Tarheel Trailblazers Message Board - Tune-up expectations from your LBS

05/09/25 at 1:35pm

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Tune-up expectations from your LBS (Read 2626 times)

nicedart Coaster Bike Offline Work Ride Tarheel Trailblazers Posts: 228 Location: Shuffletown Joined: 01/24/13	Tune-up expectations from your LBS 10/13/15 at 7:58pm	Print Post
	I'm curious what is the expected level of service when you drop your bike off for a tune up from a LBS? I am typically the guy that fixes everything himself (and by everything I mean residential, commercial, automotive, computers, everything). I figured it couldn't hurt to have a specialist take a look, after all I built the bike from second hand parts and wouldn't consider myself an expert. So I brought my bike to a local LBS (that shall remain nameless) to trouble shoot a couple sounds and perform a general tune up. We discussed some of the things that were obvious and needed to be addressed (brake pads, worn chain ring). A few days go by and I get the call telling me that it's ready. I Hadn't rode in almost 3 weeks so I was super excited to get a nice day and my bike back so I went from the shop right to the trails. As I was riding my legs just felt so tired. Climbs were brutal. I kept looking back at the cassette to make sure I was in the tallest gear. Now it's been a few weeks since I've had a ride so I just assumed my legs were a little "soft" from so much couch time. When I got home I through the bike on the stand to give it a once over and seen that the rear brakes were rubbing really bad... So that entire ride I was basically pedaling against the brakes. So should I be pissed off? I'll be honest I was pretty hot having to reset my pistons and adjust the caliper after just paying some one to do it. I guess what I'm wondering is, is this something normal? Should I have to adjust the brakes? I realize that any one can miss something. But, after you change the pads wouldn't you spin the wheel and see it's not right...
	« Last Edit: 10/13/15 at 7:58pm by nicedart »
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KB Little Ring Offline listen to seger Posts: 830 Location: Plaza Midweed Joined: 09/18/09	Re: Tune-up expectations from your LBS Reply #1 - 10/13/15 at 8:38pm	Print Post
	You should only be pissed off if you gave them the opportunity to make it right and they didnt.. Not saying they shouldnt have nailed it the first time.. but mistakes happen.

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The Cycle Path IB Room In The Loop Project Board Offline Treasurer '11 to '18. Trail Chair '12-'18, '20-'21 Posts: 11858 Location: Lake Norman Joined: 08/04/03	Re: Tune-up expectations from your LBS Reply #2 - 10/13/15 at 9:31pm	Print Post
	KB wrote on 10/13/15 at 8:38pm: You should only be pissed off if you gave them the opportunity to make it right and they didnt.. Not saying they shouldnt have nailed it the first time.. but mistakes happen. I couldn't have said that more eloquently. And yes, offer them the opportunity to make it right. We all make mistakes from time to time.

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FredRubble Little Ring Offline Work Ride Tarheel Trailblazers Posts: 509 Location: Mineral Springs Joined: 05/28/14	Re: Tune-up expectations from your LBS Reply #3 - 10/13/15 at 9:34pm	Print Post
	I agree but assuming that the pad was rubbing when he picked it up.... Then it wasn't really a mistake as much as neglect.... Seems like fairly elementary wrenching to spin the wheels at least while the bike is in the stand after replacing pads.... My guess is that something happened as you rode... Sticky piston? caliper shifted something of that nature.... So in that case yeah I would give them the benefit of the doubt before getting to mad...

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traildog Big Ring Offline warning! SS carrier Posts: 1284 Joined: 05/12/05	Re: Tune-up expectations from your LBS Reply #4 - 10/13/15 at 10:36pm	Print Post
	Sounds like you've already fixed it. Learn from it, buy the tools you need, do your own "tune ups". Was everything else fixed?

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IntheBush Big Ring Offline Posts: 2031 Location: South of the border Joined: 10/30/09	Re: Tune-up expectations from your LBS Reply #5 - 10/13/15 at 11:28pm	Print Post
	I don't care who services your bike. And I feel your frustration dealing with some in the business. Who's idea of serious biking is making sure Jr.'s Schwinn will withstand riding around the neighborhood properly. But it's your responsibility to check your ride it after servicing to make sure everything is operating and adjusted properly. Maybe not in this case, but it's normal for some things to require slight adjustments after servicing. If something doesn't feel right, it probably isn't. And it's just not that hard to spin the wheels, etc.. to make sure nothing's rubbing. Maybe you should have taken your bike to Cycle Path. Yes, I'm a demanding azhole when it comes to my bike and most other things that I'm paying for. That expects top notch service in regards to whatever my ass rides upon. They know how to deal with it. So next time ride a little further up the road.

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nicedart Coaster Bike Offline Work Ride Tarheel Trailblazers Posts: 228 Location: Shuffletown Joined: 01/24/13	Re: Tune-up expectations from your LBS Reply #6 - 10/13/15 at 11:36pm	Print Post
	Lesson learned. I should have checked it out thoroughly before I left the shop. That was my bad. Yes I fixed it right after I found the issue. Taking my bike to a shop is an inconvenience. Not to mention a waste of gas, and the time it would have took to go back to the shop I just fixed it myself.

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Dirkdee Coaster Bike Offline Posts: 207 Joined: 11/10/04	Re: Tune-up expectations from your LBS Reply #7 - 10/14/15 at 1:28pm	Print Post
	nicedart wrote on 10/13/15 at 11:36pm: Taking my bike to a shop is an inconvenience. Not to mention a waste of gas, and the time it would have took to go back to the shop I just fixed it myself. Exactly why I also fix everything myself.

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sager Big Ring Offline Waiting for my next ride! Posts: 1343 Location: Charlotte Joined: 11/02/08	Re: Tune-up expectations from your LBS Reply #8 - 10/14/15 at 3:43pm	Print Post
	Dirkdee wrote on 10/14/15 at 1:28pm: Exactly why I also fix everything myself. me as well. If I take it to a shop, I'm paying for quality. If I do it myself, I take on the risk. I agree mistakes are fine. It's repeated quality control problems that make me become self-sufficient.

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JasonK Ex Member	Re: Tune-up expectations from your LBS Reply #9 - 10/14/15 at 4:11pm	Print Post
	Stuff happens - that's what I think. Either take it back and expect that they will follow up on the issue without an additional charge. Or fix it yourself if you are capable of doing so. I think most shops in the area are competent enough to service or repair a bike. Odds are something will be overlooked or need a second look from time to time. So in general it's only fair to either take it back to the shop again or, fix it like you did and get rolling. Any time off the bike when you planned on riding is rough though. Glad you came through this ok

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steveM Newbie Offline Work Ride Tarheel Trailblazers Posts: 23 Location: huntersville nc Joined: 01/30/11	Re: Tune-up expectations from your LBS Reply #10 - 10/15/15 at 1:46am	Print Post
	I always check everything out when I pick the bike up, because anyone can make a mistake. Give them a chance to make it right. Or just take it to Cycle Path. Mark isn't some douche bag that learned how to work on bikes, he's a mechanic that works on bikes now. Big difference...

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The Cycle Path IB Room In The Loop Project Board Offline Treasurer '11 to '18. Trail Chair '12-'18, '20-'21 Posts: 11858 Location: Lake Norman Joined: 08/04/03	Re: Tune-up expectations from your LBS Reply #11 - 10/15/15 at 7:59pm	Print Post
	steveM wrote on 10/15/15 at 1:46am: I always check everything out when I pick the bike up, because anyone can make a mistake. Give them a chance to make it right. Or just take it to Cycle Path. Mark isn't some douche bag that learned how to work on bikes, he's a mechanic that works on bikes now. Big difference... Whoa! I'm actually "THE" Douche Bag (Not to be confused with Sir Douche Canoe)

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JasonK Ex Member	Re: Tune-up expectations from your LBS Reply #12 - 10/15/15 at 8:20pm	Print Post
	The Cycle Path wrote on 10/15/15 at 7:59pm: I'm actually "THE" Douche Bag +1 Just kidding! Mark has been the "go to" guy for me ever since I started Mtn Biking and goes above and beyond to keep me riding without having to wait for an unnecessarily long time for repairs. Good Dood. Even this past weekend. I was concerned my brakes needed to be bled before I headed up to Pisgah. I stopped by Mark's shop as soon as they opened. He serviced the brakes on the spot and my bike performed flawlessly on some pretty steep trails (Black Mtn, Clawhammer, etc.).
	« Last Edit: 10/15/15 at 8:23pm by »
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ChadM Small Cog Offline don't waste your time or time will waste you Posts: 431 Location: Mooresville, NC Joined: 07/31/09	Re: Tune-up expectations from your LBS Reply #13 - 10/16/15 at 12:54am	Print Post
	Interesting I had a similar situation. I called the shop and expressed my concerns. They owned the mistakes and made every effort to make it right. You can't really ask for more than that. So in the end I still use that shop. Call them you might be surprised

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The Cycle Path IB Room In The Loop Project Board Offline Treasurer '11 to '18. Trail Chair '12-'18, '20-'21 Posts: 11858 Location: Lake Norman Joined: 08/04/03	Re: Tune-up expectations from your LBS Reply #14 - 10/16/15 at 10:55am	Print Post
	Quote: +1 Just kidding! Mark has been the "go to" guy for me ever since I started Mtn Biking and goes above and beyond to keep me riding without having to wait for an unnecessarily long time for repairs. Good Dood. Even this past weekend. I was concerned my brakes needed to be bled before I headed up to Pisgah. I stopped by Mark's shop as soon as they opened. He serviced the brakes on the spot and my bike performed flawlessly on some pretty steep trails (Black Mtn, Clawhammer, etc.). Glad I open at 7:45 am on Saturdays. (Yea, I open that early. Kinda like it, actually )

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flynbryan19 Small Cog Offline Work Ride Tarheel Trailblazers Posts: 454 Location: Salisbury, NC Joined: 12/08/11	Re: Tune-up expectations from your LBS Reply #15 - 10/16/15 at 12:27pm	Print Post
	Kinda surprised by the responses here.... If I were in the OP's position I would be disappointed. If I drop off my car to have a "service" done on it I don't expect to have to go back behind them and make sure they put the air filter back in properly, double check to make sure the lug nuts are tightened to spec, follow up behind them to make sure they put the oil back in the car, etc... If you take your bicycle to a professional and pay them what they ask I personally feel it should come back to me 100% ready to rock and roll. That is why you paid a "professional" to do the work for you after all right? Now with that said, I absolutely agree that simple things like aligning your brake calipers, checking air pressure, etc are easily done by even your most inexperienced bicycle owner. Its just the principal of the matter that you payed the money to have a professional do these chores for you. If I'm paying I expect top end service. Yes accidents happen. How I would feel about the situation would depend strongly on how the shop owner responds. If he is apologetic and possibly offers some form of compensation I'd be fine. If he brushes it off and just acts like its no big deal... go somewhere else. You don't want a person like that working on your bike when it comes time to work on something that IS a big deal.

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rokka23md Coaster Bike Offline Work Ride Tarheel Trailblazers Posts: 246 Location: Concord, NC Joined: 06/15/12	Re: Tune-up expectations from your LBS Reply #16 - 10/16/15 at 1:36pm	Print Post
	I love to ride and hate working on my bike (and don't have the time- I'd rather ride). Therefore, I want my mechanic to do great work and not have to go back after a tune up. That's why I use the guys at The Cycle Path. Always great. Even clean your bike after a tune up Used a discount voucher for a tune up at another LBS nearer to where I live and my bike came worse than when I dropped it off. Won't be going back. +15 for the Cycle Path.
	« Last Edit: 10/16/15 at 1:36pm by rokka23md »
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Woods Rider Small Cog Offline I wanna ride Posts: 390 Joined: 02/26/08	Re: Tune-up expectations from your LBS Reply #17 - 10/16/15 at 4:03pm	Print Post
	flynbryan19 wrote on 10/16/15 at 12:27pm: Kinda surprised by the responses here.... If I were in the OP's position I would be disappointed. If I drop off my car to have a "service" done on it I don't expect to have to go back behind them and make sure they put the air filter back in properly, double check to make sure the lug nuts are tightened to spec, follow up behind them to make sure they put the oil back in the car, etc... If you take your bicycle to a professional and pay them what they ask I personally feel it should come back to me 100% ready to rock and roll. That is why you paid a "professional" to do the work for you after all right? Exactly, If you are having basic work done (chain, brakes, shift cables, etc.) it should be drop off the bike, pick up the bike and go ride, Slam bam thank you mam! Now if you are having custom tuning done to your fork and/or shock valving that may require a trip or two and that would be expected.

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IntheBush Big Ring Offline Posts: 2031 Location: South of the border Joined: 10/30/09	Re: Tune-up expectations from your LBS Reply #18 - 10/17/15 at 11:12am	Print Post
	Two different issues here. Disappointment for not getting what you think you paid for is fine and warranted. But ultimately it's your az riding the bike. Not the mechanic. This is why pilots, etc. do a pre-trip inspection. The mechanic wont be going down with the ship in the case of some oversight. You live long enough, you learn human beings aren't perfect. Nope, not even me. And you will accept it. Or not. But whether you accept or not will not change this fact. You can only stack the odds in your favor as much as possible by making informed decisions in regards to who you let touch your stuff. Or do it yourself. It's not their stuff. It is a little unrealistic to expect them to have the same connection to it or reliance upon it as you do. Does anybody know where I can still get a decent haircut?
	« Last Edit: 10/17/15 at 3:37pm by IntheBush »
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The Cycle Path IB Room In The Loop Project Board Offline Treasurer '11 to '18. Trail Chair '12-'18, '20-'21 Posts: 11858 Location: Lake Norman Joined: 08/04/03	Re: Tune-up expectations from your LBS Reply #19 - 10/18/15 at 6:05am	Print Post
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	« Last Edit: 10/18/15 at 6:07am by The Cycle Path »
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