bike shop service differences - best value?

wallofbeans

Hi All,

I've got a Dahon folding bike (with no gears and a pedal backwards rear brake) that I use for commuting a two days a week and it needs a service. All seems fine, but it's been a while and I'd like to get it thoroughly checked out. 

I've found three local bike shops that have good reviews, but I have no idea what I'm talking about with this stuff and the way they describe the different service options is very different, and I can't tell if they are offering the same thing, or extra things I don't need, or what...

Can anyone help advise me which to go for? Or of they are all basically the same? I'll put screenshots from their sites below...  

Thanks!

wallofbeans

These are the three bike shops I've found: 

Nearlyold

Personally if I didn't already know what to do, I'd spend £20 on a bike maintenance book and do it myself. For a basic bike safety/operation check very few tools if any are required & with no gears to worry about a DIY service is a doddle though a few tools might be required. If I was determined to pay someone else I'd go with the third firms safety check at £20 on the basis that they should spot any major problem while carrying it out. This is on the assumption you've at least been lubricating chains etc

wallofbeans

Nearlyold said:

Personally if I didn't already know what to do, I'd spend £20 on a bike maintenance book and do it myself. For a basic bike safety/operation check very few tools if any are required & with no gears to worry about a DIY service is a doddle though a few tools might be required. If I was determined to pay someone else I'd go with the third firms safety check at £20 on the basis that they should spot any major problem while carrying it out. This is on the assumption you've at least been lubricating chains etc

Thanks for that. Noted that I could potentially do it myself. But I would prefer to get an expert to do it, so I can feel comfortable that it is safe.

I use it twice a week, for an hour or so, 30 weeks a year maximum. I've cleaned it a few times, and do have some lubrication liquid but haven't done anything with it. So no, I've not been lubricating the chains or anything!

Nearlyold

In that case given the bike has no time consuming gears to deal with I'd ring each shop to explain what you've got, how long since it was serviced, how much you use it and ask them to advise accordingly and choose whoever you think is most on your wavelength.

MilesT6060842

Does your area have a not for profit "community" bike shop?  Suggest asking them first.

For example, in Westminster, there is Westminster Community cycles (on Church Street, in the north of the borough, in the market area).  Nearest tubes are Edgeware Road and Marylebone (tube not much use if bringing in a whole cycle as these are not allowed on most public transport, but if you just need a wheel fixed or need to buy a part then tube is viable, and train very viable off peak).  

Not for profit, reasonable rates, with the dual benefits of encouraging cycling but also training unemployed people into a sustainable job. 

I haven't had a full service, but have had a couple of inner tubes done on children's bikes (I can do inner tubes myself,, but it is one of the worst jobs, only a short walk away, and I am willing to pay someone a modest amount of money to do that especially someone who is working towards financial independence.)

martindow

I agree with phoning bike shops and would specifically mention back pedal brakes.  I don't think they are very common here unlike in Holland for instance.  They are a drum brake which might be unfamiliar to some less experienced repairers and I wonder how straightforward it is getting spares for them.  If any of the shops seem confused at the idea, I would cross them off the list of possible places to go.

MilesT6060842

martindow said:

I agree with phoning bike shops and would specifically mention back pedal brakes.  I don't think they are very common here unlike in Holland for instance.  They are a drum brake which might be unfamiliar to some less experienced repairers and I wonder how straightforward it is getting spares for them.  If any of the shops seem confused at the idea, I would cross them off the list of possible places to go.

I hadn't spotted the back pedal brake in the original post.  I think that kind or brake is called a "coaster brake" in the US and I think it is actually a legal requirement supply that brake type on bikes below a certain frame/wheel size i.e. childrens. 

This is regardless of the fact that back pedal brakes are potentially quite dangerous if the bike is to be used for mountain biking (childrens mountain bikes in the US can be constructed to accept/are supplied with a replacement rear wheel with standard gears and caliper brake, although the delivered bike has to have the coaster brake installed).

wallofbeans

MilesT6060842 said:

martindow said:

I agree with phoning bike shops and would specifically mention back pedal brakes.  I don't think they are very common here unlike in Holland for instance.  They are a drum brake which might be unfamiliar to some less experienced repairers and I wonder how straightforward it is getting spares for them.  If any of the shops seem confused at the idea, I would cross them off the list of possible places to go.

I hadn't spotted the back pedal brake in the original post.  I think that kind or brake is called a "coaster brake" in the US and I think it is actually a legal requirement supply that brake type on bikes below a certain frame/wheel size i.e. childrens. 

This is regardless of the fact that back pedal brakes are potentially quite dangerous if the bike is to be used for mountain biking (childrens mountain bikes in the US can be constructed to accept/are supplied with a replacement rear wheel with standard gears and caliper brake, although the delivered bike has to have the coaster brake installed).

Yes, I think it is called a coaster brake, that sounds familar! 

wallofbeans

MilesT6060842 said:

Does your area have a not for profit "community" bike shop?  Suggest asking them first.

For example, in Westminster, there is Westminster Community cycles (on Church Street, in the north of the borough, in the market area).  Nearest tubes are Edgeware Road and Marylebone (tube not much use if bringing in a whole cycle as these are not allowed on most public transport, but if you just need a wheel fixed or need to buy a part then tube is viable, and train very viable off peak).  

Not for profit, reasonable rates, with the dual benefits of encouraging cycling but also training unemployed people into a sustainable job. 

I haven't had a full service, but have had a couple of inner tubes done on children's bikes (I can do inner tubes myself,, but it is one of the worst jobs, only a short walk away, and I am willing to pay someone a modest amount of money to do that especially someone who is working towards financial independence.)

I had a look for similar nearer to me, south of the river, but couldn't find anything. The place you mention is now called Westminster Wheels I think, and it looks great. My bike is a Duhon folding bike so I can take it on the tube/train whenever I want, so that isn't an issue.

I've emailed them, as well as a few other places, to ask advice on which service might suit - and I'll see what they reply. 

The problem I have is there are too many choices, and they all use different language to describe each level of "service" so it's difficult to compare.

I'll see what comes back. Thanks for the advice all!

Wyndham

With folding bikes you also need to check the hinges. Not all bike shops will be used to these, so it's worth checking. Put that with your back brake pedal, and you may well find the number of choices is far lower than you think. But, it's important to find someone who understands your particular bike.

I don't know the brand Dahon, but as a comparison, I have a Brompton, and to service it am looking for someone who specialises in those as they will understand them. I also have an ebike, and wouldn't let anyone near it who didn't understand how to deal with the electronics. A generalist can do so much, but if you want peace of mind (and I think that is why you don't want to do your own servicing?) then it's worth looking for a specialist.