So sorry that someone messed up your bike. Last time I responded
pessimistically to a question like this, about a half-dozen wrote in to
disagree strongly with me, and to be more encouraging. I hope that happens
for you, as I am about to give you a less than happy answer about cutting
your costs. Your story sounds so much like mine.
Honestly, $150 does not sound at all steep to have the LBS replace
rim/tires/tubes/chain cluster. That includes labor too? If you are paying
$150 for all that, you might end up with an incomplete job with inferior
components to your original specs. Going cheap was a disaster for me.
If your LBS guy is hearing that all you are concerned about is price, then
he'll give you cheapo components. In my case, the guy put on an extremely
low grade, single-walled rear hub as a replacement for the double-walled
original - charged me about $90 for that including a tube and his labor (no
tire, cassette in this purchase). The next day, I was 50 miles away from
home when a rear spoke broke (not good.). A second spoke broke as I was
removing the tire after I got home (not good either, but kinda amazing that
it waited until I got home).
Fear and trepidation on bike: that's no way to live.
This is what I chose to spent money on to get my bike back to good health.
I did most of the work myself - about $250 -275 total. I bided my time to
choose these components, since I own other bikes.
1. Chain whip - gotta have it to install the cassette
2. New Rear Hub ONLY - Double walled (on closeout special from Performance
Bike) . I did NOT replace the front. MY 7200FX OEM rims were
double-walled. Take a look - if your fronts are double-walled. I don't see
a reason for you to get a new front and rear set if your front is OK.
3. Appropriate lockring tool to install cassette - I needed guidance to buy
the correct tool (Performance Bike provided on-line)
4. Book - Complete Bike Maintenance by Milson - see pp.82-83 Nice photos in
color for using chain whip, etc
5. New gear cluster - old gears were ruined due to improper maintenance
6. New chain - old one was ruined due to improper maintenance
7. New crankset - . . .ruined. Tip: Maintenance is to worshipped - ignore
this god at your own peril.
8. New HD tube - Michelin air-stops
9. Bullet-proof Conti Top Tour Tires (two) - on closeout
10. Continental rim tape to replace OEM rubber rim strips.
11. Collection of lubes and cleaners - on sale
In the process, I read a lot, studied, learned. I am still a bit of a
mechanical klutz but feel smarter now (delusional maybe). Today, my FX
doesn't look much different from before, but it's a real joy to ride.
