mini lbs rant & a yeah

[1happygirl]

I am just getting back into cycling and re-enthused (mostly thanks to all the fit and enthusiastic posts I read on this forum). I love reading the forum. It makes my day. I check in just to read a while. It's kind of like the book everything you wanted to learn you learned in kindergarten or words to that effect. You are having a so-so day and you pick it up and read a short story/chapter and it puts a smile on your face and you go on with your day smiling the whole time thinking about what you read.
Anyway, my bike is not expensive nor does it have first class components, but it fits me and I am using it to get back in shape for a custom lead or carbon sled. So, what is it with the mechanix (nothing personal as I saw it with other, more expensive bikes) bashing the bikes around and nickin' the paint? I guess if I do it it's one thing but it seems no one cares about your stuff anymore. (on a side note, I'm new to a big city and didn't grow up with valet parking. Wow, if I have trouble driving it, how does some dude who's never driven my car do?). Anyway, LBS was nice enough to loan me some tools and i got my rack put on my city bike today. YEAH for me! They would have probably put it on for me (found out it wasnt hard myself) but I wanted to learn and I got/get bad vibes about the mechanix. I wasn't concerned about the technical knowledge, but rather the cosmetic appreciation of the bikes. I know if I were working in the trade I would have probably made 3cents an hour cuz it took me so long BUT I'm careful!

My first ride the other day was a tour and a LBS was there helping with mechanical issues and the dude kept trying to make my top tube fit in the stand. Finally the other mechanic said dude, just set the seat on top of it while I held it. (seatpost not long enough/spring blocks using the seatmast).

Anyway, thanks for listening. Just wondering is everyone like this with the bikes?
Thanks everyone for letting me mini-wonder out loud.

[Blue Jays]

Would your LBS possibly welcome you to make a specific appointment for work?
That way you could bring it in, get it into the workstand, and then take it home again after completed as a potential solution.
Not certain how you would prove scratches/dings were the result of shop personnel.

[1happygirl]

Thanks Blue Jays for the suggestion. This shop, and it appears to me, many mechanics in general prefer (and I don't blame them) working in solitude. It certainly goes much faster than with someone watching and asking questions while they are working. In fact, I even heard them talking about several customers that had left or were leaving their bikes in a derogatory manner. These were, what I surmised, repeat customers with more expensive bikes.

This shop was not too amenable to my doing the work (it was on the side of the room, no stand used just two box wrenches) myself. Even after the un customer friendly attitude and un professional comments I still bought a $70 jersey from the shop that I had not seen elsewhere when I was done.


The shop worked on my wheel a while back and the attitude was different with the one person I dealt with. Maybe this crew was havin' a bad day and wanted to go home. I know they wanted the shop hours rolled back. I always give people the benefit of the personality doubt. I guess it just is common sense to me, but they know I'm gonna start getting a lot of new stuff. I'm just wondering how they treat the newcomer (other than me) who is just getting started. Is it not worth the time? Pleasantries and pride in treating others property as your own only take a minute (just my thinkin).

[dekindy]

A LBS in Indy rents booth space and I am sure would consult on any problems you have. Maybe something like that is available near you.

http://www.indycyclespecialist.com/tech_info.htm#ICSs_Rent_a_Work_Bench__

[1happygirl]

A LBS in Indy rents booth space and I am sure would consult on any problems you have. Maybe something like that is available near you.

http://www.indycyclespecialist.com/tech_info.htm#ICSs_Rent_a_Work_Bench__


Awesome!!! Very cool idea. Thanks Dekindly. Maybe there's one in my town. I'm always a glass half full person. (see my moniker)

As an aside, I'm sure a 5 yr old could have done what I did to my bike today, but I'm happy its done and one step closer to being my finished 80 lb. bicycle land yacht. Onward to the lighting system! I just wish I would have had less bad vibes in the shop at the time to match my sunshine. I didn't bother anyone and all I needed was the 8mm box wrench.

[Blue Jays]

I was thinking something like, "...Schedules are crazy. Can we arrange a specific time that I can bring my bike? That way I can go read my book (with a cup of coffee) for a few hours and return to pick it up. We also won't have to worry about accidental cosmetic damage and I'll have it for riding immediately..." and keep it real pleasant and chipper while sending a subtle message that you ARE indeed concerned & involved with the repair.

That workspace rental idea does look pretty cool, too! Great for when one doesn't want to be hunched-over on the floor or doesn't have all tools needed.

[dekindy]

Another thought is that many LBS offer maintenance classes during the slower late Fall/Winter/Early Spring months and will sometimes discounts on tools and maintenance items for attendees. You might want to research this option as well.

http://bgindy.com/itemlist.cfm?Category=53&searchtype=Category&catalogId=1

Also the Park Tool and Sheldon Brown websites are great places to get basic information on just about any maintenance task or basic knowledge question.

[1happygirl]

Thanks. I think the forum mentioned a bicycle institute to learn heavy duty stuff. I would like to do that in the future. Time is at a premium right now and worth a lot (couldn't tell from my typing) but my goal was not to mechanic but get er done and fixed.

I would have gladly paid them to screw in 6 screws like I did if I had felt they would have been more careful. Since time is short, I wanna spend time riding instead.

Not to belittle my 'project' but a 5 yr old could have done it.

ha.

[-dustin]

i would've tipped you for installing your rack. Rack installs rank up there with cadence computer installs and flat repairs with dog ****.

[Volant]

i would've tipped you for installing your rack. Rack installs rank up there with cadence computer installs and flat repairs with dog ****.

They're not quite THAT bad!
-
Kudo's to wanting to tackle things yourself. Unfortunately, there are many shops where attitude is greater that gratitude.

[1happygirl]

i would've tipped you for installing your rack. Rack installs rank up there with cadence computer installs and flat repairs with dog ****.

hahahahah. it was so easy to do and it ended up level!

[-dustin]

Sounds like you had a good one. It's the ones that require all sorts of rigging that pretty much make me pull my hair out, and that's 75% of them. Recumbent racks are the worst.

[nohappen]

This shop was not too amenable to my doing the work (it was on the side of the room, no stand used just two box wrenches) myself. Even after the un customer friendly attitude and un professional comments I still bought a $70 jersey from the shop that I had not seen elsewhere when I was done.

[Dekonick]

May I suggest you bring a box of DD holes, or 12 glazed doughnuts...etc... when you visit the shop? It is cheap, lets the mech's and other staff know you appreciate what they do, and believe it or not - they will treat you and your bike better.

Beer works too. :beer:

[1happygirl]

May I suggest you bring a box of DD holes, or 12 glazed doughnuts...etc... when you visit the shop? It is cheap, lets the mech's and other staff know you appreciate what they do, and believe it or not - they will treat you and your bike better.

Beer works too. :beer:

haha.

From the looks of it, a tat gift certificate would work better although I dunno where they would put another one.

Very true about the glazed/shiner bok and I thought of that but it didn't seem personal as I saw they were treating them all that way.

[Lazy Bill]

hahahahah. it was so easy to do and it ended up level!
Keep on working at it - it is fun and satisfying to be able to take care of your own bike.
It will help reinforce your fitness goals too.