Getting brakes fixed in Dublin. Cost?

Jeapy

Apologies if this is out of place/has been done before. Ive searched, but can't find anything.

I cycle to college every morning and have noticed that my brakes need to be tightened. My stopping distance is getting too far so i need to get it sorted.
I know very little about bikes, so Im just wondering how much (roughly) would it cost to get the brakes tightened and is it possible that i'd need new cables? If so, how much would this cost? I think I'll go to the bike shop on Wexford St, D2 if that makes any difference.
Thanks in advance, and sorry again if this is the wrong place!
Jeapy

Alanstrainor

Do it yourself, even if you know very little about bikes it only takes two minutes 30 seconds and requires an Allen key and a pliers. It could be that you need new pads, again very very easily changed. No point paying for something a monkey with a toolbox could do!
There you are, a step by step guide.

blorg

You probably just need to tighten the barrell adjuster- with V-Brakes/flat bar levers (which you probably have) this is on the lever, where the cable exits the lever. On a road bike it is on the actual brake. You twist it by hand counter-clockwise until the brakes are a bit tighter.

You shouldn't need new cables.

stuf

If you are taking it to the shop on Wexford St. then go to MacDonalds Cycles and not Penny Farthing. A good one is Think Bike on Rathmines Road who are nice guys are fair in my experience

If you don't mind having a go first then there's video tutorials all over the web:

http://bicycletutor.com/sidepull-caliper-brakes/

Jeapy

Thanks for the replies. I don't have an allen key or a pliers (or any tools tbh- damn where'd my girlie avatar go?! ) so i reckoned it might actually be cheaper to drop it into a shop for 2 mins than to buy some and attempt it myself!
A friend of mine went to that place in Rathmines and they were tyring to get him to service the bike for about E60-he just wanted the saddle adjusted and the brakes tightened. I don't want to be stuck with a huge bill for a tiny job just 'cause the workers know i havnt a clue!
Any idea what they'd charge in MacDonalds Cycles stuf?

paddyb

think bike have a big sign in their workshop with all their prices on it.
was in there for the first time the other day, gave me bolts and spacers for my disc brakes for free!

Alanstrainor

Jeapy wrote: »

Thanks for the replies. I don't have an allen key or a pliers (or any tools tbh- damn where'd my girlie avatar go?! ) so i reckoned it might actually be cheaper to drop it into a shop for 2 mins than to buy some and attempt it myself!
A friend of mine went to that place in Rathmines and they were tyring to get him to service the bike for about E60-he just wanted the saddle adjusted and the brakes tightened. I don't want to be stuck with a huge bill for a tiny job just 'cause the workers know i havnt a clue!
Any idea what they'd charge in MacDonalds Cycles stuf?

You could probably buy both a pliers and a small set of Allen Keys for a tenner. Worth considering as bike maintenance won't stop at just your brakes. It's something that'd be handy to have too.

Jeapy

Alanstrainor wrote: »

You could probably buy both a pliers and a small set of Allen Keys for a tenner. Worth considering as bike maintenance won't stop at just your brakes. It's something that'd be handy to have too.

I might try to give it a go tomorrow then so. I'll check the house for a set of allen keys (rented house, but a few bits of furniture look made up!) first. Again, thanks for the replies!

kona

Jeapy wrote: »

Apologies if this is out of place/has been done before. Ive searched, but can't find anything.

I cycle to college every morning and have noticed that my brakes need to be tightened. My stopping distance is getting too far so i need to get it sorted.
I know very little about bikes, so Im just wondering how much (roughly) would it cost to get the brakes tightened and is it possible that i'd need new cables? If so, how much would this cost? I think I'll go to the bike shop on Wexford St, D2 if that makes any difference.
Thanks in advance, and sorry again if this is the wrong place!
Jeapy

shouldnt cost more than e5 for the adjust.
If you want cables budget about 15-20.

If you aint mechanically minded and the brakes have cheap pressed brake arms, you will have to balance them again, this is a bit more involved and irritating on cheap bikes. Dont **** around with your brakes, for the sake of a few quid get it done correctley.

stuf

kona wrote: »

shouldnt cost more than e5 for the adjust.
If you want cables budget about 15-20.

I think I paid €2 per generic cable in cycle superstore last year - €15-20 would only be for a branded groupset specific cable pack

blorg

stuf wrote: »

I think I paid €2 per generic cable in cycle superstore last year - €15-20 would only be for a branded groupset specific cable pack

Installation would be a bit more than that in fairness and €2 would only be an inner (and cheap even for that) although that is often all you need to change.

Worth trying the barrel adjusters first, that doesn't need any tools at all- although this is generally good for small adjustments only.

Bear in mind though you might possibly need new brake pads- these could cost maybe €20 +installation. There are generally notches on the pads so you can tell if they are worn.

Generally the guys in Rathmines (presuming this is Think Bike) are good, I can only imagine if they were pushing a service the bike needed it. They have done small things for me for free before, even when it needed minor parts (loose headset needed an extra spacer) and I am not even a particularly regular customer there.

MacDonald Cycles are generally good although I haven't been there in a while, I used to go there regularly. I don't think they would rip you off.

There is also a hippy commune on Sundays that will help you fix your bike for free.

kona

stuf wrote: »

I think I paid €2 per generic cable in cycle superstore last year - €15-20 would only be for a branded groupset specific cable pack

Im talking installation too. as you say e2 for the cable then id say around 15 for the Installation and set up, and any other parts such as cable ends, brake noodle, ferrules etc.

OP depending on the diagnosis of the bike, you could pay anywhere from e5 to e50. The best thing to do is bring it to a mechanic, nobody can diagnose a bike properly on the internet.

If the bike shop reccomends a service do it, they aint there to scam women or whatever people think, most mechanics are there because they like bikes, they use them themselves, Id guess 80% of the bikes brought to me needing "gears and brakes" actually need, BBs, cone adjusts, chains , headsets. Some are quite dangerous. Ususally they will(I do) point out to you and show you exactly what is wrong.

Bear in mind the cost of the bike i wouldnt spend anything over e50 on a cheap e100 bike, youd be better off buying a new one.

p15574

Sorry to hijack the thread, but still on-topic, what about when the brakes 'stick'? I can replace pads, adjust tension etc, but whenever I brake, one side of the brake remains in contact with the wheel, requiring leaning down mid-cycle to pull it away to avoid cycling with the brakes on (it's bad enough with the hills already!). This means it's only practical to use front brakes, as it's a bit more difficult reaching back to the back ones while moving!

I found a screw alright which seemed to balance where the brakes sprang back out to, but either the spring involved has had it or the pivot points on the frame need some grease (where can you get this grease?) , or both. The bike has spent a long time in the rain. Should I try regreasing, can you buy this spring separately, should I completely replace the brakes, or should I take it into a shop? I've not cycled into work in six months because of this, but am getting itchy to get back on the saddle.

tia.

BostonB

I had to dismantle the brakes on my bike last summer as they were sticking and eventually seized. I think it happened after a few days of cycling in heavy rain. Anyway the pivot post underneath was rusted. So a light sanding with some fine sandpaper and a bit of grease and it sorted it out.

Think the grease came from a motor factors. So long there I've forgotten. Worth while spending a bit of time learning howto maintain it all, as it means the bike is always ready when you want it, and you can adjust it to suit yourself.