Thank you for your road bike advice

[CorsairMac]

Wooohoo Sandy congrats on the bike - may you and he/she/it have a very long and loving relationship. As for charging to install the computer?.........I can't speak for other LBS's but thats standard here in ABQ. They charge for Everything they do - even tho I just bought a bike from them. Example: I just bought a brand new bike and I wanted clipless pedals. They charged me for the new pedals and they charged me to switch them out. One of the sweetheart LBS guys (married darn it ) gave me some handlebars he had sitting in his garage coz it would fit me better and save me $30., but they charged me $10 bucks to install them on my bike!! Since I had her there for her maintaince checkup, it was just easier to have them do it....I never thought about the install charge! I'm changing out the brake levers on the Peugeot and they're charging me for the new levers and the installation. I'm praying they don't also charge me for the handlebar rewrap! It probably never occurred to them to mention that to you - they probably thought you just figured it was a given. I DO ask them for all my components tho and they now know I want everthing back that they took off the bike!

[annie]

Sandy,

Bike shops do not have much of a mark up on the bikes so in order to make money and survive, they need to charge enough on their products and their services. It would have been a nice good will gesture to have installed the computer for free ( and I DO think the price w/wo installation should be listed on the computer) but I don't think it's a common practice. It's a service - it takes time- they charge for it. As for switching out stem (or any other parts), you should only have been charged for the difference in cost between the two. Obviously, if you now have a better stem (or pedals, saddle) that costs more, they can't just give it away. So I wouldn't think too poorly of the bike shop. If it bothers you, mention to them that you didn't realize there would be an extra charge, and that you'd appreciate it, in the future, if they would be more clear about their charges.

Anyway, now that you have it, just enjoy that new bike! It sounds like a beauty!

annie

[annie]

Corsair,

Don't be surprised if they charge you for a bar-rewrap.............. Have you ever wrapped your own bars? If it's not done correctly, the tape is going to come loose, it won't look good, and they'll need to be wrapped all over again. It isn't that difficult, but it takes some time. Shops don't generally give away their time. In the shop I worked in (not there anymore) the owner was the only one who wrapped the bars. He wouldn't allow anyone else to do it because he wasn't happy with the results. The tape can't be too stretched or too loose. There's a certain way to wrap it around the brake hoods. Actually, I enjoy doing mine, getting it just right. I usually have to start over 3 or 4 times, tho', before I am satisfied. There- now I've rambled on long enough about a pretty mundane subject.

Enjoy the Puegeot!!!

annie