you have to be kidding - Page 6 - Cycling Mob: Road Cycling, Mountain Biking and More

03-01-2005, 11:15 PM

Wed, 02 Mar 2005 04:30:08 GMT,
<[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> scud jockey, RonSonic
<[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].com> wrote, in part:

>likely as anything else a
>tendency toward trendiness that afflicts this hobby.

Shove you "hobby" deeply into the darkest recesses of your posterior!

Cycling is LIFE!

Hobbyists are pretend bikers. Go, get back on your FMUP where
hobbyists belong.
--
zk

03-01-2005, 11:47 PM

Tue, 01 Mar 2005 22:03:21 -0500,
<[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]>, "David L. Johnson"
<[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> concluded:

>If you had a 1994 Honda Civic which needed $1000 worth of transmission work,
>would it be worth it?* Similar call here.

If you found a two-hundred dollar 70's era Swiss built ten-speed in
the trash would you spend $120 on pedals, $30 on tires, $40 for a
saddle and $30 for a cog so you could turn it into a single speed?

I would.

Bicycles are a whole different animal.

Cars suck - Bikes rule.
--
zk

03-01-2005, 11:47 PM

Tue, 01 Mar 2005 22:03:21 -0500,
<[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]>, "David L. Johnson"
<[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> concluded:

>If you had a 1994 Honda Civic which needed $1000 worth of transmission work,
>would it be worth it?* Similar call here.

If you found a two-hundred dollar 70's era Swiss built ten-speed in
the trash would you spend $120 on pedals, $30 on tires, $40 for a
saddle and $30 for a cog so you could turn it into a single speed?

I would.

Bicycles are a whole different animal.

Cars suck - Bikes rule.
--
zk

03-02-2005, 04:41 AM

"Mike Jacoubowsky" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote:

>Something really doesn't add up here. I think you need to have a
>conversation with the owner of the shop, rather than spend time going over
>things here. $300 for just a chain, chainrings and cassette defies logic.

I did some "shopping" and found one scenario where he'd be getting a
(relative) bargain...

Wipperman ConneX hollow pin chain
Campy 10 speed 13-26 titanium cassette
Campy Record Compact 50T ring

At $300, he'd be getting them at (believe it or not) about $60 below
wholesale. That's kinda in the "defies logic" category as well, I
think. The scary thing is, there are probably quite a few folks
running the above as their everyday drive train components - hope
they're budgeting for replacements!

Mark Hickey
Habanero Cycles
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
Home of the $695 ti frame

03-02-2005, 04:41 AM

"Mike Jacoubowsky" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote:

>Something really doesn't add up here. I think you need to have a
>conversation with the owner of the shop, rather than spend time going over
>things here. $300 for just a chain, chainrings and cassette defies logic.

I did some "shopping" and found one scenario where he'd be getting a
(relative) bargain...

Wipperman ConneX hollow pin chain
Campy 10 speed 13-26 titanium cassette
Campy Record Compact 50T ring

At $300, he'd be getting them at (believe it or not) about $60 below
wholesale. That's kinda in the "defies logic" category as well, I
think. The scary thing is, there are probably quite a few folks
running the above as their everyday drive train components - hope
they're budgeting for replacements!

Mark Hickey
Habanero Cycles
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
Home of the $695 ti frame

03-02-2005, 05:52 AM

On Wed, 02 Mar 2005 06:41:09 -0700, Mark Hickey wrote:

> "Mike Jacoubowsky" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote:
>
>>Something really doesn't add up here. I think you need to have a
>>conversation with the owner of the shop, rather than spend time going over
>>things here. $300 for just a chain, chainrings and cassette defies logic.
>
> I did some "shopping" and found one scenario where he'd be getting a
> (relative) bargain...
>
> Wipperman ConneX hollow pin chain
> Campy 10 speed 13-26 titanium cassette
> Campy Record Compact 50T ring
>
> At $300, he'd be getting them at (believe it or not) about $60 below
> wholesale. That's kinda in the "defies logic" category as well, I
> think.

Not too much chance of these components being found on a Trek 1200, is
there?

> The scary thing is, there are probably quite a few folks
> running the above as their everyday drive train components - hope
> they're budgeting for replacements!

Well, either they have enough money so that they don't have to ask, or
they don't ride enough to ever wear out the parts.

--

David L. Johnson

__o | It is a scientifically proven fact that a mid life crisis can
_`\(,_ | only be cured by something racy and Italian. Bianchis and
(_)/ (_) | Colnagos are a lot cheaper than Maserattis and Ferraris. --
Glenn Davies

03-02-2005, 05:52 AM

On Wed, 02 Mar 2005 06:41:09 -0700, Mark Hickey wrote:

> "Mike Jacoubowsky" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote:
>
>>Something really doesn't add up here. I think you need to have a
>>conversation with the owner of the shop, rather than spend time going over
>>things here. $300 for just a chain, chainrings and cassette defies logic.
>
> I did some "shopping" and found one scenario where he'd be getting a
> (relative) bargain...
>
> Wipperman ConneX hollow pin chain
> Campy 10 speed 13-26 titanium cassette
> Campy Record Compact 50T ring
>
> At $300, he'd be getting them at (believe it or not) about $60 below
> wholesale. That's kinda in the "defies logic" category as well, I
> think.

Not too much chance of these components being found on a Trek 1200, is
there?

> The scary thing is, there are probably quite a few folks
> running the above as their everyday drive train components - hope
> they're budgeting for replacements!

Well, either they have enough money so that they don't have to ask, or
they don't ride enough to ever wear out the parts.

--

David L. Johnson

__o | It is a scientifically proven fact that a mid life crisis can
_`\(,_ | only be cured by something racy and Italian. Bianchis and
(_)/ (_) | Colnagos are a lot cheaper than Maserattis and Ferraris. --
Glenn Davies

03-02-2005, 06:33 AM

Mary wrote:
>
> The kicker to my conversation with the mechanic was that it would be
more
> cost effective
> to buy a new bike than fix the one I had. That is what really threw
me for
> a loop. I can't believe that a 7 year old bike is obsolete...

It's not.

The shop guy is claiming that what you have is no good any more.
Likewise, some responses here have hinted that your bike is somehow low
grade and shouldn't be expected to survive as many miles as it has.

I think both ideas are silly at best. I can still replace anything I
need to on my 1986 touring bike. In fact, my 1972 commuting bike has
had essentially everything replaced at one time or other. Only the
frame and fork remain - and if my crankset somehow caught fire
tomorrow, I could replace it in two days for much less than $300.

Regarding the quality of your bike versus its expected lifetime: The
life of a road bike is essentially infinite. The quick-wear items are
tires & tubes, chain, rear cogs and perhaps brake pads. Wearing much
more slowly are the ball beearings, the cables, the occasional spoke, a
much-used chainring and the handlebar tape. Beyond that, _someday_ you
may need to replace a wheel rim, your saddle and the cleats on your
shoes. Everything else lasts essentially forever - and th parts that
do wear can all be replaced at reasonable cost, perhaps on your own.

I subscribe to Vintage Bicycle Quarterly. People who write for that
magazine have entered Paris-Brest-Paris on 1950s bikes and finished
very well indeed. Your bike is arguably as good.

Bikes are not Kleenex. They should be maintained and used forever.

03-02-2005, 06:33 AM

Mary wrote:
>
> The kicker to my conversation with the mechanic was that it would be
more
> cost effective
> to buy a new bike than fix the one I had. That is what really threw
me for
> a loop. I can't believe that a 7 year old bike is obsolete...

It's not.

The shop guy is claiming that what you have is no good any more.
Likewise, some responses here have hinted that your bike is somehow low
grade and shouldn't be expected to survive as many miles as it has.

I think both ideas are silly at best. I can still replace anything I
need to on my 1986 touring bike. In fact, my 1972 commuting bike has
had essentially everything replaced at one time or other. Only the
frame and fork remain - and if my crankset somehow caught fire
tomorrow, I could replace it in two days for much less than $300.

Regarding the quality of your bike versus its expected lifetime: The
life of a road bike is essentially infinite. The quick-wear items are
tires & tubes, chain, rear cogs and perhaps brake pads. Wearing much
more slowly are the ball beearings, the cables, the occasional spoke, a
much-used chainring and the handlebar tape. Beyond that, _someday_ you
may need to replace a wheel rim, your saddle and the cleats on your
shoes. Everything else lasts essentially forever - and th parts that
do wear can all be replaced at reasonable cost, perhaps on your own.

I subscribe to Vintage Bicycle Quarterly. People who write for that
magazine have entered Paris-Brest-Paris on 1950s bikes and finished
very well indeed. Your bike is arguably as good.

Bikes are not Kleenex. They should be maintained and used forever.

03-02-2005, 06:36 AM

I live in a large metro area and recently paid about $250 for work like
that, but it also included a couple of tires, a front and rear light, a
set of pedals and a tuneup on an old GT bike I had bought on eBay. You
were wise not to let them do your work.

Around here, a new Trek 1200 would go for $830 plus tax, for what it's
worth. Question for the rest of you: Would you upgrade your components
if you were Mary?

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.
>
>