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 pi...@gmail.com >> 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 pi...@gmail.com >>>>> wrote: >>>>> >>>>>> On Wed, Sep 14, 2022 at 8:15 AM Joe Bernard <joer...@gmail.com> >>>>>> 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 rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/9348402d-f7ee-44cd-a777-76d3ff66c8e2n%40googlegroups.com.
