| Re: you have to be kidding
Mary wrote:
> six years ago I bought a Trek 1200. I love the bike and have put
about 4500
> miles a year on it. I took it in for a tune-up last week and to have
the
> chain and chain ring in the back replaced. I just got a call from
the
> mechanic. He said that the front ring is worn out and that total
cost of
> replacing everything that needs to be replaced will be about $300.
He also
> said that many of the parts on the bike have become obsolete and that
in 6
> months it will be hard to find parts for the bike. He recommended I
come in
> and look at a new bike in the 600 to 700 $$ range.
> I thought this was the last bike I would have to buy. Didn't bikes
use to
> last like forever? Your opinion...should I fix the bike I have now
for 300$
> and buy new when I come to that bridge or purchase new now? Any
thoughts
> would be appreciated. I ride daily when the temperature is over 40
f.
> Longest ride each year is a century with 20 mile rides each night and
many
> 30 to 40 mile rides on the weekends.
Without more information it's just not possible to say if $300 is too
high, too low, or an honest estimate of the "total cost of replacing
everything that needs replaced". For replacing just a chain and
non-exotic (no carbon) chainring it's outrageous but for replacing a
chain, chainring, rear cassette, rebuilding the headset, rebuilding
brifters, recabling the brakes and derailleurs, repacking all bearings,
trueing the wheels and replacing spokes as needed, and replacing tubes
and tires $300 is a steal. What exactly did he say he was going to do
for that $300?
OTOH, his claim that the parts for a six year old Trek are going to be
obsolete and hard to find in six months is misleading at best. My 9
speed Chorus/Record mix was "obsolete" when I bought it because 10
speed components were available. The computer you used to post your
question is undoubtedly "obsolete" yet both my bike and your computer
still work, right? ;-)
Regards,
Bob Hunt
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