Joined: 26 Sep 2013Posts: 591Location: somewhere up north
I usually go to Velo on 6th for my bike maintenance that I can't do myself. Bought my bike there and have trusted them over the years. I try to support my LBS because "buy local" and "support small businesses" I think are great ideas. I've had plenty spokes break on me and had them replace them usually for around $10, today's quote went as follows:
Before you huck a brick at me, the guy may have been quoting me the worst possible scenario cost. But, damn that seems excessive, and I know that shops have to charge to keep the doors open.
Should I find a new shop? That exchange left me a little out of sorts with them.
jeff
Posted: Tue Apr 12, 2016 2:15 pm
SOC pussyJoined: 05 May 2006Posts: 4501
whitenhiemer wrote:
I usually go to Velo on 6th for my bike maintenance that I can't do myself. Bought my bike there and have trusted them over the years. I try to support my LBS because "buy local" and "support small businesses" I think are great ideas. I've had plenty spokes break on me and had them replace them usually for around $10, today's quote went as follows:
Before you huck a brick at me, the guy may have been quoting me the worst possible scenario cost. But, damn that seems excessive, and I know that shops have to charge to keep the doors open.
Should I find a new shop? That exchange left me a little out of sorts with them.
Why? Because once you break one spoke, more will follow.
That doesn't seem excessive at all. Shops need to pay the bills. Don't like their rates? Invest in the tools and time to do it yourself and you'll save a lot of money over time.
Last edited by jeff on Tue Apr 12, 2016 2:24 pm; edited 1 time in total
rory
Posted: Tue Apr 12, 2016 2:24 pm
Joined: 13 Sep 2010Posts: 158
that spoke cost seems high, unless you have some weirdo spoke, like a ksyrium or something like that. a straight gauge spoke should cost no more then $1.
as far as time to replace the spoke, I could see installing a spoke on the driveside of a rear wheel necessitating a special charge for removal of cassette(special tool) and generally more time then a non-drive side or front wheel installation. we'll say this would take about 15 minutes.
as far as getting the tension right, you're suppose to detension the surrounding spokes prior to installation, if i'm remembering my sunderlands correctly. then, install the spoke, and bring the spokes back to tension, then true. this would take roughly a half-hour.
the hourly rate of a shop varies, so you're going to have to figure that one out. on your own.
joeball
Posted: Tue Apr 12, 2016 2:26 pm
Joined: 24 Jul 2005Posts: 6037Location: Ether
Yeah, it's an itemized breakdown, and while the sum is fairly high it's not unreasonable.
If you are popping that many spokes it could be a sign that you need a stronger set of wheels.
Rogelio
Posted: Tue Apr 12, 2016 2:41 pm
Joined: 31 Jul 2007Posts: 3092Location: Pos, aya, por la Corona-Alta-Madera y que no.
There's also "Velo" being known as "Fail-Oh" because they've been generally bad at working on people's bikes. I'd make my way to 2020, past the much closer Velo, back when both Velo and I resided next to Cal Anderson park.
I'd keep an eye out for a used or cheap truing stand. Mine's paid for itself over the years I've had it and I paid full retail.
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whitenhiemer
Posted: Tue Apr 12, 2016 2:43 pm
Joined: 26 Sep 2013Posts: 591Location: somewhere up north
rory wrote:
that spoke cost seems high, unless you have some weirdo spoke, like a ksyrium or something like that. a straight gauge spoke should cost no more then $1.
as far as time to replace the spoke, I could see installing a spoke on the driveside of a rear wheel necessitating a special charge for removal of cassette(special tool) and generally more time then a non-drive side or front wheel installation. we'll say this would take about 15 minutes.
as far as getting the tension right, you're suppose to detension the surrounding spokes prior to installation, if i'm remembering my sunderlands correctly. then, install the spoke, and bring the spokes back to tension, then true. this would take roughly a half-hour.
the hourly rate of a shop varies, so you're going to have to figure that one out. on your own.
plain old straight spoke on front wheel. Wheel was delivered not on bike with no tire on it making it easy to work on.
whitenhiemer
Posted: Tue Apr 12, 2016 2:46 pm
Joined: 26 Sep 2013Posts: 591Location: somewhere up north
I'll have to keep an eye out for the truing stand.
That is half of the problem though. What about the spoke itself, I know that you can buy blanks online, but how do you know how long to cut them, and once they are cut, how do you thread them?
Moira
Posted: Tue Apr 12, 2016 2:46 pm
MoistraJoined: 28 Nov 2014Posts: 712
Back Alley is consistently good
Peloton did an excellent job trimming/bleeding my hydro lines, fixing my road bike derailleur and indexing, and you can chill and drink coffee/beer while you wait - super nice guys.
langston
Posted: Tue Apr 12, 2016 2:55 pm
Joined: 25 Jul 2005Posts: 5547Location: Columbia City
Velo = Hell No. I've had half-assed mechanic work done, been advised to replace things that were unrelated to the issue I presented and I've always felt their rates were too high.
They do have a pretty shop though, and the barber they share a wall with is decent.
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walker
Posted: Tue Apr 12, 2016 3:19 pm
Joined: 05 Aug 2015Posts: 1855Location: beastcake
whitenhiemer wrote:
plain old straight spoke on front wheel. Wheel was delivered not on bike with no tire on it making it easy to work on.
"straight spoke" as in radial? like this?
If so, there's your problem. thems breaky.
edit: oh, straight as in straight gauge. disregard.
whitenhiemer wrote:
That is half of the problem though. What about the spoke itself, I know that you can buy blanks online, but how do you know how long to cut them, and once they are cut, how do you thread them?
I've never actually had work done at Recycled (in the U) but I'm in there constantly getting parts and they're super nice and helpful, giving away basic shit like spacers, and the mechs have never said anything that made me think they're anything less than very competent. I've heard from other people that their work is good and fair priced.
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jeff
Posted: Tue Apr 12, 2016 3:23 pm
SOC pussyJoined: 05 May 2006Posts: 4501
whitenhiemer wrote:
I'll have to keep an eye out for the truing stand.
That is half of the problem though. What about the spoke itself, I know that you can buy blanks online, but how do you know how long to cut them, and once they are cut, how do you thread them?
I always bring in the broken spoke and have Recycled cut me a couple extras.
Marley
Posted: Tue Apr 12, 2016 3:26 pm
Joined: 08 Sep 2014Posts: 428
I bought my road bike from Velo and got shit service from them from the moment I walked in the door. Not a fan of that shop.
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jeff
Posted: Tue Apr 12, 2016 3:33 pm
SOC pussyJoined: 05 May 2006Posts: 4501
Pro tip: Want good service? Tip your mechanic on the reg.
Bo Ttorff
Posted: Tue Apr 12, 2016 4:04 pm
GO SEAHAWKS!! 12 for LYFEJoined: 20 Jul 2011Posts: 3092Location: King County
jeff wrote:
Pro tip: Want good service? Tip your mechanic on the reg.
+1
My mechanic in the past has been Deven at Wright Bro.s and after every job he's done on a bike of mine I buy him a 6er. He's never hesitated to shoot me straight and even kick down little knick knack parts no charge.
langston
Posted: Tue Apr 12, 2016 8:29 pm
Joined: 25 Jul 2005Posts: 5547Location: Columbia City
Bo Ttorff wrote:
jeff wrote:
Pro tip: Want good service? Tip your mechanic on the reg.
+1
My mechanic in the past has been Deven at Wright Bro.s and after every job he's done on a bike of mine I buy him a 6er. He's never hesitated to shoot me straight and even kick down little knick knack parts no charge.
this is the right way to maintain your bike mechanic relationship. Johnny Latenight also likes beers
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caustic meatloaf
Posted: Wed Apr 13, 2016 8:27 am
Joined: 06 Dec 2010Posts: 1235537Location: a hammy melange...
Every time I have a spoke break, I completely disassemble my wheel and rebuild it with a new weave to incorporate the lack of one spoke. You should do the same, preferably weekly so that regular inspection can ID any weak spokes.
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wang
Posted: Wed Apr 13, 2016 8:32 am
Joined: 25 Jan 2012Posts: 884
whitenhiemer wrote:
What about the spoke itself, I know that you can buy blanks online, but how do you know how long to cut them, and once they are cut, how do you thread them?
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