Name BAD Cycle shops

[bak2basiks]

 

I'll pay for what I want' date=' but I want to pay a fair price. R350 for a full service, then I think it should be damn spectacular, because I think 350 bucks is a lot of money.

 

I've gotten my bike back from a few shops after a MAJOR service, only to redo the job myself.....

[/quote']

 

Not meaning to be nasty, but how can you expect the shop to strip down the bike completely, clean everything, re-grease and/or replace all the bearings for R350? How long does it take to strip a bike, clean everything, re-lube and put it all back together? Not an hour, that's for sure! I'm happy paying R700+ labour for a service, if it's done to my desired standard, which means the bike will be as good as new when I get it back. I've had a service cost me over R2k, but that included a new Suntour fork and a chain, so the labour was less than R600.

 

What's the old saying about peanuts and monkeys again?

 

 

For me? 10 min to strip my whole bike...

 

This can take a while, but it should not take longer than 30min....

 

I'll consider cleaning and re-lubing as one.....so its part of the 30min...this excludes the chain of course....

 

Aahh....here is where the BIG fark up comes and its where one see how quickly and carefully they worked on your bike.....but I would say another 10 to 15 minutes ...

 

So, there.....some shops will have your gears screwed...others will have them sooo spot on after the service....anyway....all I'm saying is that I do not see the need to have my bike serviced for R350, but serviced well/properly for R700....

Shops ask R200/service just to lube and wash the bike, its madness...that's rediculous....then why not have a "drive-thru" bike service centre, cause that take less then 10min to do, not a whole day....now there is a good idea for someone here to capitalize on.....

 

Its a pity I can't pay myself for the work I do on my bike....

 

since you view bicycle servicing as a race, i certainly wouldn't want you working on mine. i believe i spend more time in a bike shop than most, and your comment about "Shops ask R200/service just to lube and wash the bike" is soooooo wide of the mark.

hhmmm....i don't think so...

 

....have a look on the shops wall.....for rates and fees....Minor service....R200....major service: R350....i think that these prices are the average....

 

[Hog_]

I think we should rather just agree to disagree.

 

I know my bike shop charges a fair amount for a full service. I also know that I can trust their workmanship and that they do things right. I've never had to take anything back to the shop, and I could have saved myself quite a bit of money if I listened to their advice before.

 

I'm happy to pay them, and it seems lots of people are happy to pay them, since their workshop is often fully booked 3 weeks in advance. Maybe it also helps that they limit the number of bikes they take in every day, which means they can take the time to do a good job and think about the job at hand as they go along.

 

 

[Tumbleweed]

I'll pay for what I want' date=' but I want to pay a fair price. R350 for a full service, then I think it should be damn spectacular, because I think 350 bucks is a lot of money.

I've gotten my bike back from a few shops after a MAJOR service, only to redo the job myself.....
[/quote']

Not meaning to be nasty, but how can you expect the shop to strip down the bike completely, clean everything, re-grease and/or replace all the bearings for R350? How long does it take to strip a bike, clean everything, re-lube and put it all back together? Not an hour, that's for sure! I'm happy paying R700+ labour for a service, if it's done to my desired standard, which means the bike will be as good as new when I get it back. I've had a service cost me over R2k, but that included a new Suntour fork and a chain, so the labour was less than R600.

What's the old saying about peanuts and monkeys again?

For me? 10 min to strip my whole bike...

This can take a while, but it should not take longer than 30min....

I'll consider cleaning and re-lubing as one.....so its part of the 30min...this excludes the chain of course....

Aahh....here is where the BIG fark up comes and its where one see how quickly and carefully they worked on your bike.....but I would say another 10 to 15 minutes ...

So, there.....some shops will have your gears screwed...others will have them sooo spot on after the service....anyway....all I'm saying is that I do not see the need to have my bike serviced for R350, but serviced well/properly for R700....
Shops ask R200/service just to lube and wash the bike, its madness...that's rediculous....then why not have a "drive-thru" bike service centre, cause that take less then 10min to do, not a whole day....now there is a good idea for someone here to capitalize on.....

Its a pity I can't pay myself for the work I do on my bike....

 

since you view bicycle servicing as a race, i certainly wouldn't want you working on mine. i believe i spend more time in a bike shop than most, and your comment about "Shops ask R200/service just to lube and wash the bike" is soooooo wide of the mark.

hhmmm....i don't think so...

....have a look on the shops wall.....for rates and fees....Minor service....R200....major service: R350....i think that these prices are the average....

 

maybe you read as fast as you work on a bike?my issue is with these words "just to lube and wash the bike"? 

[Tumbleweed]

I take a week to give mine a minor service. I do one thing an evening and by the time it's time to ride the weekend' date=' it's done.[/quote']

 

is one night dedicated to just lining up logos and valves and things?

[Guest Big H]

I think we should rather just agree to disagree.

I know my bike shop charges a fair amount for a full service. I also know that I can trust their workmanship and that they do things right. I've never had to take anything back to the shop' date=' and I could have saved myself quite a bit of money if I listened to their advice before.

I'm happy to pay them, and it seems lots of people are happy to pay them, since their workshop is often fully booked 3 weeks in advance. Maybe it also helps that they limit the number of bikes they take in every day, which means they can take the time to do a good job and think about the job at hand as they go along.

[/quote']

 

What does your so called "full serrvice" consist of and what would a "minor service" entail. I am curious to see what they do??????

[Guest Big H]

Also is it fro MTB or raodbike and at what intervals do you do the Full service.

[bak2basiks]

 

 

I'll pay for what I want' date=' but I want to pay a fair price. R350 for a full service, then I think it should be damn spectacular, because I think 350 bucks is a lot of money.

 

I've gotten my bike back from a few shops after a MAJOR service, only to redo the job myself.....

[/quote']

 

Not meaning to be nasty, but how can you expect the shop to strip down the bike completely, clean everything, re-grease and/or replace all the bearings for R350? How long does it take to strip a bike, clean everything, re-lube and put it all back together? Not an hour, that's for sure! I'm happy paying R700+ labour for a service, if it's done to my desired standard, which means the bike will be as good as new when I get it back. I've had a service cost me over R2k, but that included a new Suntour fork and a chain, so the labour was less than R600.

 

What's the old saying about peanuts and monkeys again?

 

 

For me? 10 min to strip my whole bike...

 

This can take a while, but it should not take longer than 30min....

 

I'll consider cleaning and re-lubing as one.....so its part of the 30min...this excludes the chain of course....

 

Aahh....here is where the BIG fark up comes and its where one see how quickly and carefully they worked on your bike.....but I would say another 10 to 15 minutes ...

 

So, there.....some shops will have your gears screwed...others will have them sooo spot on after the service....anyway....all I'm saying is that I do not see the need to have my bike serviced for R350, but serviced well/properly for R700....

Shops ask R200/service just to lube and wash the bike, its madness...that's rediculous....then why not have a "drive-thru" bike service centre, cause that take less then 10min to do, not a whole day....now there is a good idea for someone here to capitalize on.....

 

Its a pity I can't pay myself for the work I do on my bike....

 

since you view bicycle servicing as a race, i certainly wouldn't want you working on mine. i believe i spend more time in a bike shop than most, and your comment about "Shops ask R200/service just to lube and wash the bike" is soooooo wide of the mark.

hhmmm....i don't think so...

 

....have a look on the shops wall.....for rates and fees....Minor service....R200....major service: R350....i think that these prices are the average....

 

maybe you read as fast as you work on a bike?my issue is with these words "just to lube and wash the bike"? 

let me clear up your confusion....I know exactly what you meant......

 

so now....put us all on the same page....in YOUR book.....what is a "minor" service to you....I can guarantee you that most people taking their bikes in for minor services will BASICALLY have their chains lubed and bike washed...

 

They WILL NOT strip your bike for a minor service....

 

...all that "check all cables, brake pads and wheels" is a 1 minute affair....as is realigning you brake calipers.....

 

so...you see....now the line between minor and major is starting to become fuzzy......

bak2basiks2009-05-27 01:23:38

[AndreZA]

 

 

 

what is a "minor" service to you....I can guarantee you that most people taking their bikes in for minor services will BASICALLY have their chains lubed and bike washed...They WILL NOT strip your bike for a minor service.......all that "check all cables' date=' brake pads and wheels" is a 1 minute affair....as is realigning you brake calipers.....so...you see....now the line between minor and major is starting to become fuzzy......[/quote']

 

 

 

to me a minor is regreasing headset, clean out BB, checking all bolts, brakes and wheels, replace cables. Major is minor plus stripping bike completely and ging the insides a whash, service the hubs (if not sealed), service fork on MTB.

[bak2basiks]

Let me just make one thing clear....

 

I take no issue with LBS charging service fees....to me...they are expensive and therefore I do most of my bike servicing....other's feel different....

 

Have your bike serviced at the shop, pay them their fees...I have NO issue with that...

 

Having my shock serviced for R250....every 6 months is damn good value....and the guy doing it is an absolute expert...!!

 

[Guest Big H]

what is a "minor" service to you....I can guarantee you that most people taking their bikes in for minor services will BASICALLY have their chains lubed and bike washed...They WILL NOT strip your bike for a minor service.......all that "check all cables' date=' brake pads and wheels" is a 1 minute affair....as is realigning you brake calipers.....so...you see....now the line between minor and major is starting to become fuzzy......[/quote']

to me a minor is regreasing headset, clean out BB, checking all bolts, brakes and wheels, replace cables. Major is minor plus stripping bike completely and ging the insides a whash, service the hubs (if not sealed), service fork on MTB.

 

What would a typical "Major" cost and what would a typical "Minor" cost?...... this would exclude spares.

[Hog_]

I actually don't know what a minor service entails, since I've never had one done.

 

Full service on a hardtail is normally:

Complete strip-down. As in EVERYTHING is off the frame and separated.

All the bits get washed properly and degreased.

All the bearings (as in every single one) are inspected then re-greased or replaced.

Drivetrain cleaned and  inspected for wear. I normally have the chain replaced when it fits into the smaller slot on my Parktool chain wear indicator, think is 0.5%.

Fork gets drained of oil, cleaned inside and out, seals replaced if necessary, reassembled and filled with oil.

Gear cables replaced, stretched, and gears set.

Brakes are bled, pads replaced if needed, rotors checked and replaced if needed.

Wheels are trued, bearings replaced/greased, cleaned and get new tubeless liquid.

 

 

I'm sure my LBS can add more to this list. Point is, getting the bike back from a full service it is as good as new. Actually, when I got the 'Goose back after her first full service she was better than new. The brakes were better, the gear as well, and everything was so smooooth! I love getting my bike back after a full service, even if my wallet is quite a bit lighter - guess I'm a weight weenie after all!

 

Just a note - these days I do most of my mainenance myself. The 'Goose hasn't been to the LBS for over a year. Think I may just take her in as a treat sometime soon.

 

 

 

[supavan]

Ita all about economics and related fees' date=' a GP cant charge the same rates as a Neurosurgeon, an "unskilled" (said in the kindest sense) bike mechanic cannot charge what a skilled BMW motor mechanic can, I am not pointing fingers, but R350.00 an hour for a bike service seems already a bit pricy dont you think.!?[/quote']

 

Funny you should say that since some bicycles cost more than a small car or motorcycle. How do you explain that?

 

I am afraid cycling has fallen victim to the worst form of capitalism. While it has never been the cheapest sport recent price hikes for even the most basic items: over R50 for an inner tube now and normal brake pads at R200. The pads on my car are cheaper.

 

But then I guess this might be part of the reason for the current economic state of affairs.

 

With regards to how long it takes to strip and lube a bicycle, I agree that if you have done it before, and you'd hope your mechanic has done it before, then the complete job should be done in 2 hours.

 

So lets say Mr Mech charges R200ph works an 8 hour day which realisticly should probably be 6 hours of actual graft then per day could make R1200. Per 5 day work week this is R6000 and per month R24000. Not bad for hand labour hey? Sign me up! That's a whole lot less headache than IT

 

The entire thing is just skewed I think. Bicycle shops were not making busget so they upped the prices when the reason they weren't making busget was probably that the customer just didn't have that much disposeable income.

 

I realise that this is not directly their problem. The manufactureres and middlemen are the culprits here. I guess if you really want to you could go as far as blaming labour costs etc.

 

Maybe we have all just become too money hungry for our own good. But can you blame a society that is continuoulsy bombarded with the message that you have to own this or that to be cool/fit in?

 

I'm not saying that all advertisemnent shold be banned and that we should become a socialistic state. The answer lies in educating the consumer about wants and needs an the importance of planning ahead.

 

As a parting shot I put it to you: what has ever happened to boycotting?

[Danger Dassie]

...........Just a question.

 

Is a bike mechanic a recognised trade?

 

I have sort of looked and cant see anything that says it is.

 

So' date=' basically (if its not recognised) this is considered an UNSKILLED profession, which means rates are way lower than say car mechanics who do undergo a recognised trade exam.

 

Not many recognised and trade certified car mechanics earning R350.00 an hour HOG.

 

Ita all about economics and related fees, a GP cant charge the same rates as a Neurosurgeon, an "unskilled" (said in the kindest sense) bike mechanic cannot charge what a skilled BMW motor mechanic can, I am not pointing fingers, but R350.00 an hour for a bike service seems already a bit pricy dont you think.!?

 

[/quote']

 

Could well be wrong, but as far as I know it is in the UK. There's a registered and accredited mechanics course, covering everything from full servicing, suspension etc.... About a year.

Richard Cunningham from Cycles Africa did it a few years back.

[Guest Big H]

I actually don't know what a minor service entails' date=' since I've never had one done.

Full service on a hardtail is normally:
Complete strip-down. As in EVERYTHING is off the frame and separated.
All the bits get washed properly and degreased.
All the bearings (as in every single one) are inspected then re-greased or replaced.
Drivetrain cleaned and  inspected for wear. I normally have the chain replaced when it fits into the smaller slot on my Parktool chain wear indicator, think is 0.5%.
Fork gets drained of oil, cleaned inside and out, seals replaced if necessary, reassembled and filled with oil.
Gear cables replaced, stretched, and gears set.
Brakes are bled, pads replaced if needed, rotors checked and replaced if needed.
Wheels are trued, bearings replaced/greased, cleaned and get new tubeless liquid.


I'm sure my LBS can add more to this list. Point is, getting the bike back from a full service it is as good as new. Actually, when I got the 'Goose back after her first full service she was better than new. The brakes were better, the gear as well, and everything was so smooooth! I love getting my bike back after a full service, even if my wallet is quite a bit lighter - guess I'm a weight weenie after all!

Just a note - these days I do most of my mainenance myself. The 'Goose hasn't been to the LBS for over a year. Think I may just take her in as a treat sometime soon.


[/quote']

 

Your last paragraph is exactly where I am going to with all my questions. Any cyclist MUST inspect their bike everytime befor they ride. Tyres for cuts and wear, brakes for wear, cables for fraying, spin wheels so they do not catch and listen for roughness. I wash the Tandem(s) at least every two weeks. I then do a "watered down" minor service. I clean and lube cables, brakes, and drivetrain get washed cleaned and lubed. If I find anything that bind or sounds not OK like BB or headset it gets replaced. All my wheels and headsets are sealed units as less service is involved and I have spares on hand to immediately replace. The old bearinsg are cleaned and salvaged, if possible. I maintain the One on the bike and two in the cupboard principle. When one is used it is immediately replaced. These type of preventative and continious maintenace takes very little technical aptitude and is easliy maintained with very little effort....... kind of "baby steps"

[Wyatt Earp]

Back 2 basics.

 

At the speed you work at, please remind me to never get my bike to you for a service.

 

Mampara

 

I feel that a shock service is a separate entity.

 

Porky

 

Some are trained and skilled therefore certified and then some are not, I agree with the point you raise.

 

R 350 an hour is an absurd amount of money to ask.

[Guest Big H]

...........Just a question.

 

Is a bike mechanic a recognised trade?

 

I have sort of looked and cant see anything that says it is.

 

So' date=' basically (if its not recognised) this is considered an UNSKILLED profession, which means rates are way lower than say car mechanics who do undergo a recognised trade exam.

 

Not many recognised and trade certified car mechanics earning R350.00 an hour HOG.

 

Ita all about economics and related fees, a GP cant charge the same rates as a Neurosurgeon, an "unskilled" (said in the kindest sense) bike mechanic cannot charge what a skilled BMW motor mechanic can, I am not pointing fingers, but R350.00 an hour for a bike service seems already a bit pricy dont you think.!?

 

[/quote']

 

Could well be wrong, but as far as I know it is in the UK. There's a registered and accredited mechanics course, covering everything from full servicing, suspension etc.... About a year.

Richard Cunningham from Cycles Africa did it a few years back.

 

Bicycle repair and maintenance is NOT A DARK ART. If you can fit an electrical wall plug you can repair ANYTHING on your own bicycle. You must just be willing to do it. There are many manual available to do most of the work. I even did a major service on my Marzocchi Bomber Shock on the MTB Tandem (seals, bushings, spring upgrade etc) Why do you need to be accredited to whrench on your own bike. Overtly expensive hype I think.