The shape of things to come....

[Jake1]

I dropped by my local MC shop to see if they wanted to work on my '85 GPZ900. They looked at me like I was insane.

My Harley shop only works on bikes 10 old or newer; in this case it has nothing to do with the tech as many of their older bikes were not much different from newer ones at the time.

Last time I brought a bicycle to a shop they either acted like they were unfamiliar with the component (a freewheel needing diassembly); or maybe they were truly ignorant. I do not know about others regarding their work, but when someone wants a job done I will educate myself in order complete the task at hand and will be prepared for the next one coming through the door. I now know what derailleur clutch is and why it is; but it requiring a special/proprietary tool I doubt I have it in the box.

 

[Takingabreak]

There was a new bike shop that opened locally to me a few years back. At the time I thought they will need all the custom they can get.

So, as is the modern way, I contacted them via email about a stuck seatpost I had going on - painful it was too.

The answer was that they were too busy servicing bikes to help me.

In the end I got the post out - painful it was too - but I was hoping they had better tools, technique, knowledge etc

Then, I asked for their help again, to replace some bearings in a campag hub. I didn't even get a response.

The bike shop has since closed down but I think the guy is still doing mobile / work from his garage type of thing.

I just think, how are these places ever going to survive if they don't take on these kind of jobs which build the customer relationships?

 

[RobLoasby]

I dropped by my local MC shop to see if they wanted to work on my '85 GPZ900. They looked at me like I was insane.

Few years back I went to a main Kawasaki dealer to get some parts for the GPZ500 I had at the time. Stood at the parts counter in my (admittedly well-worn from year-round commuting) bike gear waiting for ten minutes while being studiously ignored by all three of the staff who were too busy chatting, laughing, and joking to a bloke in a suit. Almost as if they didn’t want ‘proper’ bikers in there.

Unsurprisingly, that dealer folded a short time later.

 

[Glug]

I've been fairly lucky.

4 years back I needed some ball bearings to redo the bottom bracket on a 1982 Holdsworth.
Tried some bike shops in Putney - first 2 didn't sell ball bearings.
I now know better and get G25 ball bearings online, but if a shop doesn't sell ball bearings go somewhere else.

Turns out there are decent bike shops in the area: Elswood Cycleworks
A damn fine shop, fitted a head race for me for free twice.
Even the mechanic was prepared to discuss breaking in a Swallow saddle (he rode one).

Having said that I do all the mechanical work myself, anything else it's Winston Vaz at Varonha Frameworks.

 

[Mkane]

You got to diy.
Effing VW dealer charged me close to a grand for a 70,000 mile service. I’ll never go back.

Its good to be close to dying age. Now we just need to get rid of an ass-hat.