No confidence in shop-am I overreacting?

[Melalvai]

You would need to be a 500 pound gorilla or use an impact wrench. Regular bike shop would have neither.

You mean not all bike shops stock a 500 pound gorilla? I guess we're just lucky.

[ny biker]

If a crank came off my bike three days after I bought it, I would absolutely take the bike back to the shop and make them fix it.

If I had a series of problems with mechanical work done by my LBS, I would talk to the manager about it, and if he did not respond appropriately I would escalate it to the owners. Even if I never return to that shop again, they need to know that their sloppy work is endangering their customers.

The people who run my LBS put a premium on customer service. It's the reason I travel 20 miles to their shop, passing plenty of other shops along the way. A few years back their mechanic broke my front derailleur while adjusting it. It was a Tiagra that never worked right, so there was probably metal fatigue from too many adjustments. But the mechanic apologized and replaced it for free -- with an Ultegra.

[westtexas]

Dogmama - I am very sorry for your troubles. You can come to my shop out here anytime. It may be a small town in BFE west Texas, but they do a good job. I watched them build my bike, so I know it was done right. And I second what everyone said about choose your mechanic, not your shop. Luckily in my case, both are good - although I trust one of the wrenches in the back infinitely more than the others. Luckily all are supervised by a guy who's been in the game longer than I've been alive, so I am always confident with their work.

I have nothing else to add except I understand your frustration and to invite you to west Texas anytime

[pll]

Dogmama: The bad service is alarming. Find a good bike shop and mechanic and please have them reassemble the bike. A bolt in the crank arm might have been lose, but they might have overtightened others and that could be problematic with carbon bikes.

[Dogmama]

Dogmama: The bad service is alarming. Find a good bike shop and mechanic and please have them reassemble the bike. A bolt in the crank arm might have been lose, but they might have overtightened others and that could be problematic with carbon bikes.

Exactly.

Well, it continues. I picked up my bike. No explanations about the crank arm except that they had a "shop meeting." When I got it home, I noticed they made three huge gashes in the stem cap and on the handlebars. I called & they said they'd order another stem cap & want to "look"at the handlebars.

It never ends.

They still owe me a carbon fiber stem. I'm going to take that and the new cap to a different shop. They won't lay another wrench on my bike. Period.

Oh, they did tell me how I can check the screws on the crank before I ride. Did I buy a Walmart bike? Am I dreaming this?

DH and I have spent almost $10K at this shop in the past six months (he bought a bike too.) You'd think the owner would have called me by now with an apology & offer a free tune up or whatever. Nothing but crickets chirping. Unbelievable.

[Dogmama]

DH and I have spent almost $10K at this shop in the past six months (he bought a bike too.) You'd think the owner would have called me by now with an apology & offer a free tune up or whatever. Nothing but crickets chirping. Unbelievable.

Need to add something - not that I expect or want free stuff. I just think it would be a good gesture on his part that would acknowledge the migraines I've had with his shop. But not even a phone call? He was in his office when I went in & I was told he was "in a meeting."

[smilingcat]

There is just no excuse with gashing components and damaging the bike stem. Definitely no more at that shop!

Terrible.

[pll]

No explanations about the crank arm except that they had a "shop meeting." When I got it home, I noticed they made three huge gashes in the stem cap and on the handlebars. I called & they said they'd order another stem cap & want to "look"at the handlebars.

I would be so mad. Post reviews of that bike shop.

[nuliajuk]

...Today my pedal fell off because they neglected to install an integral part - the cotter pin that holds the pedal on...

Cotter pin? I'm confused. Crank arms used to be held on with cotter pins back in the 70s, but I've never, ever, seen a pedal held on that way.

[Dogmama]

Cotter pin? I'm confused. Crank arms used to be held on with cotter pins back in the 70s, but I've never, ever, seen a pedal held on that way.

I'm confused too. When I initially brought the bike in, that's what the guy told me. When I went back & asked pointedly about what happened, he danced around the cotter pin story. Talked about a compression something - I really don't know. I'm not a mechanic. It was obvious, though, that he was not being straightforward. I thought he was trying to avoid a potential lawsuit for negligence. Maybe he doesn't know what he's talking about. BTW, he is the "shop manager."

Regarding posting a review - as soon as I get my parts, Angie's list is getting an earful about this shop.

[OakLeaf]

That had me scratching my head too. Cerclip maybe? Not that I've ever seen one of those on the crank side of a pedal spindle either...

[ny biker]

I'm confused too. When I initially brought the bike in, that's what the guy told me. When I went back & asked pointedly about what happened, he danced around the cotter pin story. Talked about a compression something - I really don't know. I'm not a mechanic. It was obvious, though, that he was not being straightforward. I thought he was trying to avoid a potential lawsuit for negligence. Maybe he doesn't know what he's talking about. BTW, he is the "shop manager."

Regarding posting a review - as soon as I get my parts, Angie's list is getting an earful about this shop.

I think Trek needs to get an earful about this shop. If someone is injured due to their negligence, Trek will be named in the lawsuit, too.

[Dogmama]

Somebody mentioned the fact that carbon fiber needs to be torqued correctly to avoid cracks. I'm concerned that there is more going on with this bike. So, I am going to have it checked out from wheel to wheel by another shop. I'm going to ask them to note everything they find. Then, you're right NY Biker, I'm going to Trek.

BTW, I read some recent Google reviews about this shop & apparently I'm not the only person they've danced around.

[Becky]

Cotter pin? I'm confused. Crank arms used to be held on with cotter pins back in the 70s, but I've never, ever, seen a pedal held on that way.

I was wondering about this too. The best that I can figure is that the shop installed the plastic threaded cap that seats the non-drive crank arm on the spindle, but didn't tighten the pinch bolts that actually hold the crank arm to the spindle splines. I'm making the giant assumption that this is a Shimano external BB crankset or similar design, and not something else.

[Dogmama]

I was wondering about this too. The best that I can figure is that the shop installed the plastic threaded cap that seats the non-drive crank arm on the spindle, but didn't tighten the pinch bolts that actually hold the crank arm to the spindle splines. I'm making the giant assumption that this is a Shimano external BB crankset or similar design, and not something else.

This sounds like what I have.

More gripes - I doubt that the "thorough inspection" was performed. My quick release skewers are in exactly the same position as when I took the bike in.

I'm wishing that my sport was running.