Conference noted::bicycle

re        <<< Note 1410.0 by BOOKS::MULDOON "I'll be right back - Godot" >>>
>                        -< Bike Shop Winter Overhauls >-

>                       Special Price!
    
>                           $99.95
>                           ------


	I dunno, it doesn't sound like more than a coupla hours work 
to me, at the  VERY MOST,  even for a very careful and fairly slow, 
but thorough amateur mechanic like myself who doesn't take any short
cuts or have things set up for "bikes only"  in the garage. 

	R

{just one o' those  "Must be in the wrong business"  days, I guess}

    >>                    SAVE $75.00 !
    >>                   Special Price!
    >>
    >>                       $99.95
    
    I left the bike business to raise my standard of living but, gee, at
    $174.95 a pop, I could ...
    
    Hey, wait a minute, who's gonna lay out that kind of $$
    
    btw, a thorough overhaul takes an experienced mechanic ~2-3 hours,
    unless the bike's in really lousy condition (then it takes a couple of
    months to talk the owner into getting a new one). The better quality
    bikes are easier to work on.
    
    RW
    

    RE: .1 & .2:  HEY give the guy a break, it's not all labor!  There's
    4 new cables and maybe another 80 or so balls getting thrown in, to say
    nothing of fresh grease.  Parts ain't cheap.  :-)
    
    The ad (.0) said loose balls, I hope he uses races where they were
    initially.
    
    ed

    RE: .3
    
    Why do you hope he uses races where they were initially instead of
    using loose balls??

     I have to agree. That's big time dough. Regardless of cables and
    ball bearings. Even the best ball bearings wouldn't eat up a kid's
    school lunch money. Unless  he'll Simonize the paint and Armorall
    the tires, I'll stick to it myself.
    
     

    Used to, one of those winter overhauls or tune-ups cost $20 or $30,
    I think.  What we're seeing now is something more than inflation:
    there are people who have spent quite a lot of money to get quite
    nice bikes, but are really just dabbling - they aren't kids; they
    are used to big leisure outlays for ski lift-tickets, BMW rolfing,
    whatever - so $99 to protect investment in a machine they don't
    really understand mechanically is money well spent.  From their
    point of view, I can sympathize.  I'd hate to foul up a nice bike.
    
    Why, I myself paid for an overhaul on my first ($155) ten-speed,
    at Lincoln Guide Service.  Actually, they didn't get into the
    bearings, but they did replace a few worn components - chain,
    tires, a couple of cogs.
    
    But anyway, $99 seems pretty steep.
    
    -john

    to .4: why do I prefer races to loose balls.  I just don't like messing
    with loose balls in either a bottom bracket or a headset.
    
    ed

Last fall, the bike shop at 101/101A in Amherst NH (Wilderness Outfitters or 
Sunshine Sports?) had a big sign out advertising a tuneup or overhaul special
for 19.95. I suppose regular price mighta been 25-30. I didn't see what was
included but it seems more in the right price range.... Gosh, when I was in
the biz 99$ would've bought an OK entry level brand new bike! (The department
store '10-speed racers' were going for 59-69). Thank goodness the preceding
doesn't make me feel old. Thank goodness.

                                            ken

    There's a  big  difference between what bike shops call "tune ups"
    and  what  they  call "overhauls". A tuneup adjusts the brakes and
    derailleurs,  and  might  change  the cables. If they're in a good
    mood,  they  true the wheels. An overhaul repacks all the bearings
    in addition to what a tune up does. I seem to remember prices like
    $25 for a tuneup and $60-$80 winter special on overhauls.

--David

It really all depends on how good a machanic you are and how much you ride.  I
for one don't have the tool (or the courage) to take my bottom bracket apart. 
Maybe it's worth it to have a PRO do it once every couple years.

    
    "once every couple of years" ?!!!   This is what my friends
    berate *me* about!  Of course it never rains in California,
    according to some lyricists, so that's a factor.  :-)
    
    The first time I disassembled the De Rosa's bottom bracket
    was only a year after I'd bought it, and yet there was already
    the merest nick in the crankaxle. 
    
    -john

    .10
    
    For shame, batman.  I have the tools.  So does Gary, I think.  A
    bottom bracket is easier than a hub.  Headsets require a little
    bit of a touch to get perfect, but you can do it.  If you have to
    replace the pressed in races or fixed cup, then you want to go see
    Shaw.  With regular repacking, you should only need to do that for
    headsets every year or two.   Bottom brackets almost never.

	The terms "tune up" and "overhaul" have no universal meaning. They
	could be anything from a wall job (lean the bike against a wall for
	a day) to a full restoration (make everything like new).  Please
	ask what a procedure will cover before you decide how much the
	"tune up" is worth.

    A proper winter overhaul should be remove ALL parts from a frame, then
    wax the frame, soak all components in a cleaning solution, then put
    back together greasing all appropriate threads.  The process takes
    me about 3 hours for a bike with decent components.  Doing a overhaul
    this way allows you to inspect all parts before rebuilding.  I do not
    change cables for the sake of changing them, especially if the are
    Campy or equivalent type of cable.  
    
    By doing a overhaul this way, it make on the road repairs easier, bolts
    don't get rusted/frozen on.
    
    Steve
    (who is leading a bike workshop in Worcester for the Seven Hills
    Wheelmen, costing attendies $5.00 versus $125.00 for a bike shop
    course)

    re .14 - 
    I agree with your def'n of overhaul. Also, if you put a rust
    inhibitor on the cables originally, you'll rarely have to touch them.
    re .*
    Conservative estimates for frequency of cleaning and repacking of
    bearings with grease (if bike is never ridden in the rain):
    
    headset - 		every six mos. to a year
    bottom bracket -	every other year or 5K miles (heavier grease)
    hubs - 		every year for top quality hubs (cheapies may
    			require more frequent lube/adjustment)
    freewheel -		did you know this guy has bearings? I have a twenty	
    			year old maeda (suntour) body in my parts box that was 
    			kept alive by a thin application of lubriplate on the
    			bearings every year (the cogs are kinda worn, 
    			though). I know, who can be bothered to overhaul a
    			freewheel? A little oil is good from time to time.
    
    If you ride in the rain, all bets are off: I'd do these things twice as
    often or whenever there is a gritty feel to a hub, BB, etc. Headsets
    are usually the first to get it, especially the lower race.
    
    In addition, the chain should be cleaned and lubed every 500 or so
    miles and replaced around 2000 miles (see religious wars over this in
    another note!). Wipe off the chainrings and the derailleur rollers at
    the same time. Cables should be checked for rust and replaced as
    required.
    
    re: loose balls - some components work better with the original
    style bearings in retainers (Astabula notwithstanding).
    
    Roger 

    In defense of Fritz, I have had my bikes serviced there for the last 5
    years and I have found that he provided excellent service, advice, and
    his prices were reasonable.  This included a complete overhaul and a
    couple of tuneups.  He does make a clear distinction between a tuneup
    and an overhual.  The tuneup means that he goes over all the
    adjustments and sees that the shifting mechanism is adjusted properly,
    brakes etc are all good for the season.
    
    The overhaul covers just about everything except the wax job.  The
    proof of this work is trouble free cycling and that is what I have had.
    While I have done some work myself, I just don't have the time and the
    experience that he does.  For those in the same situation, talk to the
    man and determine for yourself if it is a good value.