bicycle tuneup costs

[email hidden] wrote in news:1113848358.510221.281190
@f14g2000cwb.googlegroups.com:

Quoted message said:

Every place in this area wants $50-$60 for a tuneup plus parts.

What is included in this "tuneup"?
Adjusting the brakes and derailleurs?
Cleaning/lubing the chain?
Truing the wheels?
Relubing the brearings in the hubs, bottom bracket and headset?

Depending on what is included in the package, $60 could be reasonable. If
you only need a few services, ask for them specifically and see if the price
goes down.

Quoted message said:

I'm just a casual rider, I don't think I had my bicycle out more than
a dozen times last year. I like to take care of my things however
and I think my bike is worth taking care of, it's a 2000 Specialized
Allez Elite Triple. I had it out for the first time this year and
ran over some glass and got a flat, so I figured while I have the
flat changed, I'd have a tuneup done.

Every place in this area wants $50-$60 for a tuneup plus parts. I
can't imagine that a tuneup takes more than 20 minutes for guys that
do this day in and day out, and when I lived on Cape Cod, the shops
there did it for around $20. Does this pricing seem reasonable these
days? I'm on the coast in MA on the NH border. Any recommendations
for shops in this area that have better pricing? Thanks!

Well first of all the fact that "every place" quotes you a similar price
range indicates that it's fairly reasonable (market driven).

A far better course of action IMO would be to learn how to change (and
patch) a tube, lube a chain and cables, and make minor adjustments (brakes,
derailleurs, etc.) yourself. Won't cost you a penny, and you might actually
enjoy riding your bike a bit more.

Two Cents Please, Bill

rrothberg said:

Every place in this area wants $50-$60 for a tuneup plus parts. I
can't imagine that a tuneup takes more than 20 minutes for guys that do
this day in and day out, and when I lived on Cape Cod, the shops there
did it for around $20. Does this pricing seem reasonable these days?

It depends on what is meant by a "tune-up". I would assume that it would
include: truing both wheels, as needed, checking all cables and
replacing as needed (I would just replace them all), cleaning or replacing
chain, checking brake pads and replacing as needed, cleaning up and
re-lubing derailleurs, inspecting all bearings and replacing/repacking
where needed.

This seems to me to be more than $20 worth. Of course, the requirements
would change depending on the bike; for a coaster-brake cruiser the
charges would hopefully be a lot less than for a road bike; maybe a
dual-sus mountain bike would need even more attention. But for a road
bike, this will all be needed, and if something on that list were omitted,
I would not consider the bike ready to ride.

Some of these checks are quick (you check wheel bearings by spinning the
wheel (and feel for roughness), then see whether there is any play in the
hub), but it can't be done in 20 minutes.

--

David L. Johnson

__o | And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all
_`\(,_ | mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so
(_)/ (_) | that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am
nothing. [1 Corinth. 13:2]

Quoted message said:

I'm just a casual rider, I don't think I had my bicycle out more than

a

Quoted message said:

dozen times last year. I like to take care of my things however and

I

Quoted message said:

think my bike is worth taking care of, it's a 2000 Specialized Allez
Elite Triple. I had it out for the first time this year and ran over
some glass and got a flat, so I figured while I have the flat

changed,

Quoted message said:

I'd have a tuneup done.

Every place in this area wants $50-$60 for a tuneup plus parts. I
can't imagine that a tuneup takes more than 20 minutes for guys that

do

Quoted message said:

this day in and day out, and when I lived on Cape Cod, the shops

there

Quoted message said:

did it for around $20. Does this pricing seem reasonable these days?
I'm on the coast in MA on the NH border. Any recommendations for

shops

Quoted message said:

in this area that have better pricing? Thanks!

Of course another question is why you would need a tune-up if you ride
it 12 times a year. If you are keeping it at all protected/clean then
I'd guess you have another 20 years to go before you would need much
work done. Seriously, most folks can get literally a couple of thousand
miles between servicings/adjustments/check-ups.(Assuming you maintain
your tires and lube the drive train) So, at the rate you're riding that
would be how long?

BS said:

Well first of all the fact that "every place" quotes you a similar

price

Quoted message said:

range indicates that it's fairly reasonable (market driven).

Also, it's spring; everybody are bringing their bikes in to get tuned
up right now. My local bike shops are charging about $60 for a tuneup
AND there's a two-week wait before they get to your bike. I got my bike
tuned up in January for half price.

RFM

Quoted message said:

I'm just a casual rider, I don't think I had my bicycle out more than a
dozen times last year. I like to take care of my things however and I
think my bike is worth taking care of, it's a 2000 Specialized Allez
Elite Triple. I had it out for the first time this year and ran over
some glass and got a flat, so I figured while I have the flat changed,
I'd have a tuneup done.

Every place in this area wants $50-$60 for a tuneup plus parts. I
can't imagine that a tuneup takes more than 20 minutes for guys that do
this day in and day out, and when I lived on Cape Cod, the shops there
did it for around $20. Does this pricing seem reasonable these days?
I'm on the coast in MA on the NH border. Any recommendations for shops
in this area that have better pricing? Thanks!

Everything involving skilled labor costs more now. I don't know if they're
starting to pay the mechanics what they should but the shops are sure charging
like it.

For the amount of skilled hand work involved, yeah, that's reasonable.

In a mature economy you have to bid for a worker's skills and offer more than
his collection of tools, skills and aptitudes could get him doing something
else, like AC repair, plumbing or auto body work.

Ron

: >
: Why is it that you guys don't do your own work? Most of us take at least
: enough tools to change a flat, and with a few more you can do almost,
: read (almost) anything they can do at a shop? Even if you live in an
: apartment you can fiddle with the bike in the living room as I have done
: on certain occasions. Just spread some newspaper to catch any dirt and
: have at it.
: It works for me, even though my wife hates it.
: Bill Baka

Then use an old shower curtain or get a tarp. You know the newspaper doesn't
really catch all the dirt....

Pat in TX

bbaka said:

RonSonic said:

Quoted message said:

I'm just a casual rider, I don't think I had my bicycle out more than a
dozen times last year. I like to take care of my things however and I
think my bike is worth taking care of, it's a 2000 Specialized Allez
Elite Triple. I had it out for the first time this year and ran over
some glass and got a flat, so I figured while I have the flat changed,
I'd have a tuneup done.

Every place in this area wants $50-$60 for a tuneup plus parts. I
can't imagine that a tuneup takes more than 20 minutes for guys that do
this day in and day out, and when I lived on Cape Cod, the shops there
did it for around $20. Does this pricing seem reasonable these days?
I'm on the coast in MA on the NH border. Any recommendations for shops
in this area that have better pricing? Thanks!

Everything involving skilled labor costs more now. I don't know if they're
starting to pay the mechanics what they should but the shops are sure charging
like it.

For the amount of skilled hand work involved, yeah, that's reasonable.

In a mature economy you have to bid for a worker's skills and offer more than
his collection of tools, skills and aptitudes could get him doing something
else, like AC repair, plumbing or auto body work.

Ron

Why is it that you guys don't do your own work?

Who is this "you guys" you're blithering about. I do everything from the bottom
bracket up, including the work stand.

Ron

Quoted message said:

Most of us take at least
enough tools to change a flat, and with a few more you can do almost,
read (almost) anything they can do at a shop? Even if you live in an
apartment you can fiddle with the bike in the living room as I have done
on certain occasions. Just spread some newspaper to catch any dirt and
have at it.
It works for me, even though my wife hates it.
Bill Baka

Fritz M said:

Bill Baka said:

Why is it that you guys don't do your own work?

Some people get satisfaction out of working with their hands, some
don't. I'm capable of mechanical work but I don't get any particular
joy out of it. I'd rather pay somebody else to do the work, I can
afford to do so, and I personally get satisfaction in paying somebody
for good work.

I don't mind having other people do the work. My problem is my bike
would be out of commission for multiple days. That's not acceptable,
so I've learned to do just about everything on mine. I do enjoy doing
some of the tasks, though other's are just boring/tedious. Oh, plus
I'm very cheap^H^H^H^H^H frugal, so I prefer to save the money I would
give the mechanics and spend it on other things.

--
Dane Jackson - z u v e m b i @ u n i x b i g o t s . o r g
A computer scientist is someone who fixes things that aren't broken.

Dane Jackson said:

Oh, plus
I'm very cheap^H^H^H^H^H frugal,

This particular bit of stuff belongs on the bikes-and-unix thread.

--

David L. Johnson

__o | A mathematician is a machine for turning coffee into theorems.
_`\(,_ | -- Paul Erdos
(_)/ (_) |

Pat said:

: >
: Why is it that you guys don't do your own work? Most of us take at least
: enough tools to change a flat, and with a few more you can do almost,
: read (almost) anything they can do at a shop? Even if you live in an
: apartment you can fiddle with the bike in the living room as I have done
: on certain occasions. Just spread some newspaper to catch any dirt and
: have at it.
: It works for me, even though my wife hates it.
: Bill Baka

Then use an old shower curtain or get a tarp. You know the newspaper doesn't
really catch all the dirt....

Pat in TX

Good idea for the next rainy day.
Thanks.
Bill Baka

Fritz M said:

Bill Baka said:

Why is it that you guys don't do your own work?

Some people get satisfaction out of working with their hands, some
don't. I'm capable of mechanical work but I don't get any particular
joy out of it. I'd rather pay somebody else to do the work, I can
afford to do so, and I personally get satisfaction in paying somebody
for good work.

RFM

I won't argue the point there but it is relaxing for me after some days
of dealing with other things in life. There are 2 LBS's in my area, one
is a crook (ex-Schwinn dealer) and the other is only mediocre. I do
learn a little bit more about bikes every time I work on one and my
latest peeve is seat posts being all slightly different diameters. My
micrometer verified that, 3 bikes and 3 different sizes.
If I had gone to a shop for a seat change I would not have learned that
(probably useless) tidbit.
Bill Baka

Dane Jackson said:

Fritz M said:

Bill Baka said:

Why is it that you guys don't do your own work?

Some people get satisfaction out of working with their hands, some
don't. I'm capable of mechanical work but I don't get any particular
joy out of it. I'd rather pay somebody else to do the work, I can
afford to do so, and I personally get satisfaction in paying somebody
for good work.

I don't mind having other people do the work. My problem is my bike
would be out of commission for multiple days. That's not acceptable,
so I've learned to do just about everything on mine. I do enjoy doing
some of the tasks, though other's are just boring/tedious. Oh, plus
I'm very cheap^H^H^H^H^H frugal, so I prefer to save the money I would
give the mechanics and spend it on other things.

Very true. I get the Jones's for a ride when I don't have the bike
available. Funny how that works.
Bill Baka

Quoted message said:

Very true. I get the Jones's for a ride when I don't have the bike
available. Funny how that works.

That's why I own four bikes :-) and it's why I ride year-round.

RFM

David L. Johnson said:

Dane Jackson said:

Oh, plus
I'm very cheap^H^H^H^H^H frugal,

This particular bit of stuff belongs on the bikes-and-unix thread.

:P

Quoted message said:

User-Agent: Pan/0.14.2.91 (As She Crawled Across the Table (Debian GNU/Linux))

I don't think I'm the only one drinking the kool-aid here.

--
Dane Jackson - z u v e m b i @ u n i x b i g o t s . o r g
"He who laughs last probably made a back-up"
-Murphy's Laws of Computing #7