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bike service
Hope this is the right forum for this.
I've had two services from a bike shop on the Northern beaches - both of which have been terrible (same shop, I thought the first bad one may just have been a one off). Can anyone recommend a good service shop on the Northern Beaches that do a thorough job - I am not a mechanic and expect the service person to be able to tell me if I need something replaced.
Last place didn't check the rear pads - found out half way through one of the manic down hill bits on the Dirt works 100!!
Cheers
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hoping that neither of my suggestions were one of the ones you went to but I love Supreme at Narrabeen and also Adrian at Belrose Bikes, both shops and the guys there have been totally brilliant for me!
well i use favourite cycles in manly, leyton and rhys there are very helpful and the best place i have found
for servicing over the past 15 years experience of living on the northern beaches.
they do what you want them to do and let you know if there are any other probs....good pricing too.
Trent.
you have been billed serious $$$$$$(i wont say how much because it makes me nauseous) for a build, and on your first ride you turn and discover that the stem bolts were never tightened...
mOt
trying the DIY thing..suck at it, but reckon i got stem bolts covered!
Steve,
I've told you I'm happy to help with what I can do. Though when I fitted a carbon bar to my bike I did find it spinning in my hands after 20 k's. Still need to get that torque wrench for the bike tool kit.
Cannot say enough about this shop. I only wish they were closer to home.
Funnily enough, the first comment included the shop I'm talking about - the first service me and 3 mates all confirmed that the steering was out. I asked them to check it as part of the service. When picking it up, they couldn't remember even seeing the bike let alone servicing it. Anyhow, they charged me the service fee and gave me back the bike - Steering still wonky - comment was it looked ok to them.
Now I look back it's pretty obvious they didn't do anything to the bike at all.
Second time, front brakes were getting a little worn or so I thought so I asked about that. On return they had replaced the rear derailleur cable (apparently it was dirty) and the front brakes were fine. 30 bucks for the privilege.
Stupidly I took it to Dirtworks without so much as sitting on the bike - when I got up there, every time I sat on it, it changed gears - get off and it would change gears again (sort of semi automatic). They had made the cable too tight so the suspension tightened the cable every time it went down, loosened it when it went up.
Front brakes were completely useless and no pads on the back!!
I honestly thought that a service was supposed to improve the bike - not make it completely un-ridable. Not a great Dirtworks for me.
I will try favourite cycles in Manly. Thanks for the recommendation.
Used to be Dee Why Beach Cycles but are now Bike Hub opposite the Dee Why RSL - never been disappointed they've always helped me (a few times attended to what I needed while I waited) and always at very reasonable cost.
This guy is pretty good I am told although I haven't used him yet. Pick up and delivered as well.
Fraser Lindsay.
Phone is 0432 636 260
email: [email protected]
Www.drbike.com.au
yer deewhy bike hub is great got my bike there and get it serviced there to but a bit of a trek for me coz i live in seaforth manly 15-20 min drive from here or you can try manly cycles but i think a bit of a rip off there
The only comment I'll make about DY Bike Hub is that their attention to detail (when they were DY Beach Cycles) was what motivated me to learn how to do things myself!
I've used Bike Addiction since and was happy, but there is a price/quallity of workmanship trade-off it seems. They were not cheap. CBD in the city have been OK for me as well.
The advantage of DIY is that the midweek turnaround is quicker - trivial things like Lefty fork bearing resets, brake pads, brake bleeds, shifter adjustment etc can be sorted overnight. The disadvantage is the time absorbed that could be spent on other things. But since my bike is my favoured way of getting to work, and I like tinkering, it means less time off the bike and I'm not paying inflated prices for labour or parts, which I generally source from fleaBay or T7. Zinn and The Art of Mountain Bike Mainenance has been an enormously helpful how-to information source.
Major stuff or skill-based stuff like wheelbuilding, Mavic freehub service, or full fork services I will use the LBS.
Kitrou1,
Your experience sounds very close to the one I had with Belrose:
"Here is my bike for a service. Could you also pls take a look at the bottom bracket which creaks when under load"
When I collected I asked how they went with the BB - "all good, creak gone"
(After collection and having not tested it whilst at the shop)
"The BB still has a creak - thought you said you looked at it"
"We did - it must be knackered"
"its 2 months old and had 6 rides in dry conditions"
"yup - definitely knacked"
I took it to another shop a few weeks after for a service and they solved it immediately (however they DID contaminate F&R pads and over tightened the brake lever causing it to snap blah blah bad service, out of pocket by $310, blah blah - obviously not going back to Bike Bar Bondi)
However Belrose seem to generally get a good wrap on here so maybe it was a Friday afternoon service and I was just unlucky
If you see the boys at Favourite, please tell them that big Matt is very happy with his Mongoose!
Ta!
because everyone clearly has different experiences at different shops - I love my two that you guys dont - they even call Mildred by her name!
dee why cycles wouldn't even speak to me when i went in there - in fact I never actually even SAW a person so I haven't been back and everyone knows what I think about BA (sorry squid!).
BUT i am fairly sure most people here agree they dont particuarly recommend one shop.. that one in chatswood lol!
Everyone has different experiences at different shops. I should point out that Adrian from Belrose made IMMEDIATE contact after I posted my comment above as he was concerned that my experience of the service wasn't as good as it could have been.
That speaks volumes about their attitude and makes me feel that my opinion is valued. It certainly makes me feel confidant to take the bike back again.
Its understandable that every now and again, something will slip through the cracks however its the attitude that can be a real clincher. (my experience of Bike Bar Bondi will NEVER lead me back there again. And I am another who won't ever return to Bike Addiction due to their attitude and service).
You would think though that with forums providing easy access to info and opinions, that they would strive to provide a great service to anyone.
Oh and the Chatswood one, is that the one on the highway, opposite the motorbike dealer? I haven't had the need to buy there yet but have often thought about them as they are quite close to work.
oops! I forgot to mention that Adrian also washed Mildred so she looked sooooo pristine when she was there - I was loathe to ride her!!!
lol
Yes, the one opposite the 'real bike' shop! Northside - I don't go there but have only heard horrible stories from the other boys about them...
i guess it's all about relationship building really
I must add that as far as I know Supreme don't go on this site - I tease them about it, but they do their own thing - same as (cough cough) Turramurra..
The real problem here is misunderstanding of what goes on within in a bike. Now most of you will happily accept that I check things on all my bikes with anal frequency. I still find things loose. Let me tell you all, bikes creak, sqeak, moan and groan and make all sorts of curious noises. BB's and cranks loosening are the worst offenders. It seems the Shimano outside bearing type with the pinch bolt off-side crank arrangement is most reliable.
It's wrong for bike shop staff to mislead customers. Honesty is the best policy here. This includes when I don't know things. I can't know everything all the time and to be completely truthful I just don't personally experience the calamities that many others seem to cop, in regards to short brake pad life, excessive chainring/cassette/chain wear, flat tyres etc. I occasionally get treated like a fool when I don't see the customers perspective or like a crook when giving a price on something. The entire industry is frought with contradictions and I dislike it as much as anyone else.
Don't forget that there is a certain amount of personal rapport between customer and bike shop dude. This should never effect the standard of work carried out yet it will effect the whole trust/reliability perspective. Plus the staff are human and do make mistakes and it's the resolution of issues which is important here. Overtightening something to breaking point is dumb.
My advice is to find a shop you like and stick to it. Then if they stuff up once then give them the oppurtunity to solve it. Many stuff ups is different. And don't be unrealistic. Expecting a mechanic to stop what he's doing to attend to your issue just because you want to ride on the weekend is not realistic nor fair. So don't get online trashing that shops' name. All shops can have a lengthy turn around time. That's how it is.
Finally, there is a certain amount of owner responsibilty required when it comes to the humble bicycle. I know that no one wants to hear this, but it's true. So check your tyres for correct pressure and debris, lube your chain with a bike specific lube, maintain correct chainline, look at your pads, check spoke tension is even, look for dings in rims, check fasteners such as bar/stem and control bolts and qr levers. Look after your bikes people!
I am so lucky to be a tradesman that has the smats to fix my own bike.
I use this excuse of money saving to justify my alcohol bill.
However, There is amongst us a rider who fixes bikes by appointment only; if you’re lucky he may contact you!
Pikey
Pikey, I'm in a similar situation.
However, there are things out of my realm as I am super anal with my stuff, and if it's noisy or creaky, I don't like it and want to fix it. I buy good quality (XT etc) components to avoid noises etc. When there is something out of the norm (for instance I have a creak in my crank at the moment) I take it to the shop. My choice is definately NBC. Chris is great to deal with. If ever there's a problem or if I need advice or help, he always willing to help out. When I first got back into riding and was looking for a bike, I tried all of the locals, BA, BBF, supreme, bike hub none of them had the same level of service as NBC. For me, cost competitiveness is a major consideration, but good ol' fashioned service is number one for me. When I started looking for a bike, I tried BA, the few times I went there I seemed to get stuck with one bloke that every question I ask he didn't know the answer to. BBF, the bike sales department was plain rude to me one morning before work so I refused to go there ever again. Bike hub guys were quite helpful and very friendly.
I've been buying gear and taking my bike to all number of shops across the Northern Beaches for the last 15 years. I've found Supreme Cycles in Narrabeen ok....only just. Brookvale Bike Factory was committed to the up-sell (relentlessly). Bike Addiction have been ok depending on who serves you (very expensive too), will only go there if desperate. Pedals Plus Mona Vale absolute tools, don't go there!
But Northern Beaches Cycles in Narrabeen and Belrose terrific. They are always willing to talk abvout your bike and give un-biased advice. Prices have been known to be a lot, lot cheaper than other shops (if you're nice that is!). Servicing and repairs have been spot on. With NBC the person working on your bike owns the shop and is generally willing to please. Also Favourite Cycles in Manly are much the same as NBC, good advice cheap price.
It's taken me 15 years to discover this out and i'm sharing it all for free! As always what's good for the goose isn't always good for the gander and everyone will always have their own oppinion. Stepping into NBC or FC is definately a step in the right direction.
Ta Mike
I always get honest advice and great service. my advice is always choose a bike shop Run by People who know bikes and love bikes.
Thanks KOM dudes!
Chatswood...
i rate them highly, and they have been nothing but helpfull.
As soon as a get esmarelda back (she's brain dead) i will post a follow up. Specialized are honouring their 5 year worldwide warranty on brain replacement..yipeee
mOt