Let's face it: you can go anywhere and purchase a bike and accessories. What makes us stand out from the rest is our ourstanding service.
This month we take a behind the scenes look
at our service department. This will better help you understand exactly what we do and what are some things that you should know when you bring your bike in for repair.
Although we sell a lot of bikes, the bulk of our business is done behind the counter in the service department of our store. About 75% of our service work is repairing bicycles while the other 25% involves carefully building new bikes that are available for sale.
We are a full service shop, meaning that we can repair or maintain just about anything on your bike, regardless of its brand or where you purchased it originally.
"I think I need a tune-up."
One of the most common repairs that we perform is a bike "tune-up". Most bikes could use a tune-up once a year. Mountain bikes and bikes that see heavy use could use a tune-up more often.
At our store, we offer
two varieties of tune ups. The first is a basic or mechanical tune-up which covers all adjustments to your bike - derailleurs, brakes, hubs, etc. - as well as truing the wheels, inflating the tires to the proper pressure, re-tensioning all bolts to their proper torque and re-lubricating the drivetrain and all cables with a Teflon lubricant.
With this tune-up, no cleaning is done to the bike, so it should be reserved for bikes in very clean condition. This service costs $59.99.
The second level of tune-up that we perform is a full service tune-up. This service is more common and costs $89.99. The major benefit to this tune-up is that for an extra $30, your bike is completely cleaned. Many times customers will tell us, "I'll just do the $60 tune-up and clean the bike myself".
Keep in mind that the majority of the cleaning that we do entails the drivetrain. Cleaning a drivetrain is a job that most folks don't have the equipment to properly clean by themselves.
By performing a simple mechanical tune-up on a bike that is filthy, we aren't doing you any favors since leaving excess crud on the drivetrain will prematurely wear out expensive parts and cost you many times the $30 you think you are saving.
"Do I need to make an appointment?"
No appointment nescessary. When you bring your bike in for a tune-up, we ask you to give us about 5-10 minutes to check your bike in and prepare an estimate for you.
Our tune-up prices do not include replacing worn parts. Below are some common items that we routinely replace in addition to a typical tune-up. When you bring your bike in for service, a mechanic will always check the following:
Tires & Tubes - Tires and tubes are rubber, and as such, are suceptible to dry rot. Even if you purchased a bike years ago and never rode it, it is likely that the tires and tubes have hardened and need to be replaced.
Brake Pads - Brake pads, like tires and tubes, are rubber. Many times we see brake pads that are so hardened and brittle from dry rot that they slide across the rim when applied and are no longer effective or safe. For safety, it is recommended that you replace your brake pads every 2-3 years, sooner if you are riding a lot.
Chain & Cassette - Unlike other parts on your bike like the frame and handlebars and wheels, your drivetrain takes a lot of abuse and wears down over time due to metal parts coming in contact with one another. When you bring your bike in for service, a mechanic will check your chain and cassette (the actual gears on the rear wheel of your bike) for wear and recommend replacing them if they are worn.
A worn chain is usually replaced along with the cassette since they wear concurrently. Using a brand new chain with a worn cassette will lead to skipping and poor shifting.
Cables & Housing - Finally, we check all of your cables and housing for rust. Since cables are all made of steel, they are prone to rusting over time. Like brake pads, they are integral to your safety and should be replaced if they show signs of rust.
"How long will it take?"
Even in our peak season we try our best to have our tune-ups completed within a day or two. Minor repairs such as fixing flats or simple adjustments we usually can do while you wait or have your bike back to you after a few hours.
"How much will this cost?"
You will always receive a written estimate and we will always walk you through a repair ticket so that you know exactly what you are paying us to do. We try to be as thorough as possible and will always call you if we run into an unforseen problem that will push the cost above the estimate. Keep in mind that if you originally purchased your bike from a bike shop, it is usually worth fixing since new bikes typically start in the $400 range.
As long as your bike fits you and you are simply tuning it up and replacing parts that are designed to wear out with use, repairing your bike is usually money well spent!
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