Metal flake in brake pad... - Page 5 - Cycling Mob: Road Cycling, Mountain Biking and More

01-13-2005, 07:47 AM

On Thu, 13 Jan 2005 14:49:41 GMT, RonSonic <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].com>
wrote:

>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.

Ron, thanks for your comments. All of them seem fair. I'll look at my
attitude, also.

Just one thing...I can't see very well, close up things. Have astigmatism,
myopia and my right eye is slightly double vision. This is why I can't
'see' certain things that I 'know' a little about.

Please forgive any ignorance, I'm trying to learn. Also I did get a little
too hot under the collar. The wrench -has- been nice to me, has been pissy
and has apologized. I do like the guy. Mostly I get frustrated.

Insight taken.

Best,
jj

01-13-2005, 07:47 AM

On Thu, 13 Jan 2005 14:49:41 GMT, RonSonic <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].com>
wrote:

>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.

Ron, thanks for your comments. All of them seem fair. I'll look at my
attitude, also.

Just one thing...I can't see very well, close up things. Have astigmatism,
myopia and my right eye is slightly double vision. This is why I can't
'see' certain things that I 'know' a little about.

Please forgive any ignorance, I'm trying to learn. Also I did get a little
too hot under the collar. The wrench -has- been nice to me, has been pissy
and has apologized. I do like the guy. Mostly I get frustrated.

Insight taken.

Best,
jj

01-13-2005, 07:47 AM

On Thu, 13 Jan 2005 14:49:41 GMT, RonSonic <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].com>
wrote:

>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.

Ron, thanks for your comments. All of them seem fair. I'll look at my
attitude, also.

Just one thing...I can't see very well, close up things. Have astigmatism,
myopia and my right eye is slightly double vision. This is why I can't
'see' certain things that I 'know' a little about.

Please forgive any ignorance, I'm trying to learn. Also I did get a little
too hot under the collar. The wrench -has- been nice to me, has been pissy
and has apologized. I do like the guy. Mostly I get frustrated.

Insight taken.

Best,
jj

01-13-2005, 07:49 AM

On Thu, 13 Jan 2005 14:46:44 GMT, RonSonic <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].com>
wrote:

>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.

Sigh. Yeah, guilty. Don't we all have a little bit of this 'knowledge in
the abstract sense' but lacking what the wrench might know from experience.
Point taken.

>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.

Guilty. haha. Yeah, I'd have starved in a week...by this post I was over
the top.

>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.

See later post about upclose vision on my part.

>>>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.

I was teasing.

jj

>Ron

01-13-2005, 07:49 AM

On Thu, 13 Jan 2005 14:46:44 GMT, RonSonic <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].com>
wrote:

>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.

Sigh. Yeah, guilty. Don't we all have a little bit of this 'knowledge in
the abstract sense' but lacking what the wrench might know from experience.
Point taken.

>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.

Guilty. haha. Yeah, I'd have starved in a week...by this post I was over
the top.

>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.

See later post about upclose vision on my part.

>>>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.

I was teasing.

jj

>Ron

01-13-2005, 07:49 AM

On Thu, 13 Jan 2005 14:46:44 GMT, RonSonic <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].com>
wrote:

>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.

Sigh. Yeah, guilty. Don't we all have a little bit of this 'knowledge in
the abstract sense' but lacking what the wrench might know from experience.
Point taken.

>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.

Guilty. haha. Yeah, I'd have starved in a week...by this post I was over
the top.

>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.

See later post about upclose vision on my part.

>>>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.

I was teasing.

jj

>Ron

01-13-2005, 07:55 AM

On Thu, 13 Jan 2005 14:33:25 GMT, RonSonic <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].com>
wrote:

>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.

Nope. Though I can see where you might imagine this. I'm in and out quickly
as possible. I don't like driving the bike to the shop. If I go it's very
reluctantly, and I'm out of there as soon as possible. I am a little
paranoid about my bike working ok, b/c I'm not able to see upclose very
well.

>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.

The Performance bike shop guys have a 20 point check list 'have shown
customer how to remove a tire', 'have shown customer how to adjust
brakes'...and so on. I do expect the guy to show some attention to me if
I'm buying a bike, even if it is a 600 bike. I know the margin is low on
those. Gotta start somewhere - think it's only fair to expect the owner to
spend a little time with you when you first get the bike, even if it's not
a high-end roadbike. After all, maybe you'll come back in a year and get
something more worthy. ;-)

I figure if I'm shown things repeatedly and keep reading maybe I'll be able
to do my own adjustments. I'm a little bit technophobic about changing
anything on the bike, I admit. You -can- screw things up if you're not
careful, and I don't want to do that.

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

'S-OK. I appreciate the insight.

jj

01-13-2005, 07:55 AM

On Thu, 13 Jan 2005 14:33:25 GMT, RonSonic <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].com>
wrote:

>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.

Nope. Though I can see where you might imagine this. I'm in and out quickly
as possible. I don't like driving the bike to the shop. If I go it's very
reluctantly, and I'm out of there as soon as possible. I am a little
paranoid about my bike working ok, b/c I'm not able to see upclose very
well.

>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.

The Performance bike shop guys have a 20 point check list 'have shown
customer how to remove a tire', 'have shown customer how to adjust
brakes'...and so on. I do expect the guy to show some attention to me if
I'm buying a bike, even if it is a 600 bike. I know the margin is low on
those. Gotta start somewhere - think it's only fair to expect the owner to
spend a little time with you when you first get the bike, even if it's not
a high-end roadbike. After all, maybe you'll come back in a year and get
something more worthy. ;-)

I figure if I'm shown things repeatedly and keep reading maybe I'll be able
to do my own adjustments. I'm a little bit technophobic about changing
anything on the bike, I admit. You -can- screw things up if you're not
careful, and I don't want to do that.

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

'S-OK. I appreciate the insight.

jj

01-13-2005, 07:55 AM

On Thu, 13 Jan 2005 14:33:25 GMT, RonSonic <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].com>
wrote:

>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.

Nope. Though I can see where you might imagine this. I'm in and out quickly
as possible. I don't like driving the bike to the shop. If I go it's very
reluctantly, and I'm out of there as soon as possible. I am a little
paranoid about my bike working ok, b/c I'm not able to see upclose very
well.

>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.

The Performance bike shop guys have a 20 point check list 'have shown
customer how to remove a tire', 'have shown customer how to adjust
brakes'...and so on. I do expect the guy to show some attention to me if
I'm buying a bike, even if it is a 600 bike. I know the margin is low on
those. Gotta start somewhere - think it's only fair to expect the owner to
spend a little time with you when you first get the bike, even if it's not
a high-end roadbike. After all, maybe you'll come back in a year and get
something more worthy. ;-)

I figure if I'm shown things repeatedly and keep reading maybe I'll be able
to do my own adjustments. I'm a little bit technophobic about changing
anything on the bike, I admit. You -can- screw things up if you're not
careful, and I don't want to do that.

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

'S-OK. I appreciate the insight.

jj

01-13-2005, 04:49 PM

On Thu, 13 Jan 2005 10:47:13 -0500, jj <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote:

>On Thu, 13 Jan 2005 14:49:41 GMT, RonSonic <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].com>
>wrote:
>
>>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.
>
>Ron, thanks for your comments. All of them seem fair. I'll look at my
>attitude, also.
>
>Just one thing...I can't see very well, close up things. Have astigmatism,
>myopia and my right eye is slightly double vision. This is why I can't
>'see' certain things that I 'know' a little about.
>
>Please forgive any ignorance, I'm trying to learn. Also I did get a little
>too hot under the collar. The wrench -has- been nice to me, has been pissy
>and has apologized. I do like the guy. Mostly I get frustrated.
>
>Insight taken.
>
>Best,

Thanks.

I was over harsh here. I work in retail electronics repair and get to carefully
shut my mouth at customer quirks. I do tend to vent on threads like this.

Obviously, your Trek shop has a problem. You may be a PITA customer, but you ARE
a regular customer. That the crew is not enthusiastic about helping you (I did
read you tip the tech) shows that management is really screwing themselves over
and does not deserve your support.

And I do think it is a management issue, if it were just the mechanics they'd be
more consistent (you tip). What you and I don't know is how much time pressure
that wrench is under. Does his boss know about the tips and see that as a sign
that the wrench is sweethearting you? Does he catch hell for "hanging out and
talking" when he "should be working." Maybe he shouldn't show you how to do
things so you'll come back for repairs. Either that or maybe the guy just has
the sort of people skills you find among bench techs - I don't know bike
wrenches, but suspect a geekish streak would not be a disqualification.

Same with the request for Kool Stops. Some businesses just don't handle special
orders well and employees will try hard to avoid them.

Anyway, apparently you've been with that shop a long time and feel it would be
right to tell them how they've lost your business, or give them a chance to get
their priorities back in order. Sounds right to me. Hell, just email them a link
to this thread in google if you'd rather not talk to 'em.

Anyway, thanks for being understanding of my early day crankiness.

Ron