On Sun, 18 Aug 2019 17:34:27 -0700 (PDT), AK
wrote:
On Sunday, August 18, 2019 at 6:37:19 PM UTC-5, Jeff Liebermann wrote:
On Sun, 18 Aug 2019 13:51:01 -0700 (PDT), AK
wrote:
What do you think of this offer?
Ask what the "Normal Price" is and what maker and model components you
will be getting for the unspecified amount. If the shop is supplying
name brand components with a good reputation for quality at a
reasonable price, go for it. If it's some unknown and no-name brand
of components, perhaps it's not a good idea at any price. In other
words, get a real written estimate on the cost of the components plus
the labor.
There are also some details to consider:
1. Is there a warranty on the work?
2. What happens if the shifting problem is present with the new
hardware?
3. If you are planning to learn something about bicycle mechanics
from this exercise, it's not going to happen by having the LBS do all
the work. Buy the components and do it yourself. If you screw it up,
you can always go back to the LBS and have them do the necessary
adjustments.
You gave me some things to consider.
The parts alone are close to $60.
That was the general idea. 50% off of full list price might not be
such a great deal if the list price is inflated and if everyone in
town is selling the groupset for the discounted price. I suggest you
get a better estimate of what this will cost you.
Much of what needs to be done is completely new to me.
I like learning and have watched him make other repairs and learned from it.
Notice that my domain is "Learn by Destroying". You really don't
understand how something works until you accidentally break it, and
are then forced to fix it yourself. You learn much more about how
something works with hands on experience and desperation, than by
observation. Mimicking what the expert mechanic will get the bicycle
fixed much faster than trial and error or learn by destroying, but
even will not show you how things work. To fix a shifting problem,
you should put the bicycle up on a stand, and watch the components
closely while you shift up and down the gears. Look for something
that isn't right, like a bad chain line, failure of the chain to mesh
with the gears (usually caused by worn gears and/or worn chain), or
simple things like the wrong chain length. Compare how your bicycle
shifts with another bicycle that is known to work. If you have a slow
motion feature on a smartphone or digital camera, use it to get a
closer and slower look at the action.
Since this is all new to you, I suggest you dive into the works of the
great Sheldon Brown:
https://www.sheldonbrown.com/bicycleGears.html
https://www.sheldonbrown.com/repairs.html
https://www.sheldonbrown.com
and read about your particular area of interest. Don't worry if you
don't understand everything. I don't think any of the participants in
this newsgroup know everything on Sheldon's web pages. If you're
stuck, ask SPECIFIC questions here or in other forums.
Be prepared to make some mistakes. That's what learn by destroying
really means. I you haven't broken (or destroyed) it, and then fixed
it, you don't understand it. You can't learn bicycle repair by
watching someone else do it. You have to get your hands dirty and do
it yourself. However, when you're done, you really understand it.
If you're into the technology and science, as your email address
suggests, there are some books worth reading:
Bicycling Science 3rd edition by David Gordon Wilson:
https://www.alibris.com/Bicycling-Science-David-Gordon-Wilson/book/17828968
Published in 2004, it's a bit dated after 15 years, but most of the
content is still very applicable. You won't find anything on 27 speed
gearing, fixies, carbon fiber, mountain bike suspensions, and eBikes,
but everything else should be there.
There are plenty of bike repair videos, but some things do not
go smoothly when done the first time.
You're being overly optimistic. NOTHING goes smoothly the first time
you try it. When I work on something new, everything takes 5 times
too long, things blow up, things happen that I don't understand, and I
usually have to start over at least once. The 2nd time, things go
faster and better. After a few more attempts, and after I gain
confidence and experience, things go quickly and smoothly. If you're
into Zen, "one must suffer before enlightenment".
The YouTube bicycle repair videos are very useful. However, due to
the video time constraint, they move along much quicker than reality.
The video may show a groupset transplant and adjustment in 10 minutes,
while in real time, it takes up to an hour or more. Don't be
disappointed if you're not quick and/or instantly proficient after
watching a few videos. Don't be disappointed if you have to tear it
all apart, and start over from scratch. Don't worry about breaking
something. It happens. When adjusting the derailleurs, don't be
surprised if you don't get it right the first time. If you're stuck,
don't bang your head against the wall. Just ask someone who knows.
Good luck and may your learning experience be less painful than mine
was.
--
Jeff Liebermann
150 Felker St #D http://www.LearnByDestroying.com
Santa Cruz CA 95060
http://802.11junk.com
Skype: JeffLiebermann AE6KS 831-336-2558