / bike mechanic space where entitlement is given such free reign. I observe the way a significant minority of people behave in these contexts and am often astonished by the forbearance and grace that service staff, including my LBS display in those interactions.

We all want our bikes serviced nicely of course but there's something about the "I demand excellent service" that is sometimes a bit narcissistic maybe.

I'm sure that bike shop managers / staff/ owners could write a pretty powerful thread regarding their experiences of customers - wouldn't be good for business of course but ...

Indeed. There is a fine line between wanting good service and wanting queues jumped and mountains moved, and it's most likely different for everyone. My line is where it turns into a lack of respect - for others who were there first, for my staff and I or for the time and knowledge it takes to get the job done properly.

Fortunately I have a low tolerance, and these people get shown the door, which has left me with very few such folk to deal with. Giving in to it will just attract more of the same, and life is too short.

Sometimes being a cantankerous bastard is a useful trait.

[NotSoBigBen]

41 minutes ago, droo said:

Indeed. There is a fine line between wanting good service and wanting queues jumped and mountains moved, and it's most likely different for everyone. My line is where it turns into a lack of respect - for others who were there first, for my staff and I or for the time and knowledge it takes to get the job done properly.

Fortunately I have a low tolerance, and these people get shown the door, which has left me with very few such folk to deal with. Giving in to it will just attract more of the same, and life is too short.

Sometimes being a cantankerous bastard is a useful trait.

I was very involved with a bike shop for a few years, fortunately ended in 2020

The best advice I remember was from a well known hubber and at the time also a sole proprietor of a bike shop ... he said just remember 'there are customers that you don't want', don't lose sleep over those!

[cadenceblur]

43 minutes ago, droo said:

Indeed. There is a fine line between wanting good service and wanting queues jumped and mountains moved, and it's most likely different for everyone. My line is where it turns into a lack of respect - for others who were there first, for my staff and I or for the time and knowledge it takes to get the job done properly.

Fortunately I have a low tolerance, and these people get shown the door, which has left me with very few such folk to deal with. Giving in to it will just attract more of the same, and life is too short.

Sometimes being a cantankerous bastard is a useful trait.

but glad that you're open to drilling out a bolt for "walk in client" when time allows from time to time!

Forever appreciative

[droo]

5 minutes ago, NotSoBigBen said:

I was very involved with a bike shop for a few years, fortunately ended in 2020

The best advice I remember was from a well known hubber and at the time also a sole proprietor of a bike shop ... he said just remember 'there are customers that you don't want', don't lose sleep over those!

It only takes a little bit of poo to ruin an ice cream.

5 minutes ago, cadenceblur said:

but glad that you're open to drilling out a bolt for "walk in client" when time allows from time to time!

Forever appreciative

I had the time and you asked nicely. I (usually) only bite when provoked.

[MarcoDeS]

2 hours ago, cadenceblur said:

but glad that you're open to drilling out a bolt for "walk in client" when time allows from time to time!

Forever appreciative

Same goes for Eben at Specialized West rand Cycles. I came in late on a Saturday afternoon with a problem caused by the previous mechanics and he took the time to personally get the issue sorted right before close so that I could have a wheel to do W2W. I’m also only appreciative of Juniors work too. Maybe it’s time to switch to a Specialized!

Edited November 20, 2025 by MarcoDeS

[AR SLABBERT]

I spent about four years in sales and tech at Specialized before moving into the bicycle insurance world, and honestly, there are far more good bike shops out there than bad ones. There are plenty of genuinely passionate people wrenching because they love it, not just for the paycheck.

My best advice is to visit your local bike shops, with or without your bike and just chat to the staff. You can usually tell pretty quickly whether they’re in it for the money or whether the money comes naturally because they care about what they do.

There’ll always be a bit of trial and error, but that’s why it’s so important to hold onto a good mechanic once you find one.