That sucks about the 501 skewers, Ryan. Awful. A local shop once serviced a bike (and did a “safety check”) and when I picked it up I noticed that the quick release skewer springs and adjusting nut were missing from the front wheel. They just pushed the skewer through the axle without clamping it down.
On Friday, September 23, 2022 at 3:21:32 PM UTC-4 Ryan wrote: > Yikes! I would be PISSED! That's inexcusable. > > A few years ago I took in a set of wheels with Mavic 501 hubs with a > couple of other pairs of wheels for some truing to a local BS and when I > picked them up, the rear wheel Mavic QR skewer was inexplicably missing. > Just...gone. Phoned said bike shop, and no... they couldn't find it. > Offered a replacement skewer, and BTW , 501 skewers are not easy to > find...although I have not checked recently, so I just used an old Campy > skewer. > > No, I'm not cool with having that bike shop do more work for me > > On Thursday, September 22, 2022 at 2:21:29 PM UTC-5 J J wrote: > >> We lost it, Joe. In the immediate aftermath, a quiet hush descended over >> the entire shop because everyone was shocked by what happened. And then it >> was like, wtf?!? >> >> The shop's first response was an unsatisfying and defensive, "it was an >> honest mistake," and they would have been content to settle it with a mere >> apology. After a lot of negotiation, the shop agreed to reimburse for labor >> and to replace the brakes — but good luck finding polished (or any other >> finish) NOS Racers. It's been three months since it happened and I've heard >> nothing but crickets. So I was super pleased with Eric's message about Paul >> Component resuming Racer production. >> >> It had taken me nine months to find the brakes — scouring the interwebs, >> cold calling dozens of bike shops all over the country, putting out WTB >> posts. Finally a set appeared in an eBay auction listing. I preempted the >> auction by offering the seller a (very) pretty penny for them. I wanted >> those brakes. >> >> Now... I have not lost perspective. This ordeal was upsetting, but it was >> not an issue of grave existential importance. Still, these things matter to >> bike nerds and to nerds in the making. >> >> Getting back to the original theme of this thread, I'll reiterate that if >> I had the option, I would gladly and enthusiastically pay Rivendell to do >> any frame prep, builds, etc. over any of my local bike shops, even if it >> meant waiting a while. >> >> On Thursday, September 22, 2022 at 2:26:36 PM UTC-4 [email protected] >> wrote: >> >>> Indeed. That's really appalling. I'm so glad my LBS is competent like >>> that and would tell me if they can't actually do the work. T >>> >>> On Thursday, September 22, 2022 at 11:05:04 AM UTC-7 Joe Bernard wrote: >>> >>>> That's appalling, I would have LOST it if someone did this to my (very >>>> expensive) Paul brakes. They owe you a new Racer. >>>> >>>> On Thursday, September 22, 2022 at 10:59:25 AM UTC-7 J J wrote: >>>> >>>>> Sorry, just noticed your note on this week-old thread, Piaw. Yes, I >>>>> totally agree that anyone can make mistakes. I also think there is a big >>>>> difference between a genuinely innocent mistake and negligence, >>>>> recklessness, or incompetence. (Ignoring specific instructions that were >>>>> in >>>>> earshot of the entire shop is an unfortunate instance of negligence.) >>>>> >>>>> Where you draw the line is debatable and depends on circumstances. >>>>> For me the big gash, scratches, and dings on brand new brakes, as shown >>>>> in >>>>> the attached pic, unequivocably cross the line. The mechanic attempted to >>>>> bend the fender hanger tab with pliers while pushing off the brake bridge >>>>> and arm, using them as leverage, as the entire shop looked on with shock, >>>>> and despite the fact that he was asked to do it properly. It wouldn't >>>>> have >>>>> been as big a deal if the Racers were readily available (as they >>>>> evidently >>>>> will be again in a few months), but this shouldn't have happened >>>>> regardless. >>>>> >>>>> [image: IMG_6141.jpg] >>>>> >>>>> On Wednesday, September 14, 2022 at 1:15:28 PM UTC-4 [email protected] >>>>> wrote: >>>>> >>>>>> Anyone can make mistakes. When we got my wife's Rivendell-assembled >>>>>> Cheviot a few years back, I ended up having to re-tighten the FD, and >>>>>> had >>>>>> to adjust the shifters several times. It's not a big deal. I'd be a lot >>>>>> less forgiving of frame prep failures. I'm a good enough mechanic that I >>>>>> can build wheels myself (and used to teach wheel-building workshops), >>>>>> but >>>>>> my definite preference is for parts and bikes that are "fire and >>>>>> forget". >>>>>> But I'm also blessed to have good mechanics at LBSes for times when I >>>>>> can't >>>>>> or don't have time to fix something myself. I still try to do work >>>>>> myself >>>>>> since frequently they're much more aggressive about replacing parts like >>>>>> brake pads too early than I am. >>>>>> >>>>>> On Wednesday, September 14, 2022 at 9:39:10 AM UTC-7 J J wrote: >>>>>> >>>>>>> I would happily pay extra for Riv to prep a frame. I have absolute >>>>>>> confidence in their work. There are lots of bike shops in my area that >>>>>>> I >>>>>>> have gone to when I didn’t have the time, tools, or inclination to do >>>>>>> work >>>>>>> myself. I’m stunned by how consistently they can be counted on for >>>>>>> sloppy >>>>>>> work — or worse. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> The most recent example was a fender installation on a Wilbury on >>>>>>> which we had just installed a NOS set of Paul Racers (the hard to find >>>>>>> polished version). I told the shop that Rivendell has a detailed video >>>>>>> showing fender installation and could they please check it out and >>>>>>> follow >>>>>>> Mark’s method. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Long story as short as I can make it: the eager, wide-eyed mechanic who >>>>>>> wanted to work on the bike because he “loves Rivendells” did it his >>>>>>> way, >>>>>>> anyway. The fender hanger tab that bolts onto the brake hole on the >>>>>>> fork >>>>>>> was unevenly bent and rubbing against the headset as the handlebar >>>>>>> moved >>>>>>> back and forth. We took it back to have them fix it, and in full view >>>>>>> of >>>>>>> several employees, including the shop manager, the mechanic tried to >>>>>>> bend >>>>>>> the tab back using the Racer as leverage for his pliers. He did this >>>>>>> despite my partner telling him “shouldn’t you take it off before you do >>>>>>> that?” He totally ignored her, and in a second he put a gash into the >>>>>>> the >>>>>>> brake bridge. Now we’re not precious about nicks and scratches. But >>>>>>> this >>>>>>> was a deep gash on a brand new set of rare Racers, and it was horrible. >>>>>>> It’s >>>>>>> painful even recalling it. I regret that I didn’t intervene before he >>>>>>> ruined it (though again, he ignored my partner, which could be another >>>>>>> story for another thread about the contempt and condescension with >>>>>>> which >>>>>>> many LBS mechanics and sales people treat women). >>>>>>> >>>>>>> I think we have mythologized local bike shops. Sure, I’ve had some >>>>>>> great experiences. But the proof of the pudding is always in the >>>>>>> tasting, >>>>>>> and recent experiences left me with extreme, long lasting bitterness. >>>>>>> Local shops have forgotten to reattach brake cables after a service, >>>>>>> left >>>>>>> the quick release skewers very loose, stripped threads, made >>>>>>> adjustments >>>>>>> worse, I could go on and on — basic stuff that should not happen and >>>>>>> that >>>>>>> have safety implications. It’s to the point that the only “local” shop >>>>>>> I >>>>>>> trust anymore is about 50 miles away, even though I have at least 5 >>>>>>> shops >>>>>>> within walking distance, a few blocks from where I live. I don’t want >>>>>>> shops >>>>>>> to use my bikes for training mechanics. It’s too unreliable. On top of >>>>>>> that, the local shops’ labor rates are not less than Rivendell’s rates, >>>>>>> and >>>>>>> in my area, they are often *more*, adding insult to injury. For me >>>>>>> it’s a no-brainer to pay Rivendell to do the work, pay extra for >>>>>>> repacking, >>>>>>> and so on. I don’t mean to rag on LBSs, though. I’m just sharing my >>>>>>> actual >>>>>>> experiences and thoughts. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> I suppose one good outcome of these crappy experiences is that it’s >>>>>>> compelled me to invest in tools and put in time to learn skills. This >>>>>>> forum >>>>>>> has been a great educator, too. So thanks, forum!! I’m sorry this >>>>>>> veered a >>>>>>> lot from the original post topic. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> On Wednesday, September 14, 2022 at 11:27:04 AM UTC-4 Joe Bernard >>>>>>> wrote: >>>>>>> >>>>>>>> I don't even know where my LBS is, I work on my own bikes. I assume >>>>>>>> Riv is still prepping their frames for an extra fee, I would pay it. >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> On Wednesday, September 14, 2022 at 8:22:57 AM UTC-7 >>>>>>>> [email protected] wrote: >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> On Wed, Sep 14, 2022 at 8:15 AM Joe Bernard <[email protected]> >>>>>>>>> wrote: >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> To be clear cuz I'm the OP and this is going to reflect on me, >>>>>>>>>> I'm not sad about anything. My concern is we're going to end up with >>>>>>>>>> unprepped frames on the used market that unsuspecting buyers won't >>>>>>>>>> know >>>>>>>>>> need to be prepped. It wasn't the main point of my post, which is >>>>>>>>>> that >>>>>>>>>> there's a new Roadini frame out there people can buy. >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> I'm surprised at the number of people here who can't trust their >>>>>>>>> LBS to prep a frame. Is it because the modern CF/AL frames don't need >>>>>>>>> prepping? I certainly don't have a frame alignment table or a >>>>>>>>> derailleur >>>>>>>>> hanger straightener, much less the tool required to prep a headtube >>>>>>>>> prior >>>>>>>>> to installing headset and fork. It's been years since I carried a >>>>>>>>> headset >>>>>>>>> wrench while touring as well. But I recently had trouble with one of >>>>>>>>> my >>>>>>>>> kids' bikes not indexing correctly no matter what I did. Took it to >>>>>>>>> the LBS >>>>>>>>> and they diagnosed it as a bent hanger. They fixed it and then >>>>>>>>> decided not >>>>>>>>> to charge me since their credit card machine was broken. >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/ebbd176c-101d-4975-84d6-aab96d91ac83n%40googlegroups.com.
