Supplying your own parts to the LBS

jon1981

When it comes to the local bike store, I've always had this guilt because you can get the parts online much cheaper. Also not just that but what about consumable items like cables and chains, for example I wanted to change my chain and instead of the replacing the ultegra chain that was on it, the lbs was going to put on a bbb chain, so I did it myself.

Question, is it ok to supply your own parts for the lbs to fit or would they be put out by this?

stecleary

there's only one way to find out, ask them. i know of one shop that will do it no problem and charge that little bit more for labor and an other that wont touch it unless he supplies it.

neris

buy online and do the work yourself. lots of good "how to" videos online

jon1981

neris wrote: »

buy online and do the work yourself. lots of good "how to" videos online

I do most things myself. But in general I'm curious about the etiquette here with the local bike shops.

crosstownk

If you can't do the job DIY then at least give your LBS a shot at quoting a price for parts and labour. If the parts price is greater than the online price then ask them if they'd be happy to fit any parts you purchase online. Chances are they'll do their best to match the online price and if they can't match then they'll probably fit them for you. Labour usually has more margin than parts.

The important thing is to ask upfront - at least you're giving them every chance.

I do all my own labour but I always price the parts from the LBS to compare with online prices. Sometimes they'll match (or get close) to the online price and if they can't they'll tell me the online price is a bargain and advise me to go down that route.

EDIT: Obviously any parts warranty will be your problem to resolve with the online shop.

irishrover99

I'm bought a new cassette and chain online last week. Fitted the cassette myself and i am dropping the bike into a bike shop in rathfarnham for the chain to be fitted. They told me about 10 euro so i'd reckon if i'd bought the chain from them the job would have cost about 25-30 euro so i have saved.

I have bought a chain breaker but i'm not sure i want t chance it at the moment by doing it myself.

RobFowl

2 things here
1 is that if you source stuff cheaper on-line then you really should expect to be able to use them yourself
2 is that LBS are businesses and need to make money to keep open, if you are aregular and spend then often you may get help, if not forget it.

FTR I often find that my lbs will match if not beat over all cost and with far better service and back up...

irishrover99

RobFowl wrote: »

2 things here
1 is that if you source stuff cheaper on-line then you really should expect to be able to use them yourself
2 is that LBS are businesses and need to make money to keep open, if you are aregular and spend then often you may get help, if not forget it.

FTR I often find that my lbs will match if not beat over all cost and with far better service and back up...

Don't shed a tear for your local bike shop. Its making plenty of money at the moment.
They are marking up the prices for parts and charging for the service of fitting so its a win win.

smacl

Sticky thread here for bike mechanics who will also do what you're looking for. I buy most of my stuff on-line at fit it myself mostly because I like mucking about with the bike and understanding how it all fits together, big boys mecano. I'm guessing the LBS would do a better job, and save on a load of hassle, but where's the fun in that?

smacl

irishrover99 wrote: »

Don't shed a tear for your local bike shop. Its making plenty of money at the moment.
They are marking up the prices for parts and charging for the service of fitting so its a win win.

Any business is there to make money, but until you understand its costs you've no idea how hard that can actually be. Bottom line is that if they provide value (which is related to much more than just cost), use them. If they don't provide value, go elsewhere. Simples. Most businesses that don't provide good value to their customers fail pretty quickly, and I say that having been in business for myself for 25 years.

OldBean

A lot of parts I wanted for my bike weren't available in Ireland, or I'd picked up second hand. Never had an issue with getting mechanics to fit them.

I recently spoke to the chap I prefer working on my bike about new wheels, and he wrote down some specs of rims & hubs that would be better suited to my needs, but not readily available in Ireland, and said if I can order them in, he'll build them. Can't ask for more than that!

laraghrider

irishrover99 wrote: »

Don't shed a tear for your local bike shop. Its making plenty of money at the moment.

It really is amazing then why there are so many bike shops going out of business if they are all making plenty of money.

The margins in bike shops are so tight now due to the likes of wiggle and chainreaction who can afford to sell at those prices due to their bulk purchasing power and different cost overhead model. Prices here are driving down the prices in the lbs.

To the OP it depends on the shop and you're relationship with said shop. I do everything myself but the odd part i'd buy from my LBS if I need it now. At times he's also helped me if a part was stuck and he'd the proper expensive tool to fix it. He always fits things people buy online as he knows the deal and how times are tight for everything so he does it and charges accordingly. A very fair price and arrangement I might add.

CramCycle

My LBS are happy to fit online stuff, they told me it's been great since CRC became so big, they don't have to source as much, waste time over parts and talking people into or out of things that are or aren't suitable.

Then they get those who buy the wrong stuff and end up buying from them anyway.

They charge a tiny bit more for the labour as they aren't making anything on the parts but its not much.

jon1981

I started learning to do things myself after a few experiences with the LBS.

First time, my pedal threads on my crankarm were cross threaded (was a second hand bike). It had all 105s, I was pretty new to cycling and had little knowledge of parts. The bike shop replaced the crank with a Tiagra over a 105 crank for 150 euro. First lesson

Second time, I needed a chain replaced, 2 stores I dropped into were going to replace the Ultegra chain with a BBB chain so i ended up doing it myself so I could stick a better and lighter chain on it.

I've gotten services and great help from the LBS over little thing but when it comes to parts I've learned if you have a particular preference for a part you probably are better off doing it yourself. I'll still use the LBS for some work but I'd prefer to be able to specify the parts I want put on the bike rather than feeling guilty for not choosing the parts they have stocked.

Maybe there's no needed to feel guilty, maybe LBS are more than happy just do the labour?!

OldBean

CramCycle wrote: »

Then they get those who buy the wrong stuff and end up buying from them anyway.

Or people who come in with upgrades, and forgot about smaller, profitable essentials like chains, cables, brake pads, etc.

granty1987

I brought in a bike to a lbs with the brake caliper and lever I had just fitted as I didn't have a wire cutter that would do the job to get the cable housing and brake cable at the right length. They did it no bother, Can't remember what they charged but I was happy to pay as up to that point I was cycling a brakeless bike (fixie btw that I had bought the previous day)

I would prefer to do the job myself, but if I didnt have the correct tools / couldn't get my hands on them quickly then I don't particularly mind going to the shop for a helping hand

jon1981

granty1987 wrote: »

I would prefer to do the job myself, but if I didnt have the correct tools / couldn't get my hands on them quickly then I don't particularly mind going to the shop for a helping hand

This is what I feel guilty about, just using the LBS for these small 5 min tasks and giving them no real business. (here will you clip that off for me, here will you use that expensive wrench to loosen that bolt, here will you validate I haven't ****ed up my own work by checking the alignment on that yoke for me...etc.)

It's not going to be major earner for the LBS... but I guess for every 1 DIYer, there's a 10 ppl who haven't a clue!

Desmonddoyle

As far as I'm concerned the local bike shop is almost obsolete. Bikes and parts are just so much cheaper online, and even if you do go to a lbs, they never have the part you need, so have to order it at twice the price you pay.
Bike shops only exist in Ireland today to take advantage of clueless people scamming the bike to work scheme.

granty1987

jon1981 wrote: »

This is what I feel guilty about, just using the LBS for these small 5 min tasks and giving them no real business. (here will you clip that off for me, here will you use that expensive wrench to loosen that bolt, here will you validate I haven't ****ed up my own work by checking the alignment on that yoke for me...etc.)

It's not going to be major earner for the LBS... but I guess for every 1 DIYer, there's a 10 ppl who haven't a clue!

I guess its up to them to decide if its worth their while in doing the job and giving you a quote for it. They might have a minimum set fee for any work to a bike - ie flat rate for 0-30 mins.

Thinking back, one bike shop did refuse to do a job for me, not the first time I have had issues with them so I have stopped going.

jon1981

Desmonddoyle wrote: »

Bike shops only exist in Ireland today to take advantage of clueless people scamming the bike to work scheme.

How is it being scammed?

CramCycle

Desmonddoyle wrote: »

As far as I'm concerned the local bike shop is almost obsolete.

It will never be obsolete, there is a wealth of experience in most that you cannot get from youtube, as well as a number of people who have no interest or want in doing many of these tasks themselves.

Bikes and parts are just so much cheaper online,

Not always, often a decent LBS wil have certain things cheaper or equivalent, maybe not the range.

and even if you do go to a lbs, they never have the part you need, so have to order it at twice the price you pay.

They will always have the essential part you need, when you cannot wait for deliver 4 or 5 days later.

Bike shops only exist in Ireland today to take advantage of clueless people scamming the bike to work scheme.

?!? While I admit, many have popped up in relation to the growing sales market, related to the B2W scheme, to say anyone is scamming anyone is a bit nonsensical to me.

Desmonddoyle

Well the intention of the scheme was that the purchased bike would be used to travel to and from work, or part of the journey thereof.
Everyone I know that cycles to work already has a very good bike, so its not much use to them. Everyone else I know that actually used the scheme don't cycle to work, but bought a bike to have one, bought one for the kids, someone even told me they bought a car seat and just had the bike shop issue something different on the invoice.

Lets just say a lot of the bike and accessory buying recommendations by the bike shops has resulted in pretty poor purchases for the buyer, in my opinion.

jon1981

Desmonddoyle wrote: »

Well the intention of the scheme was that the purchased bike would be used to travel to and from work, or part of the journey thereof.
Everyone I know that cycles to work already has a very good bike, so its not much use to them. Everyone else I know that actually used the scheme don't cycle to work, but bought a bike to have one, bought one for the kids, someone even told me they bought a car seat and just had the bike shop issue something different on the invoice.

Lets just say a lot of the bike and accessory buying recommendations by the bike shops has resulted in pretty poor purchases for the buyer, in my opinion.

I still say the net result = more people cycling. Whether to work or for exercise or to the local shop for a pint of milk. Is it a bad thing if it's not used for work but is used?

I know people that don't cycle to work but the scheme has encouraged them to take up cycling as a method of exercise.. i would say that's a win for the scheme, no? Leads to a healthier population.

Desmonddoyle

Cram cycle, I'm afraid we are going to have to agree to disagree on most of your points.

I have never been not able to find any part or accessory that I need a lot cheaper online.
I have also been to lots of bike shops over the years and on numerous occasions they didn't have the part, but would order it in a longer time frame than I could get it delivered myself. Of course, that is just my experience, and we all have our own - I'd love to see some examples of products that are cheaper in any bike shop in Ireland over what can be got online.

CramCycle

Desmonddoyle wrote: »

Well the intention of the scheme was that the purchased bike would be used to travel to and from work, or part of the journey thereof.
Everyone I know that cycles to work already has a very good bike, so its not much use to them.

I had a bike before the scheme, it helped me get a better bike that I use to cycle to work as well as visit people, bring my kid to creche and go for general rambles.

Everyone else I know that actually used the scheme don't cycle to work, but bought a bike to have one, bought one for the kids, someone even told me they bought a car seat and just had the bike shop issue something different on the invoice.

Well that's tax fraud on behalf of the bike shop, maybe you should report them to revenue.

Lets just say a lot of the bike and accessory buying recommendations by the bike shops has resulted in pretty poor purchases for the buyer, in my opinion.

I got a good one, I know plenty of people who got good ones, if someone was misled by a bike shop, they would have been misled whether the scheme was there or not. Can you explain the poor purchases? Were they overcharged? They agreed to a price, so no one to blame there. Did they not see or inspect the bike, did they attempt to cycle the car seat you mention to work?

Desmonddoyle

jon1981 wrote: »

I still say the net result = more people cycling. Whether to work or for exercise or to the local shop for a pint of milk. Is it a bad thing if it's not used for work but is used?

I know people that don't cycle to work but the scheme has encouraged them to take up cycling as a method of exercise.. i would say that's a win for the scheme, no? Leads to a healthier population.

That's not how I look at it - you happy for your taxes to be spent so that Alfie up the road can have cheaper leisure choices ?

jon1981

Desmonddoyle wrote: »

I'd love to see some examples of products that are cheaper in any bike shop in Ireland over what can be got online.

In general I have to agree with this. I have tried to buy locally but apart from some discounted tubes or energy gels have had little success.

jon1981

Desmonddoyle wrote: »

That's not how I look at it - you happy for your taxes to be spent so that Alfie up the road can have cheaper leisure choices ?

Well it works both ways, I can keep my older bike for commuting if I want and then use the scheme to purchase a better bike for training. Existing cyclists benefit.

Also if it means Alfie is getting fitter and reducing the burden on the HSE then great

The net result is still more people cycling to work despite the "scamming"

CramCycle

Desmonddoyle wrote: »

That's not how I look at it - you happy for your taxes to be spent so that Alfie up the road can have cheaper leisure choices ?

It doesn't spend Alfies taxes, VAT is still paid on the bike, it is a reduction in your personal Tax for one year, if the scheme wasn't there, many would not have bought the bike, which in theory, as others have said could lead to increased burden on the HSE down the line, increased commuter traffic etc.

ford2600

Rip off artists the lot of them :-)


http://touch.boards.ie/thread/2057005097/1/#post85782845

jon1981

ford2600 wrote: »

Rip off artists the lot of them :-)


http://touch.boards.ie/thread/2057005097/1/#post85782845

Labour costs is it not in question, it's a discussion on parts. I agree, i've gotten some tweaks done for a fiver here and there, not a great money maker though.

Desmonddoyle

CramCycle wrote: »

It doesn't spend Alfies taxes, VAT is still paid on the bike, it is a reduction in your personal Tax for one year, if the scheme wasn't there, many would not have bought the bike, which in theory, as others have said could lead to increased burden on the HSE down the line, increased commuter traffic etc.

So you are saying the scheme is cost neutral for the government - can't wait to see your back up for that.
Also, you are assuming that people don't have choices, or that they don't have the ability to exercise them - they can walk, run, play sports, whatever. Should I also contribute to Alfies gym membership to incentivise him to make the right choices so that it might contribute to lower health care costs for him in the future ?

smacl

Desmonddoyle wrote: »

As far as I'm concerned the local bike shop is almost obsolete.

One of the main reasons I use a local bike shop is to hire a bike to finish long journeys that include train or bus legs where bringing my own bike isn't an option. Try doing that online

Wanderer78

my lbs have no problem installing parts that i have purchased elsewhere but it does depend on the shop.

Tenzor07

Some of the comments here are laughable!! :rolleyes:

Sure why do people still go to pubs? You can buy drink for half the price in the supermarket, why pay some guy to pour the drink for you when you can do it yourself for nothing!

So, go to your LBS, build up a relationship with them, I always ask my LBS to match or do better than online prices and they usually do, especially if you include fitting...
I'm more of a mountain biker so for example suspension servicing is best left to the experts, along with most other tasks and repairs to do with the mountain bike I prefer to have an expert do everything, I don't want to be stuck up the top of Lugnaquilla or some such place with an issue caused by me(an amateur) fitting a part!

Desmonddoyle

For me, the premium I pay in a pub takes in the social aspect and the use of the facilities, and you could probably only compare the two if your local bike shop allowed you to use all their tools (and toilet), which is not going to happen.

Fair enough, if you want to pay for the social aspect of going to your lbs, but once you know that they are just using your for your money :-)

Wanderer78

Desmonddoyle wrote: »

For me, the premium I pay in a pub takes in the social aspect and the use of the facilities, and you could probably only compare the two if your local bike shop allowed you to use all their tools (and toilet), which is not going to happen.

Fair enough, if you want to pay for the social aspect of going to your lbs, but once you know that they are just using your for your money :-)

ive used their tools and toilet but i understand thats not the norm

i support my lbs as much as possible as they are very helpful and knowledgable. they are also creating employment, even though only for a couple of people. supporting them also helps to support my local economy, even though i understand why people purchase online, ive done it myself many times.

smacl

Tenzor07 wrote: »

I'm more of a mountain biker so for example suspension servicing is best left to the experts, along with most other tasks and repairs to do with the mountain bike I prefer to have an expert do everything, I don't want to be stuck up the top of Lugnaquilla or some such place with an issue caused by me(an amateur) fitting a part!

Fair enough, but the flip side to that is if you do your own servicing and you have a mechanical fault in the middle of nowhere, you'll have a much better chance of repairing it. I'm not sure that comparing the LBS to the pub is a great comparison either, unless it also happens to be a place you go to primarily to socialise. If I've a few hours to spare, I'd rather be out on the bike than in a shop (even a bike shop which is admittedly a far more pleasant place to be than just about any other shop).

irishrover99

What is wrong with someone trying to save some money and looking after there own pocket instead of giving it all to the LBS.
When buying online and letting the shop fit it, you are still giving them business. Some of you's maybe able to afford the gold services that some LBS are charging up to 130 euro for but i'm not willing to pay that. Ill try do some myself and get them to do the rest.

As for LBS going out of business, every small village in dublin has one now. I often pop into them and never see them empty. Last night i was working across from joe dalys in dundrum and between 6-7 i must have seen up to 20 people go in.
Anytime i'm in the Giant store they say they are out the door,can't get the bikes in quick enough,i know somebody will say they ain't a LBS.

Canis Lupus

Tenzor07 wrote: »

Some of the comments here are laughable!! :rolleyes:

Sure why do people still go to pubs? You can buy drink for half the price in the supermarket, why pay some guy to pour the drink for you when you can do it yourself for nothing!

So, go to your LBS, build up a relationship with them, I always ask my LBS to match or do better than online prices and they usually do, especially if you include fitting...
I'm more of a mountain biker so for example suspension servicing is best left to the experts, along with most other tasks and repairs to do with the mountain bike I prefer to have an expert do everything, I don't want to be stuck up the top of Lugnaquilla or some such place with an issue caused by me(an amateur) fitting a part!

Wut? Bike maintenance is simple, doesn't require an expert for like 99.9% of everything you could need to do and the tools to do 99.9% of the jobs cost a pittance and last a lifetime. Are you so lonely you need to pay someone for a relationship :P

wanderer 22

Desmonddoyle wrote: »

I'd love to see some examples of products that are cheaper in any bike shop in Ireland over what can be got online.

I got my cx bike - Genesis Vapour Disc- from Thinkbike in Rathmines for a better price than I could find online. Same for the Ortlieb panniers I got in Cycleways.

CramCycle

jon1981 wrote: »

Labour costs is it not in question, it's a discussion on parts. I agree, i've gotten some tweaks done for a fiver here and there, not a great money maker though.

Sort of like a cost neutral thing done in a supermarket, it gets you in the door.

Desmonddoyle wrote: »

So you are saying the scheme is cost neutral for the government - can't wait to see your back up for that

I didn't say it was cost neutral for the government, I have no way of even beginning to look up such info as the scheme has no registry of numbers or people taking part. They still pay VAT at 21% on the bikes. The numbers participating in the scheme are widely accepted as a reason many shops are doing better now than they were a few years ago, which means, more people employed, which means more taxes and potentially less people on social welfare. With the increase in numbers cycling to work, there is an implied saving to the HSE in years to come as fitter people get sick less often.

I am not saying it is cost neutral, I am not saying it costs money or it saves money but I would put a wager down if there was a way to show it that in the immediate and long term, the scheme actually saves the government money.

Also, you are assuming that people don't have choices, or that they don't have the ability to exercise them - they can walk, run, play sports, whatever. Should I also contribute to Alfies gym membership to incentivise him to make the right choices so that it might contribute to lower health care costs for him in the future ?

I am just stating what the scheme is and what it does even if unseen, not sure where you are going with this point.

Desmonddoyle wrote: »

For me, the premium I pay in a pub takes in the social aspect and the use of the facilities, and you could probably only compare the two if your local bike shop allowed you to use all their tools (and toilet), which is not going to happen.

I used the toilet in mine once, I needed to go, so I asked, and they said yes :pac: They have also lent me stuff for the bike.

Fair enough, if you want to pay for the social aspect of going to your lbs, but once you know that they are just using your for your money :-)

And you think your local publican is doing it for the love of people?

Wanderer78 wrote: »

i support my lbs as much as possible as they are very helpful and knowledgable. they are also creating employment, even though only for a couple of people. supporting them also helps to support my local economy, even though i understand why people purchase online, ive done it myself many times.

I purchase online all the time, but I still buy from my LBS if what I need is there, or if I am in a rush, or it's a service that I am neither competent enough to do on my own (wheel truing, I can straighten it to get me home, that's it) or if they have tools I don't have and cannot afford.

irishrover99 wrote: »

What is wrong with someone trying to save some money and looking after there own pocket instead of giving it all to the LBS.

I don't think anyone said there was. I just don't agree with the statement that they are obsolete, they provide a service for many who would not be able to get the same service online.

When buying online and letting the shop fit it, you are still giving them business. Some of you's maybe able to afford the gold services that some LBS are charging up to 130 euro for but i'm not willing to pay that. Ill try do some myself and get them to do the rest.

Most LBS's are happy with this in my experience, they still cover their labour with a little on top.

As for LBS going out of business, every small village in dublin has one now. I often pop into them and never see them empty. Last night i was working across from joe dalys in dundrum and between 6-7 i must have seen up to 20 people go in.

It's been a few years since I called into an empty bike shop, they must be preparing for the closing down sale

km991148

This thread is silly - guilt over paying someone for a service?
People should know how to use parts they buy online wtf?

Fwiw; I buy stuff all the time with the best intention of fitting them.. turns out I underestimate my own laziness..! When it gets to the point where there are more spare parts in the hot press than there are bits on my bike I head down the bike shop and get a quote for fitting them. They make enough profit from me with the odd service/ pads/ consumables like tubes etc.. but even without.. guilt wound't even come into it!

+not to mention - when I do ever get round to fitting parts in my own ham fisted way I end up spending double the time for half the job.. but that's just me!

Tenzor07

A "relationship" in this context means a good working relationship with your LBS, and what that means also is that I can bring the bike in on the way home from a spin for example to replace a broken spoke and get the wheel trued/checked over, for free! And ahead of the que of repairs they have in the shop at the time..

So "Bike maintenance is simple, doesn't require an expert for like 99.9% of everything" right so, can you service a front and rear oil/air suspension shock? Replace pivot bearings with the right ones/tension etc? True up wheels, align mech hangers accurately, replace pistons and do a full system bleed on hydraulic brakes? These are the .1% of bike maintenance I don't have the tools or years of experience doing, not to mention the amount of time to do this, i'd rather be out cycling!

aFlabbyPanda

With the exception of some stuff (usually things like bar tape or stuff I didn't realise needed replacing) I usually buy my parts online. I've no problem paying for his skill but not uncompetitive prices.

smacl

km991148 wrote: »

not to mention - when I do ever get round to fitting parts in my own ham fisted way I end up spending double the time for half the job.. but that's just me!

Nah, that's everyone. You get less ham fisted with practise, but unless you enjoy mucking about with bikes or really want to know how they work a bike mechanic will be the better option. I do enjoy it, so its a no-brainer, and have my own bikes, the wifes bike, and the kids bikes to muck about on a wet evening rather than watching some dross on the box or going to the pub. I also had great craic last winter re-building an old bike from scratch with my daughter which is now her pride and joy, and a great lesson that fixing things can be more fun than buying things. If you don't enjoy it, don't do, if you do frustration does IMHO eventually lead to real satisfaction however smug that may sound.

CramCycle

smacl wrote: »

Nah, that's everyone. You get less ham fisted with practise,

I remember the first time I done "proper" work on my bike (ie more than changing a tube or brake blocks).

I replaced the cabling for my gears but somehow got the cable housing the wrong way or I forgot it for the rear derailleur. It still changed gears. One of the lads from a club pointed out that my cabling was wrong, only for the fact I hadn't changed past the smallest 3 cogs, I hadn't noticed, the cable would have snapped or wrapped into the cassette and snapped the hanger.

Can't even remember how I managed to do it now.

km991148

smacl wrote: »

Nah, that's everyone. You get less ham fisted with practise, but unless you enjoy mucking about with bikes or really want to know how they work a bike mechanic will be the better option. I do enjoy it, so its a no-brainer, and have my own bikes, the wifes bike, and the kids bikes to muck about on a wet evening rather than watching some dross on the box or going to the pub. I also had great craic last winter re-building an old bike from scratch with my daughter which is now her pride and joy, and a great lesson that fixing things can be more fun than buying things. If you don't enjoy it, don't do, if you do frustration does IMHO eventually lead to real satisfaction however smug that may sound.

tbh I don't mind maintenance too much and I aint that bad really - especially with youtube etc these days, however I don't do some jobs often enough so It is still often very time consuming!

CramCycle wrote: »

I remember the first time I done "proper" work on my bike (ie more than changing a tube or brake blocks).

I replaced the cabling for my gears but somehow got the cable housing the wrong way or I forgot it for the rear derailleur. It still changed gears. One of the lads from a club pointed out that my cabling was wrong, only for the fact I hadn't changed past the smallest 3 cogs, I hadn't noticed, the cable would have snapped or wrapped into the cassette and snapped the hanger.

Can't even remember how I managed to do it now.

First time I done the cables on my bike (actually possibly the only time.. bikes shops do it now..see above!!) It took ages working on a hybrid with a cheap derailleur and cheaper brakes which were a pain to remove the cables from and get back on properly esp for a noob the bike got nicked 2 days later.. I don't know what I was most upset for the bike or the complete waste of 5 hours of my weekend!! I can only hope my workmanship was so bad it caused some form of accident for the f-bag that took it..

harringtonp

With the massive growth of online shopping in the last 10 years, bike shops like all other businesses have had to reassess their business models.

- As regards selling bikes and components newbies, bike to work scheme, kids stuff are their bread winners. For component/bike sales, the likes of boardsies won't make them a living.

- With many more cycling thesedays and more money around I'd imagine the bike mechanic business has grown substantially in recent years. There are many like me who know what they want but cannot be assed spending hours figuring it all out. Bike mechanics is where you tap into this market and recently I've noticed that smaller LBS have started as mechanics and then expanded.

ted1

I used the LBS for stuff I need quickly, tubes , lubes , spokes, tyres.

Things like tools , chains eye I get online.

I can do basic repairs myself but will use the LBS to do an overhaul on the wheels etc.

There's a place for everything,

I do find it odd that a distributor allows such price variance. Like a chain on CRC costs 20 and its 50 in store.

wexandproud

i dont think its fair asking lbs to work with parts bought online , like i said in a previous thread we will be sorry when they are all closed and only then will we realise their value. i have never bought online and dont intend to and i get great service from the lbs , even down to collecting or dropping off bike at house if im under pressure work wise and what about the time you will have head set trouble or a seized seat post or bottom bracket problem..
the people who buy stuff online for their bikes would they buy parts for their car on line and walk into their local car dealer and expect them to repair their car with them ?