playing with fire: Mondonico, Pegoretti

[Triskeliongirl]

Just chiming in to say that my LBS also did my bike build for $100 three years ago. ... ~Emily

I think that is a fairly standard price, and I have gotten that twice now at 2 different bike shops. In fact, the newer shop recommends as a routine maintenace that you periodically strip, clean and rebuild your bike. Shops understand that not everyone can pay full bike shop prices for brand new parts, and that sometimes they need to use gently used parts bought on ebay, or transfer parts from another bike. So while they WOULD love to sell you all the parts to, they are generally more than happy to make $100 on a service job. But, if its a shop constantly building $5000 bikes, you may not be given a high priority. This is what I was told the first time I did it, and didn't get the bike back for 3 weeks. The second time around I used a shop that specializes in SERVICE (they also sell nice italian steel bikes, but aren't soo busy with new bike sales), and got the bike back in 24 hours, with all the parts cleaned, wheel hubs rebuilt, etc. I have continued to bring all the bikes in my house in to them for service, so they did get a regular customer out of it, even if they didn't get to sell me a bike or any parts.

[mimitabby]

I finally got the courage to call the bike shop in Ct, not a LBS but a DistantBS...DBS..
"How's my bike?"
"It's still at the paint shop."
" So where's the paint shop?"
"The paint shop is in California" !!!!!!!
"oh.. So when it's done in California, what happens?"
It goes back to Connecticut!!"

he says "I TOLD you it would take 3 to 4 weeks", (I heard "about 3 weeks"
and this means 4-6 weeks, since I live in the state of washington!)
Considering the frame came from Italy, this means this bike will have over 16,000 airmiles on it before I get it!


sigh ..

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Not that unusual....my DH's Rivendell frame was made in Japan, shipped to CA, then went to Boston area, then back to CA, then back to Boston where it finally got built up in Boston and we picked it up there and brought it back home to NY.

[Trek420]

Torelli/Mondonico are all painted in LA unless you specifiy Italian paint.

The Italian paint jobs are more brilliant in color but thinner coat and tend to be less sturdy. What they call "American paint" is done in LA and may last longer. Mine was done here.

If only I got my bikes frequent flier miles!

[mimitabby]

Not that unusual....my DH's Rivendell frame was made in Japan, shipped to CA, then went to Boston area, then back to CA, then back to Boston where it finally got built up in Boston and we picked it up there and brought it back home to NY.

WOW!

Trek, i opted for the American Paint. i wanted the pearlescent thing