Metal flake in brake pad... - Page 4 - Cycling Mob: Road Cycling, Mountain Biking and More

01-12-2005, 08:46 PM

On Thu, 13 Jan 2005 04:16:08 GMT, maxo <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote:

>On Wed, 12 Jan 2005 22:20:52 -0500, jj wrote:
>
>> The thing is should I tell the owner? Heck he's the worst of all
>
>Give him a piece of your mind, create a scene, scream and spit. You'll
>feel better. :-)
>
>I posted about a shop like this a while back. The only reason I ever went
>there is because the other guys were closed on Sundays. Finally I
>witnessed her lecturing a new bike owner who was a grown man in his 40 to
>never ride his bike after fixing a flat--to always bring it back to the
>shop for a fifteen dollar safety inspection. I interjected in a friendly
>and rather loud voice, "you're absolutely full of **** if you think a
>grown man can't be trusted to fix a flat." She was speechless.The guy
>about to buy the bike thought so too and left and I did as well before she
>became not so speechless...
>
>Such businesses deserve to die--but this lady's
>shop seems to thrive since there's a certain segment of the market that
>apparently is impressed by the ******* factor. Waddaya gonna do?

These guys aren't just a-holes...they're amost incompetent. Example: Last
week I mentioned having trouble gettin air in the new front tire and asked
him if he'd check it, 'can you pump it up to 80lbs'. He puts the pump on it
and says 'does it get 80 lbs?' I said "uh, I think so".

Now what mechanic would take a customer's say so on what the air pressure
should be. As a -professional- wrench, I'd -always- check the tire wall for
the actual pressure needed. He pumped it up to 80. hah.

>I do miss my Rapid Transit shop in Chicago. I walked in for the first
>time and asked: "I want a modern version of an English three speed." The
>saleslady replied: "Is black ok?". *grin* Now that's my kind of place.

Black, with black accents. uh-huh. ;-D

jj

01-13-2005, 06:33 AM

On Thu, 13 Jan 2005 04:16:08 GMT, maxo <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote:

>On Wed, 12 Jan 2005 22:20:52 -0500, jj wrote:
>
>> The thing is should I tell the owner? Heck he's the worst of all
>
>Give him a piece of your mind, create a scene, scream and spit. You'll
>feel better. :-)
>
>I posted about a shop like this a while back. The only reason I ever went
>there is because the other guys were closed on Sundays. Finally I
>witnessed her lecturing a new bike owner who was a grown man in his 40 to
>never ride his bike after fixing a flat--to always bring it back to the
>shop for a fifteen dollar safety inspection. I interjected in a friendly
>and rather loud voice, "you're absolutely full of **** if you think a
>grown man can't be trusted to fix a flat."

I dunno about that, we got jj here who demands to be shown in detail how to
adjust a brake. The adjusters are either at the lever, the cable stop or the
caliper and if someone can't figure that out he can't be trusted to make the
adjustment. Now personally, I agree with you that people can and should
generally be presumed competent. But in this case jj, the fellow who can't cope
with some debris in a brake pad or tell whether or not it is worn away wants
lessons in brake adjustment, that sounds to me like a guy who wants to be
entertained by the tech. IOW a timewaster of the first order.

Now, his shop is handling him poorly, true. But remember, we're only getting one
side of the story. The store owner walked away from a man writing a check to
converse with a fellow perusing waterbottles? Hmmmmm. Once again we're talking
about a guy who wants a detailed explanation of how to make an adjustment he
will never perform.

(jj, not getting down on you, but really, that's what I read in your post)

>Such businesses deserve to die--but this lady's
>shop seems to thrive since there's a certain segment of the market that
>apparently is impressed by the ******* factor. Waddaya gonna do?

Indeed. Some people love that crap. Some need it. Those who want and need it
will pay for it. I've got no use for the place.

>I do miss my Rapid Transit shop in Chicago. I walked in for the first
>time and asked: "I want a modern version of an English three speed." The
>saleslady replied: "Is black ok?". *grin* Now that's my kind of place.

Gotta go with a place that knows and likes the products and customers especially
if they've got a sense of humor.

Ron

01-13-2005, 06:33 AM

On Thu, 13 Jan 2005 04:16:08 GMT, maxo <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote:

>On Wed, 12 Jan 2005 22:20:52 -0500, jj wrote:
>
>> The thing is should I tell the owner? Heck he's the worst of all
>
>Give him a piece of your mind, create a scene, scream and spit. You'll
>feel better. :-)
>
>I posted about a shop like this a while back. The only reason I ever went
>there is because the other guys were closed on Sundays. Finally I
>witnessed her lecturing a new bike owner who was a grown man in his 40 to
>never ride his bike after fixing a flat--to always bring it back to the
>shop for a fifteen dollar safety inspection. I interjected in a friendly
>and rather loud voice, "you're absolutely full of **** if you think a
>grown man can't be trusted to fix a flat."

I dunno about that, we got jj here who demands to be shown in detail how to
adjust a brake. The adjusters are either at the lever, the cable stop or the
caliper and if someone can't figure that out he can't be trusted to make the
adjustment. Now personally, I agree with you that people can and should
generally be presumed competent. But in this case jj, the fellow who can't cope
with some debris in a brake pad or tell whether or not it is worn away wants
lessons in brake adjustment, that sounds to me like a guy who wants to be
entertained by the tech. IOW a timewaster of the first order.

Now, his shop is handling him poorly, true. But remember, we're only getting one
side of the story. The store owner walked away from a man writing a check to
converse with a fellow perusing waterbottles? Hmmmmm. Once again we're talking
about a guy who wants a detailed explanation of how to make an adjustment he
will never perform.

(jj, not getting down on you, but really, that's what I read in your post)

>Such businesses deserve to die--but this lady's
>shop seems to thrive since there's a certain segment of the market that
>apparently is impressed by the ******* factor. Waddaya gonna do?

Indeed. Some people love that crap. Some need it. Those who want and need it
will pay for it. I've got no use for the place.

>I do miss my Rapid Transit shop in Chicago. I walked in for the first
>time and asked: "I want a modern version of an English three speed." The
>saleslady replied: "Is black ok?". *grin* Now that's my kind of place.

Gotta go with a place that knows and likes the products and customers especially
if they've got a sense of humor.

Ron

01-13-2005, 06:33 AM

On Thu, 13 Jan 2005 04:16:08 GMT, maxo <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote:

>On Wed, 12 Jan 2005 22:20:52 -0500, jj wrote:
>
>> The thing is should I tell the owner? Heck he's the worst of all
>
>Give him a piece of your mind, create a scene, scream and spit. You'll
>feel better. :-)
>
>I posted about a shop like this a while back. The only reason I ever went
>there is because the other guys were closed on Sundays. Finally I
>witnessed her lecturing a new bike owner who was a grown man in his 40 to
>never ride his bike after fixing a flat--to always bring it back to the
>shop for a fifteen dollar safety inspection. I interjected in a friendly
>and rather loud voice, "you're absolutely full of **** if you think a
>grown man can't be trusted to fix a flat."

I dunno about that, we got jj here who demands to be shown in detail how to
adjust a brake. The adjusters are either at the lever, the cable stop or the
caliper and if someone can't figure that out he can't be trusted to make the
adjustment. Now personally, I agree with you that people can and should
generally be presumed competent. But in this case jj, the fellow who can't cope
with some debris in a brake pad or tell whether or not it is worn away wants
lessons in brake adjustment, that sounds to me like a guy who wants to be
entertained by the tech. IOW a timewaster of the first order.

Now, his shop is handling him poorly, true. But remember, we're only getting one
side of the story. The store owner walked away from a man writing a check to
converse with a fellow perusing waterbottles? Hmmmmm. Once again we're talking
about a guy who wants a detailed explanation of how to make an adjustment he
will never perform.

(jj, not getting down on you, but really, that's what I read in your post)

>Such businesses deserve to die--but this lady's
>shop seems to thrive since there's a certain segment of the market that
>apparently is impressed by the ******* factor. Waddaya gonna do?

Indeed. Some people love that crap. Some need it. Those who want and need it
will pay for it. I've got no use for the place.

>I do miss my Rapid Transit shop in Chicago. I walked in for the first
>time and asked: "I want a modern version of an English three speed." The
>saleslady replied: "Is black ok?". *grin* Now that's my kind of place.

Gotta go with a place that knows and likes the products and customers especially
if they've got a sense of humor.

Ron

01-13-2005, 06:46 AM

On Wed, 12 Jan 2005 23:46:16 -0500, jj <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote:

>On Thu, 13 Jan 2005 04:16:08 GMT, maxo <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote:
>
>>On Wed, 12 Jan 2005 22:20:52 -0500, jj wrote:
>>
>>> The thing is should I tell the owner? Heck he's the worst of all
>>
>>Give him a piece of your mind, create a scene, scream and spit. You'll
>>feel better. :-)
>>
>>I posted about a shop like this a while back. The only reason I ever went
>>there is because the other guys were closed on Sundays. Finally I
>>witnessed her lecturing a new bike owner who was a grown man in his 40 to
>>never ride his bike after fixing a flat--to always bring it back to the
>>shop for a fifteen dollar safety inspection. I interjected in a friendly
>>and rather loud voice, "you're absolutely full of **** if you think a
>>grown man can't be trusted to fix a flat." She was speechless.The guy
>>about to buy the bike thought so too and left and I did as well before she
>>became not so speechless...
>>
>>Such businesses deserve to die--but this lady's
>>shop seems to thrive since there's a certain segment of the market that
>>apparently is impressed by the ******* factor. Waddaya gonna do?
>
>These guys aren't just a-holes...they're amost incompetent. Example: Last
>week I mentioned having trouble gettin air in the new front tire and asked
>him if he'd check it, 'can you pump it up to 80lbs'. He puts the pump on it
>and says 'does it get 80 lbs?' I said "uh, I think so".
>
>Now what mechanic would take a customer's say so on what the air pressure
>should be. As a -professional- wrench, I'd -always- check the tire wall for
>the actual pressure needed. He pumped it up to 80. hah.

Okay, so in addition to asking for instruction in how to do things you'll never
do, you've got a trick question or two. You want them to treat you as if you
know what you're talking about, but they better not ask you for information you
should have.

If YOU were a "-professional-" wrench you'd have starved to death years ago, so
what's with this "I'd -always-" crap. Are you saying that you, the guy who
wanted lessons in brake adjustment can't be trusted to even know how much air
goes in your own tires.

See, I don't know this mechanic, maybe he is incompetent, maybe he wanted to
know from you if you had any bloody clue how much air should go into the tire
before considering it a problem. Maybe he didn't have his glasses handy and has
a hard time reading black on black. I don't know, but you ain't selling me.

>>I do miss my Rapid Transit shop in Chicago. I walked in for the first
>>time and asked: "I want a modern version of an English three speed." The
>>saleslady replied: "Is black ok?". *grin* Now that's my kind of place.
>
>Black, with black accents. uh-huh. ;-D

Huh?
Gold and/or white would be the accent colors for those bikes.

Ron

01-13-2005, 06:46 AM

On Wed, 12 Jan 2005 23:46:16 -0500, jj <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote:

>On Thu, 13 Jan 2005 04:16:08 GMT, maxo <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote:
>
>>On Wed, 12 Jan 2005 22:20:52 -0500, jj wrote:
>>
>>> The thing is should I tell the owner? Heck he's the worst of all
>>
>>Give him a piece of your mind, create a scene, scream and spit. You'll
>>feel better. :-)
>>
>>I posted about a shop like this a while back. The only reason I ever went
>>there is because the other guys were closed on Sundays. Finally I
>>witnessed her lecturing a new bike owner who was a grown man in his 40 to
>>never ride his bike after fixing a flat--to always bring it back to the
>>shop for a fifteen dollar safety inspection. I interjected in a friendly
>>and rather loud voice, "you're absolutely full of **** if you think a
>>grown man can't be trusted to fix a flat." She was speechless.The guy
>>about to buy the bike thought so too and left and I did as well before she
>>became not so speechless...
>>
>>Such businesses deserve to die--but this lady's
>>shop seems to thrive since there's a certain segment of the market that
>>apparently is impressed by the ******* factor. Waddaya gonna do?
>
>These guys aren't just a-holes...they're amost incompetent. Example: Last
>week I mentioned having trouble gettin air in the new front tire and asked
>him if he'd check it, 'can you pump it up to 80lbs'. He puts the pump on it
>and says 'does it get 80 lbs?' I said "uh, I think so".
>
>Now what mechanic would take a customer's say so on what the air pressure
>should be. As a -professional- wrench, I'd -always- check the tire wall for
>the actual pressure needed. He pumped it up to 80. hah.

Okay, so in addition to asking for instruction in how to do things you'll never
do, you've got a trick question or two. You want them to treat you as if you
know what you're talking about, but they better not ask you for information you
should have.

If YOU were a "-professional-" wrench you'd have starved to death years ago, so
what's with this "I'd -always-" crap. Are you saying that you, the guy who
wanted lessons in brake adjustment can't be trusted to even know how much air
goes in your own tires.

See, I don't know this mechanic, maybe he is incompetent, maybe he wanted to
know from you if you had any bloody clue how much air should go into the tire
before considering it a problem. Maybe he didn't have his glasses handy and has
a hard time reading black on black. I don't know, but you ain't selling me.

>>I do miss my Rapid Transit shop in Chicago. I walked in for the first
>>time and asked: "I want a modern version of an English three speed." The
>>saleslady replied: "Is black ok?". *grin* Now that's my kind of place.
>
>Black, with black accents. uh-huh. ;-D

Huh?
Gold and/or white would be the accent colors for those bikes.

Ron

01-13-2005, 06:46 AM

On Wed, 12 Jan 2005 23:46:16 -0500, jj <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote:

>On Thu, 13 Jan 2005 04:16:08 GMT, maxo <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote:
>
>>On Wed, 12 Jan 2005 22:20:52 -0500, jj wrote:
>>
>>> The thing is should I tell the owner? Heck he's the worst of all
>>
>>Give him a piece of your mind, create a scene, scream and spit. You'll
>>feel better. :-)
>>
>>I posted about a shop like this a while back. The only reason I ever went
>>there is because the other guys were closed on Sundays. Finally I
>>witnessed her lecturing a new bike owner who was a grown man in his 40 to
>>never ride his bike after fixing a flat--to always bring it back to the
>>shop for a fifteen dollar safety inspection. I interjected in a friendly
>>and rather loud voice, "you're absolutely full of **** if you think a
>>grown man can't be trusted to fix a flat." She was speechless.The guy
>>about to buy the bike thought so too and left and I did as well before she
>>became not so speechless...
>>
>>Such businesses deserve to die--but this lady's
>>shop seems to thrive since there's a certain segment of the market that
>>apparently is impressed by the ******* factor. Waddaya gonna do?
>
>These guys aren't just a-holes...they're amost incompetent. Example: Last
>week I mentioned having trouble gettin air in the new front tire and asked
>him if he'd check it, 'can you pump it up to 80lbs'. He puts the pump on it
>and says 'does it get 80 lbs?' I said "uh, I think so".
>
>Now what mechanic would take a customer's say so on what the air pressure
>should be. As a -professional- wrench, I'd -always- check the tire wall for
>the actual pressure needed. He pumped it up to 80. hah.

Okay, so in addition to asking for instruction in how to do things you'll never
do, you've got a trick question or two. You want them to treat you as if you
know what you're talking about, but they better not ask you for information you
should have.

If YOU were a "-professional-" wrench you'd have starved to death years ago, so
what's with this "I'd -always-" crap. Are you saying that you, the guy who
wanted lessons in brake adjustment can't be trusted to even know how much air
goes in your own tires.

See, I don't know this mechanic, maybe he is incompetent, maybe he wanted to
know from you if you had any bloody clue how much air should go into the tire
before considering it a problem. Maybe he didn't have his glasses handy and has
a hard time reading black on black. I don't know, but you ain't selling me.

>>I do miss my Rapid Transit shop in Chicago. I walked in for the first
>>time and asked: "I want a modern version of an English three speed." The
>>saleslady replied: "Is black ok?". *grin* Now that's my kind of place.
>
>Black, with black accents. uh-huh. ;-D

Huh?
Gold and/or white would be the accent colors for those bikes.

Ron

01-13-2005, 06:49 AM

On Thu, 13 Jan 2005 04:06:01 GMT, maxo <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote:

>On Wed, 12 Jan 2005 22:23:34 -0500, jj wrote:
>
>> I've asked for them several times. Once I specified 'salmon' kool pads and
>> they put normal black Kool pads on. They won't even order them for me -
>> they tell me they're 'hard to get'.
>
>Just get some off of the net and learn to put 'em on yourself.

He can't. The rotten guy at the lousy bike store wouldn't show him EXACTLY
where the adjusters are.

Besides, a guy who can't tell if there's any brake pad left has NO business
removing and installing the things. Think about this for a moment.

Ron.

01-13-2005, 06:49 AM

On Thu, 13 Jan 2005 04:06:01 GMT, maxo <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote:

>On Wed, 12 Jan 2005 22:23:34 -0500, jj wrote:
>
>> I've asked for them several times. Once I specified 'salmon' kool pads and
>> they put normal black Kool pads on. They won't even order them for me -
>> they tell me they're 'hard to get'.
>
>Just get some off of the net and learn to put 'em on yourself.

He can't. The rotten guy at the lousy bike store wouldn't show him EXACTLY
where the adjusters are.

Besides, a guy who can't tell if there's any brake pad left has NO business
removing and installing the things. Think about this for a moment.

Ron.

01-13-2005, 06:49 AM

On Thu, 13 Jan 2005 04:06:01 GMT, maxo <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote:

>On Wed, 12 Jan 2005 22:23:34 -0500, jj wrote:
>
>> I've asked for them several times. Once I specified 'salmon' kool pads and
>> they put normal black Kool pads on. They won't even order them for me -
>> they tell me they're 'hard to get'.
>
>Just get some off of the net and learn to put 'em on yourself.

He can't. The rotten guy at the lousy bike store wouldn't show him EXACTLY
where the adjusters are.

Besides, a guy who can't tell if there's any brake pad left has NO business
removing and installing the things. Think about this for a moment.

Ron.