LBS - Gear and Chain Cleaning
Discussion
So I broke a couple of spokes on my roadie during my commute home last Thursday and dropped the bike into the LBS on Friday morning for a spoke repair. Whilst it was there I decided to get it serviced and to have them "tetra clean" (whatever that may be) my cogs, chain etc.
The bike is about 3 years old, has been cleaned off and on and used for commuting in all weathers. I knew the cogs etc needed a clean - but having said the bike would be ready for Monday afternoon - it's still not ready and they claim the parts are still soaking due to how dirty they were.
Does that sound even vaguely plausible? I suspect they are just busy and haven't got around to it, but I'd rather they just tell me that.
ETA - I know, I know ... I could do the servicing/cleaning bits myself, I'm just being lazy as I couldn't do the spokes myself.
The bike is about 3 years old, has been cleaned off and on and used for commuting in all weathers. I knew the cogs etc needed a clean - but having said the bike would be ready for Monday afternoon - it's still not ready and they claim the parts are still soaking due to how dirty they were.
Does that sound even vaguely plausible? I suspect they are just busy and haven't got around to it, but I'd rather they just tell me that.
ETA - I know, I know ... I could do the servicing/cleaning bits myself, I'm just being lazy as I couldn't do the spokes myself.
Sounds totally bogus to me!
I tend to leave my chains way longer than I should between cleans, to the point where they almost hold their shape when you take them off the bike, and even then they'll be spotless after an overnight soak and a bit of brushing.
My guess is that they forgot to put them in to soak until you called to chase them.
I tend to leave my chains way longer than I should between cleans, to the point where they almost hold their shape when you take them off the bike, and even then they'll be spotless after an overnight soak and a bit of brushing.
My guess is that they forgot to put them in to soak until you called to chase them.
Rinko said:
Just had a call from the shop ... apparently the Muc Off wet lube I used on my chain has "ruined" it.
£25.00 for a new one ... GREAT!
I find that unlikely, unless you've used wet lube when riding through dust and all the abrasive has stuck to the lube and accelerated the chain wear.£25.00 for a new one ... GREAT!
How long has the chain been on?
While I wouldn't put it all down to the Muc Off lube if you have been using the bike to commute regularly then depending on the distance 3 years is good going and probable needs changing anyway. Wouldn't be surprised if the cassette also needs changing. Recommended that if you change one you change the other.
Christ..!!... some people (your LBS in this case) don't half make a song and dance over cleaning the oily bits. I can do it with a few squirts of carburettor cleaner (Winn's, from Halfords) and a rag. It comes up like new, and I'm confident that all the inner workings of the chain have been blasted clean too.
Wipe off, leave to air for half an hour, and re-lube. End-to-end cleaning time is ~35 mins (including the 30 mins drying time).
Wipe off, leave to air for half an hour, and re-lube. End-to-end cleaning time is ~35 mins (including the 30 mins drying time).
Chain has been on since new, but I haven't covered that many miles IMHO (commute is 6 miles a day, plus some very occasional weekend rides out for a couple of hours). I've tried not to cross-chain etc to accelerate wear and other than the cassette etc looking grubby - I didn't think it was that bad.
I've spoken to the shop again and they basically said that the lube has just turned to glue and gummed everything up - so he has gone and replaced the chain (without me confirming beforehand).
Not entirely happy with a £65 bill ... and apparently that is a discounted price.
Rinko said:
Chain has been on since new, but I haven't covered that many miles IMHO (commute is 6 miles a day, plus some very occasional weekend rides out for a couple of hours). I've tried not to cross-chain etc to accelerate wear and other than the cassette etc looking grubby - I didn't think it was that bad.
I've spoken to the shop again and they basically said that the lube has just turned to glue and gummed everything up - so he has gone and replaced the chain (without me confirming beforehand).
Not entirely happy with a £65 bill ... and apparently that is a discounted price.
Out of interest, how much of the bill was to repair / replace the spokes?I've spoken to the shop again and they basically said that the lube has just turned to glue and gummed everything up - so he has gone and replaced the chain (without me confirming beforehand).
Not entirely happy with a £65 bill ... and apparently that is a discounted price.
Have to say that £65 for 3 new spokes and a new chain fitted is quite expensive. Nay, Outrageous.
Sebo said:
Out of interest, how much of the bill was to repair / replace the spokes?
Have to say that £65 for 3 new spokes and a new chain fitted is quite expensive. Nay, Outrageous.
If it includes the wheel repair as well, I'd say it was fairly reasonable.Have to say that £65 for 3 new spokes and a new chain fitted is quite expensive. Nay, Outrageous.
Adding a bit on to Wiggle-type prices for an LBS, and the chain is going to be around £25 and the spokes probably a quid apiece.
That leaves £37 for taking off the old chain & cassette for cleaning, presumably also cleaning the front rings, replacing the cassette (although if they've put the old cassette back on, that's the main part I'd be questioning) and fitting the new chain, then taking off a tyre, fitting the new spokes, trueing the wheel back up - even if they only approximate it, it's going to take a little bit of time - then refitting the tyre. They may well also have replaced the tape, which would be another couple of quid.
£65 doesn't seem totally out of order for that lot. More so if it's £65 just for the chain and fitting thereof.
Kermit power said:
Sebo said:
Out of interest, how much of the bill was to repair / replace the spokes?
Have to say that £65 for 3 new spokes and a new chain fitted is quite expensive. Nay, Outrageous.
If it includes the wheel repair as well, I'd say it was fairly reasonable.Have to say that £65 for 3 new spokes and a new chain fitted is quite expensive. Nay, Outrageous.
Adding a bit on to Wiggle-type prices for an LBS, and the chain is going to be around £25 and the spokes probably a quid apiece.
That leaves £37 for taking off the old chain & cassette for cleaning, presumably also cleaning the front rings, replacing the cassette (although if they've put the old cassette back on, that's the main part I'd be questioning) and fitting the new chain, then taking off a tyre, fitting the new spokes, trueing the wheel back up - even if they only approximate it, it's going to take a little bit of time - then refitting the tyre. They may well also have replaced the tape, which would be another couple of quid.
£65 doesn't seem totally out of order for that lot. More so if it's £65 just for the chain and fitting thereof.
Thanks for the responses. Unfortunately I don't have a breakdown of the costs to see what each aspect of the work cost. However, having thought about it a little more, I don't think the price is too bad - it just sounded expensive at the time.
They replaced the spokes and true'd the wheel, replaced the chain (with a KMC X10), cleaned up the crap on the jockeys/cassette etc and serviced the bike (including replacing the brake cables etc). They also gave me £10's worth (retail price) of chain lube and teflon spray.
They replaced the spokes and true'd the wheel, replaced the chain (with a KMC X10), cleaned up the crap on the jockeys/cassette etc and serviced the bike (including replacing the brake cables etc). They also gave me £10's worth (retail price) of chain lube and teflon spray.
swerni said:
so in three years, you never considered cleaning and re lubing the chain?
Sorry, should have been more clear. I have cleaned and re-lubed my chain during the three years, however I hadn't done it recently and had been communing on the bike. The lube had apparently become glue like and therefore various "crap" had mixed with it and clogged the various parts of chain, jockey wheels, cassette etc and was apparently a PITA to get off.Edited by Rinko on Friday 20th January 13:58
Apologies for the semi-thread stealing, but is 20 quid to replace two tyres (tubes and tyres supplied by me) reasonable these days? It didn't seem so to me so I did it myself, but just interested in what is "normal" for an LBS to charge.
Edited by AndyGarton on Friday 20th January 14:46
My opinion on "reasonable" depends on how much I want to pay. I seem not to be able to re-index my gears when I fall off (now three times) and land on the derailleur. It only takes my LBS a matter of 5 mins to correct this and get them clicking through very satisfatorily however I happily pay a tenner because I know from prev experience that it would take me 2 hours and there's still guarantee I'd get it right.
Watchman said:
My opinion on "reasonable" depends on how much I want to pay. I seem not to be able to re-index my gears when I fall off (now three times) and land on the derailleur. It only takes my LBS a matter of 5 mins to correct this and get them clicking through very satisfatorily however I happily pay a tenner because I know from prev experience that it would take me 2 hours and there's still guarantee I'd get it right.
I'd agree with that!I'm quite happy changing bottom brackets, cassettes, headsets and the like, but the thought of having to figure out re-indexing has somewhat put me off replacing the currently snapped mech hanger on my MTB since Christmas!
AndyGarton said:
Apologies for the semi-thread stealing, but is 20 quid to replace two tyres (tubes and tyres supplied by me) reasonable these days? It didn't seem so to me so I did it myself, but just interested in what is "normal" for an LBS to charge.
Borderline theft. It's a cake job at best, assuming you *need* someone to do it for you...Edited by AndyGarton on Friday 20th January 14:46
AndyGarton said:
Apologies for the semi-thread stealing, but is 20 quid to replace two tyres (tubes and tyres supplied by me) reasonable these days? It didn't seem so to me so I did it myself, but just interested in what is "normal" for an LBS to charge.
Given that you've removed any profit margin they make on the tubes and tyres by rocking up expecting them to fit ones you've bought with you just to save a quid or two, I'd say that's extremely reasonable!Gassing Station | Pedal Powered | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff