bicycle tune-ups
Thread started by
pretti*ugli at 09.11.08 - 2:04 pm
a good friend has let me borrow his bike for a week and i would like to thank him by getting his iron horse tuned up...any places near la???
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Go to Athena in Studio City. Howard the owner does the repairs.
He has over 30 years of experience as a bike mechanic, schwinn
factory trained. A+
Dedicated81809.11.08 - 3:04 pm
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OR YOU COULD CALL, ME
GIVE YOUR MONEY TO AN OTHER RIDA.
IF YOU GOTO A BIKE SHOP, THEY GOING TO CHARGE YOU BIG TIME
eddieboyinla09.11.08 - 3:22 pm
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Howard is a midnight rider, and will do a pro job for a fair price.
no offense but you will get a pro job if you go to a pro. Shadetree
mechanics are ok if you want to fix junk for cheap.
Dedicated81809.11.08 - 3:30 pm
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Shadetree
mechanics
WTF IS THAT?
IVE NEVER BEEN CALLED THAT BEFORE, WAS THAT A PUT DOWN?
ARE YOU SAYING THAT ONLY FOOS THAT ACTUALLY HAVE A JOB AT A 'BIKE SHOP' ARE THE ONLY ONES THAT KNOW WHAT THEY ARE DOING?
I KNOW AT LEAST 300 RIDAZZ THAT CAN PUT A 'BIKE SHOP MECHANIC' TO SHAME.
WORD.
eddieboyinla09.11.08 - 3:44 pm
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Oh sorry didn't mean to insult you. but the fact is a pro will do a pro job. are you a pro bike mechanic? withn 30 years experience?
do you have a pro tool set? I have owned 3 bicycle shops and find your comments offensive. Many people think they are bike mechanics but are limited on skill. Have you worked in the trenches
or worked on pro equipment? would a shop hire you? there is a shortage of good mechanics right now. are you Pro ? or just talk?
Dedicated81809.11.08 - 4:12 pm
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i've done the road overhaul at bike john's before. they clean everything out and its ridiculously expensive.
but i trust them with my bikes more than anywhere else. i've taken it to smaller shops and gotten the "tune up" only to find that they didnt do shit.
it happens.
ijunes09.11.08 - 4:14 pm
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Interesting generalization. My mechanic used to work in a bike shop but because of the lousy pay, he went out and got another job so he could pay his rent. He now works "under a shade tree" and moonlights at it. At one time, he was a mechanic on a couple of pro-racing team so it sounds like the bike shop owner wasn't paying him what he was worth.
mk452409.11.08 - 4:30 pm
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"OR YOU COULD CALL, ME ..GIVE YOUR MONEY TO AN OTHER RIDA. ..IF YOU GOTO A BIKE SHOP, THEY GOING TO CHARGE YOU BIG TIME eddieboyinla 09.11.08 - 6:22 pm"
Yeah Have Eddie Tune it...he is awesome at fixin' bikes
MOM_RIDAZ42009.11.08 - 4:34 pm
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So true that is the problem with the bike biz. low pay. its hard to keep good help. I too am now a shadetee mechanic fixing bikes for friends. I went and got a job in TV to make real money.
Dedicated81809.11.08 - 4:38 pm
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Even though I don't quite agree with you on "shade tree mechanics", I do appreciate what bike store owners go through. There was another thread about how expensive it was to buy a bike at a bike shop. I learned from one friend that the profit margin for a new bike is pretty thin and that a bike store owner has to rely on parts, accessories and servicing to keep the doors open.
mk452409.11.08 - 4:53 pm
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I'd take Eddie over the average bike mechanic any day of the week.
If you want the job done well at a fair price, send Eddie a message.
If you want the job done by a mechanic with a storefront, call an LBS. Most of them have at least one good mechanic. Athena gets consistently positive reports on this site, so I'd check them out. I've had pretty good luck with the Wheel World mechanic in Culver City as well.
If you want to learn to do it yourself and spend the time going over each part of the bike and learning how to do tuneups, swing by the Bikerowave, Bike Kitchen or Bike Oven, and learn how to do it yourself.
JB09.11.08 - 5:06 pm
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Due to the increasing popularity of bikes, there are new shops opening almost weekly. This creates a shortage for qualified bike mechanics. A lot of shops are hiring a lot of wrenches that have a very basic knowledge of bike repair. One advantage they have is access to the right tools for the job. Having the right tools insures that a job is done correctly and in the shortest amount of time.
Take a very common repair, like fixing a bent rear derailleur, for example. There are several ways to align the derailleur with common household tools but will take some gerry rigging and some time to get close. A semi skilled wrench can do it in just a few minutes.
Tools make a big difference.
sc_nomad09.11.08 - 5:13 pm
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Instead of classifying them as a "shade tree mechanic", I think looking at their tools tells me a lot more about the mechanic. I agree, having the right tools matters. But I've also gone to a LBS and gotten less than good work. Sometimes you pay for what you didn't get too.
mk452409.11.08 - 5:54 pm
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Basic Tune-Up
$25.00
Includes:
*Truing (straitening) of rims
*Adjustment of front & rear derailleur
*Adjustment of front & rear brakes
*Tightening of head set & bottom bracket
*Tightening of any other lose component
(Replacement parts will have an additional charge.)
Give your bike a bath for $10.00 more.
Advanced Tune-Up
$45.00
Includes:
*Truing (straitening) of rims
*Adjustment of front & rear derailleur
*Adjustment of front & rear brakes
*Tightening of head set & bottom bracket
*Tightening of any other lose component
*Cleaning & repacking of bottom bracket
*Cleaning & repacking of head set
(Replacement parts will have an additional charge.)
Give your bike a bath for $10.00 more.
Tune-ups dropped of in the morning can generally be finished by the end of the day.
Other general services: Labor costs only.
Installation of a new tube in a wheel: $3.00 (does not include cost of the tube)
Truing of a wheel: $10.00
Building a wheel $25.00
Repacking a hub, headset or bottom bracket: $10.00
Adjusting a brake: $5.00
Adjusting a derailleur: $5.00
Installation of handlebars: $10:00 for bikes with gears/handle bar tape. $5 otherwise
Removal/installation of pedals or chain: $5.00
Breaking a bike down for shipping: $10-15
Assembling a bike packed from shipping: $10-15
Stripping a bike to the bare frame $25.00
Assembling a bike from a bare frame (what we call a basket case) $30.00
Installation of various parts i.e. seats, grips, bells, fenders etc. $0-10 depending on the difficulty or if you purchased the part from me or brought it in yourself.
I also offer frame painting, restorations, welding (steel). I'm not afraid to tackle non-bicycle projects, get in touch with your questions.
rev10609.11.08 - 10:51 pm
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shit thanks guys...i have more info than i know what to do with...yo eddie how far are you from la...what time and days are you availabe...and a price would be nice...i was looking to learn the basics myself but they all those co-op bike shops stay busy... yo eddie i just started riding and im loving it!!! maybe ill bring over some brew and u can show me a thing or two??? let me know
(three 1 ouh) for nyne 3-two too nine to
pretti*ugli09.12.08 - 12:07 pm
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