Stolen bike blues

[Trek420]

Back to the chain question: let's see if I've got this right. My LBS was explaining that the width of the chain has to do with the number of gears. Like I have Campy 10 spd, if I had a chain/deraileur for a 9 spd it might be too wide. So as deraileurs get more and more gears as in converting an old 10 speed to modern bits there are conflicts.

Could that had been what the LBS meant? He could replace the chain but it would have to be a new chain of the right width.

[tulip]

Back to the chain question: let's see if I've got this right. My LBS was explaining that the width of the chain has to do with the number of gears. Like I have Campy 10 spd, if I had a chain/deraileur for a 9 spd it might be too wide. So as deraileurs get more and more gears as in converting an old 10 speed to modern bits there are conflicts.

Could that had been what the LBS meant? He could replace the chain but it would have to be a new chain of the right width.

Of course, we weren't there, by KimmyT's original message said this:

"the bike mechanic told him they didn't make that chain anymore. He'd have to buy a new bike."

Sounds to me like the mechanic was trying to get a quick and easy sale in addition to a classic Peugeot. KimmyT, I'd love to know what shop this was, as I used to live in DC and still go up there from time to time. But I understand if you don't want to put the shop name on the list, so if you want, PM me. I hope he gets another bike soon and a good lock. Bikes are the best way to get around DC. Driving is horrible and the Metro is expensive (and less than efficient)

[Trek420]

Bikes are the best way around most places, What an awful thing for the wrench to say, not "you have to replace the chain and power train ...." or "you'd have to replace the chain and hub" or .... "we can turn it into a fixie".

This could cost as much as his new bike but you give the cyclist the choice.

What I know about bikes has come from those choices discussed over coffee with my LBS .... and from you gals on TE.

[ridebikeme]

Trek420 you're right in the fact that the more gears weh have on the rear wheel, the narrower the chain becomes. Not knowing how many gears the old bike had, it's hard to answer the question 'What if?" However, if the bike were anywhere from a 5, 6 or 7 speed rear wheel the old 7/8 speed chains would have worked. And as someone else mentioned, there are plenty of salvage shops around as well.

[Trek420]

Salvage shops? This guy had 5 bikes in the back just waiting to be the parts for this beauty. I don't know what chain my LBS guys used on my mixte freewheel rebuild but I imagine there are chains out there.

DebW? RunningMommy? Is there a mechanic in the house? Right, r.b.m., you are one too. Wa D.C. is flat, right? Why not suggest a freewheel?

What bugs me is while we get extraordinary service, good service, ok service from our shops .... I don't expect this behavior from any shop.

Communication. Education. Good shops do that. This is how my shop is getting me to plan for a new bike. I asked him "if I wanted to use my commuter for ALC is there anything that could make it lighter?" He described how we could throw money at it .... and said it would cost less to get a Surly LHT, which would be lighter, faster, touring geometry and I still have the commuter.

That's how you sell a bike. And the shop might have gotten the rebuild too.