Re: Shop Tale

04-27-2004, 07:23 PM

[that wasn't supposed to be sent yet, sorry -- just a couple more things I
wanted to add]

I haven't had a spill in a couple of years, and then, not only do I crash
Ryan's bike up in Vancouver, but on Saturday, there was a paceline pile up
(someone a ahead of me had a mechanical, and the guy directly in front of me
and I had a crash as a result). No biggie, but I cracked my back-up helmet
(hadn't yet replaced the one cracked in Vancouver), and caused some minor
damage to the bike.

So I took it in to the shop that Saturday, showing them how I broke the
derailler cable and bent the hanger, asked them to replace the handlebar
tape as it was scraped up, and then finally asked for a general look-see to
find other damage I might have missed.

The shop guy, Chris, who I don't know that well says, well, it's a busy time
of year for the shop, but since I'm such a wonderful customer (all those
boxes of chocolates and trays of baked goods pay off), he will fix it that
day.

I get a call from Chris towards the end of the day, saying that things look
worse than he originally thought, and I am to talk to him on Sunday after a
more extensive inspection. I was singing at a couple of church services
Sunday, and then later in the day I was riding that new tandem, I forgot the
shop closes early on Sunday, and so I call right at 10:00 AM Monday when the
place opens to see what the story is.

Chris tells me that the rear cassette and the derailler is worn out, the
pulleys completely shot, and I will need the entire drive train replaced. I
will confess that upon this pronouncement I started to winge. It was not
that long ago that I had the rear cassette and the derailler replaced. Yes,
I was not quite as scrupulous with bicycle hygiene this winter as I should
have been, and have been in years past. However, I just took the bike in,
what, six weeks ago? eight weeks ago? for a tune-up, and no one said
anything then about things looking worn. I don't like to spend money on a
tune up if the reason why things are not running smoothly is because not
because of a need for adjustment, but because things are getting close to
worn enough to be replaced. Plus, I had but forgot to use the 20% coupon I
had for the tune-up, and frankly, much of my motivation of bringing in the
bike for the tune-up was the coupon...well, it went on like this for a
while. Chris very patiently listened to me, and then I realized that I was
basically whining, and I apologized. I asked how much it would cost for all
the repairs/replacements suggested. $210 or so including the handlebar tape
etc. I whined some more, apologized. I asked when the work would be
completed. Thursday, late, because they don't have a Shimano 105 derailler
in the shop (!!! such an exotic part !!!) and it would have to be ordered. I
whined further, again apologized, and then authorized the work to be
completed.

I get a call today, Tuesday, from Jim, the guy who I know and trust, who has
done a lot of work for me. Jim says that he had a chance to look at the
bike. No, it doesn't need the drive train replaced. Yeah, the chain is a
little worn, as is the cassette, but it's really not that bad. The pulleys
definitely need to be replaced, which he did. Then the whole thing just
needed a bit of adjustment. It won't shift like a dream, but I should be
okay. Also, he said that the cones were in bad shape, and so he replaced
those, and repacked the hubs. I can pick up the bike today. I thank Jim for
taking care of me and my bike, and I appreciate all the good service I've
gotten from him over the years.

I come to the shop after work. Jim's already left for the day. I stand
around and yak with the bike shop people for a bit -- Tom, who is a floor
salesman, suggests I look at some new Fuji (which they don't carry) he's
heard about, because he thinks the women-specific design would fit me. We
talk about the recent issue of Bicycling, and the merits or lack thereof of
the League of American Wheelmen, or whatever it's called these days -- the
sort of conversation we have here in rbm.

Finally I get the shop slip. It shows the following work: the handlebar tape
replacement, the cable and housing replacement, and some very minimal labor
charge. Total cost: about $23, including $9 in handlebar tape. The pulleys,
the cones, etc. not mentioned. The old cones are in a little baggie, hanging
from the handlebars, I guess so I can see how they had these little scrapes
on their interior and required replacement. I mention briefly that the cones
and the pulleys aren't on the list, nor the labor for their installation,
and the word is, Jim signed off on the slip, so this must be the work and
parts that I am to pay for.

So I do.

Someone, I know, is going to reply to this saying that I should do my own
work. My response: you don't have to take up gynacology to enjoy sex, and
you don't have to take up wrenching to enjoy bicycling. It's not something I
enjoy. Let someone who does enjoy it, who has the skill and knowledge (like
Jim) do that. I like riding the bike -- messing with its mechanism is
b-o-r-i-n-g.

Warm Regards,

Claire Petersky
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