bike service

[kieran]

Just wondering if people here do their own maintenance? and even if you do, do you get a bike shop to go over it (your good racing bike) once in a while?

I have fitted new chain, rear deraillieur, cassette, and chainring to the bike but transmission still doesn't seem as good as it should and a bit of creaking is coming from somewhere. I have never had the bike checked by a bike shop as I built it up myself. Should I just give in and ask for help! If so, I was thinking about getting it properly serviced (around £120+parts)? Anyone here get this done? Is it worth it?

[adrian]

I took my commuter bike into Brixton Cycles for a 'senior service' (Mrs A thought the 'senior' bit referred to its owner ) last week, which was the same price. Turned out I needed a new front wheel, chain and cassette, and the final bill (less LCC discount) came to £250. Seems like a lot, but they strip it completely down and clean everything. Besides, that bike is my main mode of transport and I've got the peace of mind of knowing it's in good nick for a good while to come. So I would say it is worth it.

Besides, I'm completely cack-handed and would make a complete pig's ear of trying to do anything but the most basic of running repairs myself.

[adrian]

[quote="Sean Hogan"]I bet you kept your mouth shut about the saddle this time, right?

[Andrew G]

Generally do my own mainentance, not always sure with headets so sometimes drop it in for that. e.g. my TT bike has had a loose headset for the last couple of races and I need it for the weekend so it's been dropped in. It's making a crunching noise which I'm not sure about or if just tightening it will fix it, and as I don't have a spare headset I could fit though it may as well go to the shop anyway.

I can't think what you've fitted that would start creaking unless the chainring bolts are loose but I doubt it. How old is the bottom bracket? Could it be that it needs replacing and it's only become known since changing everything else and quietening down other noises?

[Jon H]

[quote="adrian"]I took my commuter bike into Brixton Cycles for a 'senior service' .

[Ivor]

Yup do all own servicing meself these days including headsets and "stuff".
Hard to tell without riding but I once had an annoying creak after a thorough cleaning session that was resolved by removing the chainring bolts, applying a touch of grease and re-tightening them.

[David.Hilbert]

I do all my own servicing and most of my friends as well.
I used to be a bike mechanic for serveral years back in the 80's and worked for serveral big shops in London, including Condors.

What I would say to anyone is learn to maintain your own bike. What bike shops charge for servicing these days is daylight robbery.
Two bits of advice I'd give to learning to maintain and repair your bike:

1.The only realy way you learn is by making mistakes and cocking things up so don't be afraid of having a go and being bold. There are very few things that you can do that are not repairable/reversible

2.Don't settle for something being not quite right. If there's a funny noise or the gears aren't perfect or whatever, get to the bottom of it, no matter how long it takes. You'll learn far more that way that just making do with a 2nd rate job. Be a perfectionist. You'll get far more in depth knowledge of what's what with your bike.

The bicycle is essentially a pretty simple mechanical device, unlike a car, say. Pretty much all the technology on a bike is easily accessable and simple, in mechanical terms, to maintain and understand.

[Rob Q]

Thats what I need to do. Get myself some tools and start to learn to do it myself. I am sick of spending money on stuff I know I can and should do.

[Sylv]

Mmm time for another repeat of mrpvt bike maintenance talk at the clubroom ?

[Snoop Doug]

[quote="Sylv"]Mmm time for another repeat of mrpvt bike maintenance talk at the clubroom ?

[kieran]

thanks, generally I am reluctant to take the bike in, but I also think the rear derailleur hanger got slightly bent in an icy fall and may be putting the gear changing off a bit.

[Toks]

[quote="kieran"]Just wondering if people here do their own maintenance? and even if you do, do you get a bike shop to go over it (your good racing bike) once in a while?

I have fitted new chain, rear deraillieur, cassette, and chainring to the bike but transmission still doesn't seem as good as it should and a bit of creaking is coming from somewhere. I have never had the bike checked by a bike shop as I built it up myself. Should I just give in and ask for help! If so, I was thinking about getting it properly serviced (around £120+parts)? Anyone here get this done? Is it worth it?

[Snoop Doug]

I used ecolocal in Sutton recently.

Got a full service including new brake pads and a couple of cables replaced. Including these spares the cost was £85 including a £20 discount offer the council are promoting cycling in the borough. The folk @ ecolocal were friendly, kept me informed too. I took the bike out on the roubaix day trail ride and it's all working tickety boo. I think this is v good value for money.

Snoop

[kieran]

[quote]Have you tried cleaning the bike first

[Dombo]

Creaking could be from the rear hub. Mine was dry (discovered instantly by the bloke in GBs just by applying the brakes and pushing on the pedal) so they re-lubed it. That was 2 years ago and i've stripped and done it myself since.
The only thing you really need a shop for are headsets and possibly removing old style BB.
Park Tool website and Zinn maintneance books are all you need. Plus tools of course but just buy them as you need them. My chain splitter is over 30 years old and still works fine. Ditto my cotterless crank puller (from the days when cotterless cranks were the cojones del perro)