Long wait at bike shops?

[steve_sordy]

On Mon 18th Sep'23, I rang Rutland Cycles in Whitwell to ask if they could do a job on my emtb. The workshop guy I spoke to said yes they could but the earliest date he could book me in was 26th Oct'23. Five and a half weeks!

I mentioned this to Jack at Newark Cycles today and he told me that Rutland Cycles sold lots of bikes during the pandemic and many of them are now coming in for maintenance. They may be just normal wear and tear, but RC were selling maintenance plans along with new bikes and those would be coming in about now too.

What are the wait times at your LBS?

 

[Shjay]

Do all my own as Cytech mechanic

 

[Ou812]

I do all my own maintenance, only time I use the LBS is if there’s something I don’t have the tools for. My LBS is tiny, he’s the only shop in the town so he’s pretty much always slammed with work. I had him cut down a set of bars for me when I didn’t have a hacksaw, he couldn’t get to them for a week!

 

[Weeksy]

i very very rarely use an LBS, but i buy all my bits from him if possible.. I dropped some forks off for a service on Tues, they'll be ready today. Most of his other customers are 3 weeks wait but i'm a very lucky boy as we've known him ages and he'll do most things while i stand there (after taking him beer)

 

[militantmandy]

I have 5 bike shops within 6 miles. 2 of those I know very well and could probably walk in and get something looked at straight away. Two I just wouldn't use the workshop in and one would likely want to book me in for several weeks later.

 

[Stihldog]

It’s difficult to time a bike service with an injury, (ribs) but I did it once. The 2 week wait wasn’t as painful or lonely.

The LBS always seems to be busy. We have three within riding distance but I generally use the Trek dealer in case I can play the warranty card. The two other bike shops are great for the bling upgrades.

So I’ve taught myself to service my own bikes and some others around me. I’m out of warranty now so there’s no limit …except the motor.

I think the basic service is something we can all do and doesn’t require any special tools. That can go a long way and avoid those long waits in the queue. A computer update or remove that friggen wrench symbol from my Kiox usually only takes a few minutes while I wait and kick some tires.

 

[Dax]

My lbs is booking ~3 weeks out, but can usually fit stuff like tubeless setups and wheel bearing changes same week. My local suspension specialist turned around my forks and shock service in three days.

 

[steve_sordy]

I always send off my suspension every 1200 miles or 12 months whichever comes last. I do just about everything else, especially if it means I get the bike going asap. But for some things, my LBS is so cheap and quick that I sometimes just let them do it. There are also some things that I can't do (for example, removing two tyres glued on to the rim with Gorilla tape). I did try though. It took two of them working together and a lot of sweat and swearing.

Dropping the motor, threading wires through the frame, unsoldering connections. Yes I could have done it, if I absolutely had to. But the LBS only charged me £20 for that and he knew exactly which cable to buy and got it next day. I would still be waiting. The guys at Newark Cycles are absolute gems and I hope they keep going forever! They operate a booking system, so you take your bike in on the appointed day and they get to work on it straight away.

I stopped using my previous LBS because they would not operate a booking system. They expected me to leave my bike there for two weeks while they got round to it. When I said OK, I'll bring it in in two weeks time, I was accused of jumping the queue! Exit one previously good customer.

 

[Mikerb]

Do all my own servicing etc. Only times I have been in a LBS in the last 5 years is to pick up a bike I have bought.

 

[RustyIron]

What are the wait times at your LBS?

Years ago, I got miffed when the bike store couldn't do a repair on my bike within a day or two. So I started working on my bikes myself. I soon learned that I can do everything better, I can do it more quickly, and I can get parts online for cheaper. Cheaper, quicker, better.

There's a new shop near here. Their specialty is suspension service. For a regular service, if you drop it off in the morning, you can pick it up by the end of the day. Regular bike stores, though, stick take days for the most basic services. I'll visit them if I need help with suspension service.

 

[emtbPhil]

I don't use bike shops for anything except firmware updates

Suspension services I send off to Silverfish or TF Tuned.

I have used a few bike shops in the past but I always end up fixing their bodges myself.

 

[Rando_12345]

Here is France bike mechanics in vans have become quite popular, you either ask them to come to your place or work or home and they turn up and do your servicing, some of them are EWS mechanics on the side (well, one of them I know at least).

I went from doing 90% of my own maintenance (no suspension or brakes), to letting my local shop do most of the work (no time). I bought the bike there on purpose, I can leave the bike and walk home, then pick it up a day or two later. Sometimes they ask me to wait a week before dropping it. It for sure adds a significant budget to maintenance and you have to trust the shop.

 

[Ou812]

Here is France bike mechanics in vans have become quite popular, you either ask them to come to your place or work or home and they turn up and do your servicing, some of them are EWS mechanics on the side (well, one of them I know at least).

I went from doing 90% of my own maintenance (no suspension or brakes), to letting my local shop do most of the work (no time). I bought the bike there on purpose, I can leave the bike and walk home, then pick it up a day or two later. Sometimes they ask me to wait a week before dropping it. It for sure adds a significant budget to maintenance and you have to trust the shop.

I’ve seen a few of those guys around my area. I’d like to chat with one of them to see what kind of business they’re doing as it might be something I could possibly do part time once my kids start nursery. All I’d need is a van, I’ve already got tons of tools.

 

[Rando_12345]

I’ve seen a few of those guys around my area. I’d like to chat with one of them to see what kind of business they’re doing as it might be something I could possibly do part time once my kids start nursery. All I’d need is a van, I’ve already got tons of tools.

The guy I worked with would do most things for high end bikes for me: fork servicing, brake bleeds, bearing changes. He would do full bike builds for people. But he also worked with world champions on race weekends, and on the less glamorous side would park his van along a very busy cycling path to help fix punctures.

Some companies seem to hire out these guys at an hourly rate to maintain their staff's bike in the parking lot, I've also seen one refreshing a fleet of rental bikes from an adventure park. That might be a more stable way to have income.