Thank you for your road bike advice

[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