Free air from LBS

[James Hodson]

Hi all

Further to the recent thread about a poster being charged a fiver for
a pump-up, I was in my LBS yesterday to order a new stem.

A bloke unknown to the owner popped into the shop and asked if the LBS
man could possibly pump up his rear tyre for him. Althought Michael
(of Michael's Cycles <http://tinyurl.com/2ox3u>) was quite busy
repairing a bike - and chatting to me at the same time - he made time
to inflate the OP's tyre for him.

All three of us got on to the subject of slick or semi-slick tyres for
mountain bikes and I wouldn't be too surprised if the OP re-visited
the LBS to buy a set of tyres more suitable for the road than the
knobblies that were on his bike.

As others said in the other thread, a little bit of kindness for free
may well pay dividends at some later date.

Regards
James

 

[Richard Bates]

On Thu, 10 Jun 2004 15:40:04 +0100, James Hodson
<[email protected]> wrote:

>As others said in the other thread, a little bit of kindness for free
>may well pay dividends at some later date.

A LBS I had never visited before yesterday charged me a fiver to true
and tension a front wheel, and repaired my old chainset for free. Yes,
they only found and fitted a suitable bolt which was probably lying
around dong nothing in the workshop, but it's the thought that counts.

In contrasr, many years ago a shop in Headingley sold me a screw-on
freewheel AND charged me four quid for the 10 second job of removing
the old one.


--
Young Musician of the Year 2004 was a fiddle

 

[James Hodson]

On Thu, 10 Jun 2004 15:48:56 +0100, Richard Bates
<[email protected]> wrote:

>On Thu, 10 Jun 2004 15:40:04 +0100, James Hodson
><[email protected]> wrote:
>
>>As others said in the other thread, a little bit of kindness for free
>>may well pay dividends at some later date.
>
>A LBS I had never visited before yesterday charged me a fiver to true
>and tension a front wheel, and repaired my old chainset for free. Yes,
>they only found and fitted a suitable bolt which was probably lying
>around dong nothing in the workshop, but it's the thought that counts.
>
>In contrast, many years ago a shop in Headingley sold me a screw-on
>freewheel AND charged me four quid for the 10 second job of removing
>the old one.

Hi Richard

I certainly wouldn't mind paying £5.00 for the retrueing and
retensioning of a wheel as it's a job I would find hard if not
impossible to do myself. Also, I'd guess it's something that would
take more than a minute of two, especially if the wheel is more than
slightly off. A pump up, OTOH, takes but a moment and although we can
all do it makes for good PR.

The same LBS charges, ARAIK, five quid for the replacement of an inner
tube/puncture repair; this includes the price of the new tube (about
£2 to £3 quid).

I do know, however, that Michael is less likely to do those freebies
on, say, a Saturday afternoon when the shop is quite busy.

Back to wheels: I was knocked off my road bike soon after I bought it.
The only damage to the bike (I faired worse) was to the front wheel.
LBS man retrued that wheel gratis. FWIW, Orbea wheels, even on my
el-cheapo bike, seem to be quite well made; they're both sturdy and
lightish considering the bike's cost.

James

 

[MartinM]

Richard Bates <[email protected]> wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
> On Thu, 10 Jun 2004 15:40:04 +0100, James Hodson
> <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> >As others said in the other thread, a little bit of kindness for free
> >may well pay dividends at some later date.
>
> A LBS I had never visited before yesterday charged me a fiver to true
> and tension a front wheel, and repaired my old chainset for free. Yes,
> they only found and fitted a suitable bolt which was probably lying
> around dong nothing in the workshop, but it's the thought that counts.
>
> In contrasr, many years ago a shop in Headingley sold me a screw-on
> freewheel AND charged me four quid for the 10 second job of removing
> the old one.

The Italian one I used last year takes some beating; took a gear
hanger off a brand new frame, fitted it to mine, put a new cable on,
adjusted the gears, replaced a spoke and gave me a botlle all for
20eu, and he didn't speak a word of English (or me Italian);-)

 

[AndyMorris]

Richard Bates wrote:
>
> In contrasr, many years ago a shop in Headingley sold me a screw-on
> freewheel AND charged me four quid for the 10 second job of removing
> the old one.

Just out of noseyness, was it the inflexible one or the going downhill
without pedaling one?

--
Andy Morris

AndyAtJinkasDotFreeserve.Co.UK


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