Bicycle Servicing Costs

PasturesNew

So, I've got a bike.... I know which end is the front, so can always get on it the right way round ..... but I don't do maintenance. It's got loads of gears (21 Shimano), which I don't know how to use (and when I try to change gears with the left hand side the chain usually drops off after a lot of clunking) - my last bike had a little lever attached to the handlebars and it had 3 gears and I understood that.

As I've had the bike a few years now .... I enquired how much a service would be at a random/local shop and was told it was £47 (plus any parts).

Now - that sounds a LOT to me.

How much do services cost?
What makes a difference to the cost of a service?
How can I find cheaper servicing (without anybody suggesting I do it myself)?

At £47 it's just not going to happen.....

reeac

PasturesNew wrote: »

So, I've got a bike.... I know which end is the front, so can always get on it the right way round ..... but I don't do maintenance. It's got loads of gears (21 Shimano), which I don't know how to use (and when I try to change gears with the left hand side the chain usually drops off after a lot of clunking) - my last bike had a little lever attached to the handlebars and it had 3 gears and I understood that.

As I've had the bike a few years now .... I enquired how much a service would be at a random/local shop and was told it was £47 (plus any parts).

Now - that sounds a LOT to me.

How much do services cost?
What makes a difference to the cost of a service?
How can I find cheaper servicing (without anybody suggesting I do it myself)?

At £47 it's just not going to happen.....

Firstly, I hope that you keep pedalling but with no tension on the chain when changing gear. Secondly, avoid using the "extreme" gears - e.g. smallest chainwheel with smallest rear cog as the chain doesn't like those combinations. As for derailleur adjustment [which may be needed], chain cleaning and lubrication, brake and various bearing adjustments that will amount to about 60 minutes of someone's time for which you'll have to pay. Look for a keen would-be Wiggo teenager if you don't like the shop price.

Sgt_Pepper_2

£47 is reasonable.

So I'd suggest you do it yourself, or like you say its not going to happen.

PasturesNew

reeac wrote: »

Firstly, I hope that you keep pedalling but with no tension on the chain when changing gear.

I don't know what this means... what I do is continue to cycle and flick the handlebar round while pedalling .... I continue pedalling while it's making all the clunking noises and I pray that it'll 'catch' and engage, rather than fall off

reeac wrote: »

Secondly, avoid using the "extreme" gears - e.g. smallest chainwheel with smallest rear cog as the chain doesn't like those combinations. As for derailleur adjustment [which may be needed], chain cleaning and lubrication, brake and various bearing adjustments that will amount to about 60 minutes of someone's time for which you'll have to pay. Look for a keen would-be Wiggo teenager if you don't like the shop price.

So 60 minutes is £47? Where can I learn to become a servicer of bicycles??? If one worked 35 hours/week doing that it'd annualise at £85,000.

SRSLY .... interested in bikes now

Sgt_Pepper_2

Well, if you have to know how, some premises have the tools and a bike stand, go for it.


But can you guarantee 35 hours of work a week?

PasturesNew

Sgt_Pepper wrote: »

But can you guarantee 35 hours of work a week?

To be honest..... 10 hours would be sufficient for a fab lifestyle. Could spend the remainder of the week sitting on a chair chatting to people going by and offering bike hire

Or start a biking holiday company, providing various guided cycle trips.

Or.... just do 10 hours/week and leave it at that.

Sgt_Pepper_2

I'd suggest you're not up to doing the guiding yourself.

PasturesNew

Sgt_Pepper wrote: »

I'd suggest you're not up to doing the guiding yourself.

I can do guiding... it's that cycling malarky that's so tricky
I don't do hills..... get off and walk up those. Only a masochist is determined to get to the top of the endless 1-in-4 hills....

Easy Does it Tiger Bike Trails ..... nothing hard here. We'll end with a cream tea.

Sgt_Pepper_2

Stick to your current job.

PasturesNew

Sgt_Pepper wrote: »

Stick to your current job.

I don't have one
Looking for inspiration/opportunities/ideas.

Was it the business name that was a turn off, or are cream teas not popular... maybe we should end at Asda with a pasty.

sujman

PasturesNew wrote: »

How can I find cheaper servicing (without anybody suggesting I do it myself)?

At £47 it's just not going to happen.....

Keep a close eye on all the daily deals websites. Rare but on a couple occasions, I have seen bike service offered for less than £20.