boo LBS

[divingbiker]

I hesitated posting this until I had ridden my commuting bike a few times this week, but I had good luck getting my rear derailleur adjusted by Jerry at Proteus Bikes in College Park. I had taken it to two shops before and the gears still slid all over the place, especially on hills. (Actually at the second shop, the new one in Takoma Park, the guy told me to take it somewhere else because he couldn't see that anything was wrong with it. Not sure how long he'll be in business with that attitude.) I have had no problem riding it four days this week after having it adjusted last weekend. Apparently Jerry is some kind of genius at repairing bikes, and prefers to fix things instead of replacing them with new parts.

So anyway, try Proteus. An added bonus is that it's a woman-owned business.

[DebW]

I hesitated posting this until I had ridden my commuting bike a few times this week, but I had good luck getting my rear derailleur adjusted by Jerry at Proteus Bikes in College Park. I had taken it to two shops before and the gears still slid all over the place, especially on hills. I have had no problem riding it four days this week after having it adjusted last weekend. Apparently Jerry is some kind of genius at repairing bikes, and prefers to fix things instead of replacing them with new parts.

So anyway, try Proteus. An added bonus is that it's a woman-owned business.

Oh. I remember that place. The summer of 1977 I was working in the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center and getting paid by U.Maryland. My only transportation was my bike or my thumb (hitching, that is). The Proteus bike shop was just down Rt. 1 from U.Maryland. Very cool place. They sold Proteus bikes which I don't remember much about, but they were cool. I bought my first helmet (a Bell Biker) at that shop - it was the first thing I did with my first paycheck, since riding on Rt. 1 was freaking me out. Anyway, nice to know the place is still in business.

[Velobambina]

I've heard great things about Proteus, too. Maybe I'll start having them work on my two Lunas, since I baby those bikes.

[mary9761]

Maybe we should hear more about this Jimmy fellow?? Sounds like there may be more to the story.... ?

LOL, Nah, Jimmy is just a really great guy who happens to be the person who sold me my bike when he worked at The Bike Line in Carmel and now that the family has opened their third store downtown, he's at that store now. He's been one of my number one fans since day one and when I have a problem with the bike, he gets it fixed up/tweeked asap because he knows how much the bike has done for me and that it's basically my car as well. If you're ever in Indianapolis and need something done to/with your bike I definitely recommend them.
Now I will admit, he's not hard on the eyes though LOL....

[divingbiker]

Oh. I remember that place. The summer of 1977 I was working in the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center and getting paid by U.Maryland.

Deb, the BARC is one of my favorite rides. It's like being in the country right next to the city, with cows and corn and pigs. On the weekends there's very little traffic, and the shoulders are nice and wide. Now Route 1 is another story...

[DebW]

Deb, the BARC is one of my favorite rides. It's like being in the country right next to the city, with cows and corn and pigs. On the weekends there's very little traffic, and the shoulders are nice and wide. Now Route 1 is another story...

Yup, it was a good place to ride. I was renting a room in Greenbelt for the summer, and a few times I rode as far an Annapolis.

[aicabsolut]

I took it back and complained. Yep, limit screw issue. Now it shifts like a dream and they threw on some new brake pads . They also taught me about the 5 positions on the 105 front derailleur so I can stop the rattle if I crosschain a little.

Plus I walked out with some shorts on sale and some toasty tights. And in love with $230 Specialized sunglasses that I can't afford. Not a bad trip to the ol' LBS. Finally. The good mechanics were there in addition to the guys who did a shoddy job last time. Keeps them on their toes I guess.

[pooks]

Plus I walked out with some shorts on sale and some toasty tights.

Which is exactly why they should give you the good customer service you deserve -- so you will remain a good customer!

Congrats!

[southtxrider]

I just went on my first ride this weekend - 20 miles And I was having a problem with the left shifter/front deraileur. I took it straight to the LBS where I bought it. They "tweaked" it. But it still stuck/was very hard to shift/skipped one of the rails (went from small to large and skipped medium) and so they tweaked it again. I left it there b/c I didn't want to wait, but I am crossing my fingers that the repair guy was good and got it right this time. He rode it and said he could "fix it" but he also said "these are just hard to shift" Hmph! The right one is fine....

So we'll see. It's interesting to read about the same issues with others.

Oh, and yesterday I found out that the guy that sold me my $1000 bike is now the manager of their little "mini-starbucks" in the store. He serves cappucinos....you know, I had a weird feeling that day that he was "winging it". One of the other guys told me that biking is "not his area of expertise". I observed while I was there yesterday and got names of who I should ask for from now on.....

my seat was too low and my handlebars too wide - the cappucino guy never measured my shoulders but they did yesterday and I went from a 40 cm bar to a 36 cm and WOW what a difference. Anyway, live and learn! I love coming here to learn......

[Triskeliongirl]

I thought I could maybe figure it out with my trainer (no work stand). But I also kind of want the satisfaction of going in there and pointing out how they messed up and make them do the work.

I think this is the wrong way to think about it. A bike is like a stringed instruments. You wouldn't imagine bringing a violin to a music shope to be 'tuned' on a regular basis, so why a bike? Strings stretch, stuff gets bumped and moved. Even if the LBS adjusts in perfectly, it can be out of adjustment for your next ride. Only when you learn to take responsiblity for you own bike will you be able to make it sing at will.

[aicabsolut]

If the LBS had adjusted it perfectly, then I would've been able to shift into those gears in the first 2 minutes of my next ride. This wasn't the case. I am very careful with how I move, handle, and store my bike. The shifting problem didn't occur until it went in for maintenance. The service was part of the package they throw in with a purchase--they check it after the first 20hrs of riding or 30 days to see what's moved around in the initial breaking in period. If the wire tension had been my fault or part of the normal course of wear, I'd be ok with it. I did ask them for some help in figuring out how to adjust it myself. But it's just like my car: when it goes in for a checkup and comes out with new problems, I get upset. If it develops new problems due to no fault of the mechanics, then that's just life with a vehicle or instrument or whatever. If it's their bad, they should fix it. It's their job.

[Triskeliongirl]

Please don't take this the wrong way. I am not saying its your fault. Of course its their fault, and their responsiblity to fix it. BUT, what I am saying is that THIS IS HOW IT IS. So, in my experience, I got sick and tired of the wasted time and money I spent bringing my bike in for service and having problems persist, so I decided to learn to do it myself. Its just something to consider.