Bike servicing

[Bennie Dikwiel]

Self service is the way to go. Then you can help yourself when you are in the bundus with your bike and something small goes wrong.

 

I agree with you, and as Scotty said all the info you need is on the net. I have only been cycling (MTB) for 1 year now and have never taken my bike to a bike shop for a service in the last 9000kms. Call me a monkey but I don't get paid anywhere near the rates they charge per hour so I will rather eat my peanuts and do it myself and learn as I go along! Changing cables, brake pads, chains, chain rings, sprockets and bearings is not brain surgery, so why must I pay surgeon’s fees? I have recently opened accounts with Probike and Omnico and you will flip over backwards when you see at what profit margins spares are retailed in your LBS!

[LazyTrailRider]

I find it quite interesting to ask people to compare what they earn by the hour to what they pay for things by the hour. Most people are pretty quick to complain, even when what they're paying for requires skills at a level pretty similar to theirs...

 

For example, I have no qualms paying a mechanic R85 (which is what I paid a couple of weeks ago) to service the freehub body on my rear wheel. It takes me about 30minutes to do it, and is a bit of a hassle, with dirty hands afterwards. On the weekend, I can easily find some outstanding work to do which I can send the bill on Monday to bring me in R250-R300 for that same 30minutes. During the week, if I'm for example presenting a workshop session, that same 30minutes grosses me R350. The maths is easy.

Edited November 9, 2010 by Martin Hattingh

[chris_w_65]

What tools do I need to service our bikes?

 

http://www.silverbacklab.com/2011/saturn.jpg

http://www.silverbacklab.com/2011/spectra.jpg

 

I have all the tools a motor mechanic would use already so I only need bike specific tools.

 

Workshop stand

Chain whip

Casette socket

Internal BB socket

External BB socket

Chain wear tool

Chain breaker

 

Anything else?

 

I guess I need to buy the workshop stand first.

Edited November 9, 2010 by chris_w_65

[Caerus]

How many bike mechanics actually have the necesarry qualifications to charge R90/hr - That seems quite a bit? Most mechanics are trained in house are they not?

[Johan Bornman]

How many bike mechanics actually have the necesarry qualifications to charge R90/hr - That seems quite a bit? Most mechanics are trained in house are they not?

 

You raise a couple of issues that that raises quite a few hackles.

 

You imply that very few bike mechanics are competent.

You state that R90/h is a high wage.

You imply that in-house training is inferior.

 

What exactliy is your point?

Where do you expect these mechanics to get training?

What do you think is a good wage for a quality mechanic?

[Caerus]

You raise a couple of issues that that raises quite a few hackles.

 

You imply that very few bike mechanics are competent.

You state that R90/h is a high wage.

You imply that in-house training is inferior.

 

What exactliy is your point? - My point is I think the cost of servicing bicycles is quite high in comparisson to a car/motorbike perhaps

Where do you expect these mechanics to get training?

What do you think is a good wage for a quality mechanic?

 

Some bike mechanics are not component enough, Its taken me three different bike shops to be happy with the work, in comparison to the level of service I recieved while in the UK. Shouldnt CSA possibly be training bike mechanics? Surely the level of training should be along the lines of a car/motorbike mechanic? Whats the average car/motorbike mechanics wage, not that much im pretty sure. Thats after three years of apprentiship. Well their should be standards in the level of mechanics, as with any industry why should the bicycle industry be any differant. I would say it should be on a sliding scale of pay.

 

Based also on what someone said their wife who is a nurse with degrees then yes I think its a high wage in comparison to the level of training given . So what should a bicycle mechanic be earing? I stand to be corrected on any points

Edited November 9, 2010 by Caerus

[Cassie]

What gets me is that I take my bike to the LBS to leave it in the capable hands of the PRO mechanic...just to learn afterwards that he palmed it off on to the rookie to do the job....I do realise they also need training BUT at my bike's expense ...and at R300/hr??

 

If the appy is going to service my bike...then I want an "appy discount" (until he is as good as the PRO mechanic...and will not complain if the gears is not running true...

[Caerus]

What gets me is that I take my bike to the LBS to leave it in the capable hands of the PRO mechanic...just to learn afterwards that he palmed it off on to the rookie to do the job....I do realise they also need training BUT at my bike's expense ...and at R300/hr??

 

If the appy is going to service my bike...then I want an "appy discount" (until he is as good as the PRO mechanic...and will not complain if the gears is not running true...

 

 

Is that for real, this is what im saying as well. That why I now dont take it too a LBS store to get fixed anymore

[chris_w_65]

Who do you think services your car when you take it in and pay R500.00/hour

[scotty]

You never going to find a bike shop with 100% customer satisfaction, mistakes happen and its what and how the bike shop does to rectify it that dictates whether i'll use them again.

[Caerus]

Who do you think services your car when you take it in and pay R500.00/hour

 

 

So a bicycle mechanic is earning more or would you say less then R25 000 a month?

[chris_w_65]

So a bicycle mechanic is earning more or would you say less then R25 000 a month?

 

 

All mechanics are underpaid, it is the dealership that makes the money

[Minion]

What gets me is that I take my bike to the LBS to leave it in the capable hands of the PRO mechanic...just to learn afterwards that he palmed it off on to the rookie to do the job....I do realise they also need training BUT at my bike's expense ...and at R300/hr??

I pretty much guarantee that the pro mechanic's actual wage is nowhere near R300/hr. That R300 has to cover a portion of the rent for the workshop space, pay off the workshop tools and provide some profit for the owner in addition to paying the mechanic.

[Minion]

Who do you think services your car when you take it in and pay R500.00/hour

Eish, that's the same hourly rate I was being charged out at as a qualified engineer with 2 years of experience. It's also a whole lot more than what I was actually getting paid . It's always fun working your ass off to make some else rich .

[An3]

I normally do minor adjustments / services myself but I recently got my roadbike serviced (major) @ CycleLab. My bike was ready on time and I can see / feel that everything was done as promised. The new handlebar tape looks like a factory job.

 

Your experience may differ but I will take my bike back next year.

[29thumbs]

The easiest way to look and learn is to look on Youtube, videos of how to adjust derailleurs