LBS idiot(s)

Rat Rod Bikes Bicycle Forum

Help Support Rat Rod Bikes Bicycle Forum:

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.
Joined
Jun 19, 2012
Messages
431
Reaction score
9
Location
O.C. Cali. USA
Rating - 100%
1   0   0
Went to my lbs on sun. just to see how much he'd charge to true the wheels on my 58 WF.

75 bux!!

Thats steep, right?

I aint never asked an lbs b4 so...
 
CCR said:
If that includes all new spokes, it's probably about average around here ...

He said he'd break a few, so not all new just 1's he'd break in the process(the stock 1's are rusty,so some new and some old..not!!).

seems alot to me, but i dont know what alls involved.
 
I had a LBS replace a couple of spokes and true a 6 spd rear wheel recently - the freewheel cluster had to be removed, too (both broken spokes were on that side)

$15 plus tax. He also snugged up the bearing cones and left the freewheel cluster loose for me (I mentioned that I was thinking about replacing it)
 
Let me see if I have this straight.

Your LBS estimated what he thinks he needs to charge to make a profit repairing some rusted 54 year old department/auto store quality steel bicycle wheels.

You wish it was cheaper.

Ergo, he is an "idiot".

:?
 
Bendix said:
Let me see if I have this straight.

Your LBS estimated what he thinks he needs to charge to make a profit repairing some rusted 54 year old department/auto store quality steel bicycle wheels.

You wish it was cheaper.

Ergo, he is an "idiot".

:?
For $75 bucks i would rather relace the wheels.The most I have ever paid to true a wheel is 35 bucks.
 
LBS here charges $30 to lace, $15 to true, and it is done whenever he feels like doing it. (Normally about a week later) :roll:

My advice: Buy a cheap truing stand, it will more than pay for itself the first few times you use it. You can normally find them reasonably priced on Amazon or once in a great while used on Craigslist.
 
If a) the job will be time consuming, b) the job involves working with crusty old parts that are no longer standard c) taking on the job might reveal more repair issues, and d) the bike shop is already busy and running a week-plus out for turnaround then expect to pay more.

If the spokes are going to start popping as soon as they're tensioned, that sounds like a job that could suddenly balloon to multi-hour project. If you were running the service shop, would it make more sense to spend an hour rooting around dusty boxes in the basement in search of matching spokes or rebuilding someone's high-zoot suspension fork?

Acting entitled to a discount rate just because the parts you need work done on are old and inexpensive is a good way to find yourself with a quote so big you'll be walking out the door.

Want cheap labor? Stop back on a cold, rainy weekday in February. Mechanics will be so bored that truing a wheel where the spokes snap with every twist will sound like a fun way to fill an afternoon.
 
practice and patience. I haven't tried to true a wheel for a very long time, but I'm sure I can still do it. It's just a science of tension/pull. If my dumb butt can learn it, anyone can.
 
take the time to learn....im really not very bright but i could figure it out(parktools even hads great stuff you can print out to help along the way!)...and if i can anyone can.
itll save lots of cash and even lacing isnt hard.
CLICK ME FOR HOW TO TIPS YOU CAN PRINT OUT!!
and CLICK ME FOR A GREAT HOW TO LACE VIDEO!
dont waste $60 on something you could for nothing or for less than $1 per spoke!
the first ones will take some time(maybe an hour...but a shop will charge you that right off the bat!) but after awhile you can lace/true/tension them in no time at all.
heck ill true them for $60 an hour! :lol:
 
KC so-cal said:
Sounds like southern california orange county prices :roll:

Oh heck... I didn't realize that Schwinnless is an OC Local! I have two recommendations...

1. Mode Bikes at The Lab in Costa Mesa. A buddy had him do some custom wheels for his DX and he was very happy with the work. Not sure about pricing but he will work on "cruiser" style stuff.

2. OC Bicycle Garage on Moulton south of Lake Forest. I think he quoted me $15 for a true and under $90 for a complete rebuild including (36) spokes. This was on a 26" S7 rim and Schwinn hub
 
sensor said:
take the time to learn....im really not very bright but i could figure it out(parktools even hads great stuff you can print out to help along the way!)...and if i can anyone can.
itll save lots of cash and even lacing isnt hard.
CLICK ME FOR HOW TO TIPS YOU CAN PRINT OUT!!
and CLICK ME FOR A GREAT HOW TO LACE VIDEO!
dont waste $60 on something you could for nothing or for less than $1 per spoke!
the first ones will take some time(maybe an hour...but a shop will charge you that right off the bat!) but after awhile you can lace/true/tension them in no time at all.
heck ill true them for $60 an hour! :lol:


Great Links sensor! I bookmarked them.
 

Latest posts

Back
Top