A wheely good deal!

Just zis Guy said:

Twelve quid for labour. Now you know why I don't bother
buying a wheel building jig! The first pair of wheels Bob
built me, four years ago, are still within 1mm of true.

Quoted message said:

When in Reading, do as Reading CTC do: use Bob Bristow's
cycle repair service :-)

Guy, you should know such blatant ads are frowned upon
on this ng.

Can you post a contact number?

John B

Just zis Guy said:

I've just contacted my mate Bob (Reading's premier blind
bike mechanic) for a pair of rims for the tourer - the
Mavic T221s are suffering from rim wear due to Shimano
pads (kids: just say no).

Is he really blind? Can't be easy lacing the spokes, let
alone making a true wheel.

On Wed, 05 May 2004 21:52:15 +0100, JohnB <[email hidden]> wrote in
message <[email hidden]>:

Quoted message said:

Can you post a contact number?

Bob Bristow

65 Alpine Street Reading, 0118 9582056.

bobbristow at waitrose dot com

Guy
--
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88% of helmet statistics are made up, 65% of them at Washington University

Zog The Undeniable said:

Quoted message said:

I've just contacted my mate Bob (Reading's premier blind
bike mechanic) for a pair of rims for the tourer - the
Mavic T221s are suffering from rim wear due to Shimano
pads (kids: just say no).

Quoted message said:

Is he really blind? Can't be easy lacing the spokes, let
alone making a true wheel.

Yes, he is completely blind. I don't think Bob can even tell
night from day any more. Lacing the wheel seems to be the
easy bit (he puts a spoke across the hub as a datum). It's a
fascinating process to watch.

Guy
--
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88% of helmet statistics are made up, 65% of them at Washington University

Just zis Guy said:

Yes, he is completely blind. I don't think Bob can even
tell night from day any more. Lacing the wheel seems to be
the easy bit (he puts a spoke across the hub as a datum).
It's a fascinating process to watch.

How long does he take for a pair of wheels and is £12 plus
any profit margin on the bits suitable payment for that time
given the apparent quality of the job he does?

Tony

"Just zis Guy, you know?" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Yes, he is completely blind. I don't think Bob can even
tell night from day any more. Lacing the wheel seems to be
the easy bit (he puts a spoke across the hub as a datum).
It's a fascinating process to watch.

I can't imagine being able to work on a bicycle without
seeing it. How does he check that the tube isn't pinched
when installing a tyre, for example? I find it hard enough
when both the tyre and tube are black. Or how does he find
that awkward hidden nut that's obviously still there
somewhere because the lamp bracket, or whatever, won't move?
You have to admire someone who can overcome odds like those.

--
Dave...

Tony Raven said:

How long does he take for a pair of wheels and is £12 plus
any profit margin on the bits suitable payment for that
time given the apparent quality of the job he does?

I guess it must be as Bob shows no sign of starving to death
yet. His hourly rate is very low, but as he admits it takes
him slightly longer to do some jobs (which also means he is
unusually methodical and careful). I generally add a couple
of pints of Something Acceptable to the deal, obv.

--
Guy
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Victory is ours! Down with Eric the Half A Brain!

[email hidden] (Dave Kahn) wrote in
:"]news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

I can't imagine being able to work on a bicycle without
seeing it. How does he check that the tube isn't pinched
when installing a tyre, for example? I find it hard enough
when both the tyre and tube are black. Or how does he find
that awkward hidden nut that's obviously still there
somewhere because the lamp bracket, or whatever, won't
move? You have to admire someone who can overcome odds
like those.

Your fingers can tell you a lot more than you think. Have
you ever needed to stick something somewhere you couldn't
see? (no Guy, don't even think of answering that one!) Like
trying to reach a screw behind your car dashboard. It is a
hell of a lot easier if you close your eyes and let the
majority of the sensory input come from your fingers. I
would imagine that being blind would heighten this
capability.

Graeme

Dave Kahn said:

"Just zis Guy, you know?" <[email hidden]>
wrote in message
news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Yes, he is completely blind. I don't think Bob can even
tell night from day any more. Lacing the wheel seems to be
the easy bit (he puts a spoke across the hub as a datum).
It's a fascinating process to watch.

I can't imagine being able to work on a bicycle without
seeing it. How does he check that the tube isn't pinched
when installing a tyre, for example? I find it hard enough
when both the tyre and tube are black. Or how does he find
that awkward hidden nut that's obviously still there
somewhere because the lamp bracket, or whatever, won't
move? You have to admire someone who can overcome odds
like those.

It truely amazes me when a visually impaired person wants
to know about your bike. At the annual BOLD tandem racing
event (all stokers visually impaired) they speak to you
about the bike whilst feling their way over it,
distingiushing bits I take for granted. The only bit they
can't work out is the colour.