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7 Month old bike needs £300 worth of parts and labour

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  • March 17, 2017 at 12:52 am #26896
    Leviathan

    I have a Ribble Sportive Racer purchased in July last year and done 6250kms. In recent months the bottom bracket has become rather crunchy. I looked at replacing it and am familiar with replacing Hollowtech BBs and have the tools, however this one is Pressfit. I neither have the tools or knowledge to replace it. I am rather disappointed with the quality of this design; though to be honest BB type was not an issue in my decision to buy. So I’ve taken it into a well know high street chain of bike shops for a service.

    The service quote is £298.91 when the bike itself cost about £1100 just last summer. Apparently I need a new cassette (maybe fair, third chain) need a brake caliper (as the rear one is a little stiff from a muddy winter, I often put tape over the gaps as I’ve had issues like this before, but this happens every winter) need new headset bearings because there is about half a mm of play in the fork, apparently tightening this one up is not possible,) need new brake pads (though I have more at home and put new ones on a month ago,) need new bar tape (though I don’t really give an eff about a few frayed tape ends) and need new cabling (though again the bike is only a few months old.)

    I feel like they are taking me for a ride, they sent me a nebulus list of item codes which I had to look up on the website. I am sure the bike will be smashing if I pay for all this, but apart from the BB and cassette most of these things are just natural wear that will recur in a couple of months and would never cause an issue. The cabling is particularly egregious; it can’t be stretched by now; it is like they can’t index the gears incase they jab their little fingers. Just crimp it, the little bobbin they stick on the end will drop off after a week guaranteed.

    I feel annoyed that I will have to stand there telling them why I think they are wrong or I don’t need this or that, whilst they stand their sucking their teeth imply that if I don’t get everything done that my bike will explode. I came in asking for a bottom bracket and service, just greasing and tightening and realigning a few things shouldn’t require half a rebuild. If I have to pay this kind of money every six months I could just buy a mountain bike in Halfords and throw it away.

    Thoughts gentlemen and dottigirls? Does this sound reasonable?

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  • March 17, 2017 at 3:12 pm #889153
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    part_robot

    In 10,000km I’ve worn out one

    In 10,000km I’ve worn out one bottom bracket (BB30 at about 7,000km) one pair of headset bearings, three chains and one cassette. That’s about £150 in parts (Ultegra, Dura Ace and FSA). Probably spent about 1.5 hours buggering around with it and £50 buying tools (because I was stupid and didn’t borrow them). At my hourly rate that’s £300 in total. Allowing for the brake (if they aren’t BS’ing you) that doesn’t sound too far off but it’d still be much cheaper to do it yourself if you value your time substantially less then theirs.

    If you’re going to ride a bike so much you’re going to have expenses 😉

    March 17, 2017 at 2:30 pm #889151
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    surly_by_name

    It sounds as though Evans

    It sounds as though Evans aren’t really interested in doing a little job (i.e., just the BB) but they are too polite to say as much.

    March 17, 2017 at 1:49 pm #889149
    0
    FMOAB

    Nothing in that invoice looks

    Nothing in that invoice looks outrageous own its own.

    Is 4p a mile really a ridiculous  amount to pay to get your bike back to first class order.  

    Evans don’t stock the KCNC BB converter, but they come in at about £30 and in my opinion are at least as good a solution.  With either the Praxis (which they have priced reasonably) or the KCNC adapter, this should be a one-off cost as the bearings on both of these are the only thing that should need replaced in the future.

    They appear to have effectively price matched the price of your rear caliper and the cassette is now listed at £33 rather than the £50 on the invoice.

    In total, you are being charged (with the cheaper price of the cassette)  £86 for components that they believe are worn beyond their useful life.  Personally, I would have the rear brake dismantled, cleaned in an ultrasonic cleaner and polished with a dremmel before reassembly and refitting, but that would take me about three hours of my own time and it isn’t a commercially viable option (it’s more a therapeutic exercise for me).  

    If you are not fastidious in your maintenance, and you don’t want to do it yourself,  then I would suggest that these are reasonable prices for a workhorse bike covering the mileage you describe. 

    It certainly doesn’t sound like a rip off to me.

     

     

    March 17, 2017 at 1:40 pm #889147
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    harman_mogul

    Wrong bike choice for

    Wrong bike choice for commuting right?

    But loads of top advice here. Crowdsourcing — ye cannae wack it!

    March 17, 2017 at 1:38 pm #889145
    0
    Anonymous
    dottigirl wrote:
    And it’s no joy indexing a bike with dodgy cables.

    I don’t know, I love changing down twice and back up once to get to the gear I really wanted.

    Surely cable stretch is overplayed? They aren’t like elastic bands or anything. I had a years old Univega MTB and I swear I must have only changed the gear cables once in about 6 years when smashed my derailleur. 

    As for those workshop charges. God lord. And as someone else mentioned, do you really think those guys are any better than you’d be after watching some youtube videos? It’s only a bike, not a modern BMW or a mid-engined car you can’t figure out how to get the alternator out of because the japanese designed it so you couldn’t fix it!

    March 17, 2017 at 1:19 pm #889143
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    mtbtomo

    It’s probably been intimated
    It’s probably been intimated but once you get beyond buying a basic serviceable bike, spending more up front doesn’t necessarily mean things last longer. Some stuff will, some stuff won’t. That’s why people often have cheaper “winter” bikes where replacing lower grade parts is cheaper. Riding a bike through winter with all the road salt and muck, gradually destroys bikes.

    That said, I’d be a bit annoyed if a bike shop wouldn’t just do the single task I had asked them however.

    Things like the headset, they should be able to demonstrate the play to you. Or with just a suitable Allen key and a check on how to do it on the web you would be able check for yourself if it needs replacing or not.

    If you’re happy with the function of gears and brakes then don’t get the cables changed but whilst you can adjust gunky cables and worn shifting, as a bike shop I could understand if they said they’d adjusted the gears and you were straight back there the next day saying they hadn’t – purely because worn/stretched/gunky cables are the problem, not just adjustment.

    Other than the BB, you should more or less be able to adjust/check everything mentioned yourself with just a well featured multi tool and then decide for yourself if you want to pay for the parts needed to get smooth fresh gears and brakes or are happy as they are.

    March 17, 2017 at 1:07 pm #889141
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    peted76
    Sniffer wrote:
    • Find a mechanic or LBS you can really talk to.  I don’t particularly like bike fetling (I know others do). I prefer spending my limited free time riding the bike not working on it.  After a bit of searching and trial and error I now have a place I can go to where they know my name, know I am repeat custom and and I can discuss how much work is really needed and exactly when I need I need it done by.

    THIS

    March 17, 2017 at 1:00 pm #889139
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    dottigirl

    Quote:

    I don’t see how the cables can be worn out after 7 months…

    Because they’re cables, and they corrode and all kinds of dirt gets caught up in them. Replacing cables after six months is quite normal, especially with your mileage.

    And it’s no joy indexing a bike with dodgy cables.

    March 17, 2017 at 12:35 pm #889137
    0
    Sniffer

    Doesn’t sound like a good

    Doesn’t sound like a good experience.

    A couple of generic thoughts.

    • Although lots of replies talk about how easy it is to do yourself (and I don’t doubt they are right) if you don’t have the time, inclination and don’t get the satidfaction some do by taking on BB replacements and the like you may not want to.
    • Find a mechanic or LBS you can really talk to.  I don’t particularly like bike fetling (I know others do). I prefer spending my limited free time riding the bike not working on it.  After a bit of searching and trial and error I now have a place I can go to where they know my name, know I am repeat custom and and I can discuss how much work is really needed and exactly when I need I need it done by.

    I know that I could save a few pounds taking on more myself, but I value the opinion of someone who has much more experience than me and the fact that I don’t need to spend Saturday afternoon replacing bearings.

    Different models work for different people.  Find one that fits with your own inclinations.

    March 17, 2017 at 12:28 pm #889135
    0
    StraelGuy

    Yaaayyy, I got the shop right

    Yaaayyy, I got the shop right! On another note, the offer stands if you want a hand with the B/B. I work in Manchester and don’t live too far away.

    March 17, 2017 at 12:10 pm #889133
    0
    Leviathan

    Well that was an embarrasing

    Well that was an embarrasing and frustrating experience…

    Firstly, wow, thanks for so many lengthy replies in such a short time. Yes it was Evans, their quote is below. I though getting a Ribble was supporting a local bike manufacturer, or should we all be on Treks?

    So I took the bike in yesterday and got the quote last night. It included some wheel bearings and I have just bought new wheels so I took the wheels in this morning and to talk to them about this list. They said Oh yes it needed quite a lot doing, I didn’t go barrelling in, I just said that I couldn’t cover getting all of it done at once. We talked about what needed doing and after several minutes of them saying why each thing had to be done and me asking if they could drop some element and/or do the bottom bracket in isolation. After more debate and excuses I said that if they can’t drop any elements that I would have to take it away. The guy went away and came back with a manager who said that it would be dangerous if they didn’t do a thorough job. The mechanic then said that the headset had 10mm of travel. This was the point I started to get annoyed and realized they just wouldn’t drop anything. I said that I think they were exaggerating the issues, 10mm is 1cm how is that even possible? I took my bike back and left.

    Sorry that is a paraphrase but you get the idea. I just feel like they had an all or nothing attitude and tret people like a captive market. I am the one who has to pay for all this.

    They kept saying that it was dangerous and they couldn’t do x if y wasn’t done and it had to be done all together. I don’t see how the cables can be worn out after 7 months or why that means they need to change a cassette, just index it to this one and I will do the rest. He even said that the cassette may not work with the chain, well I should know by now as the chain has been on for 400km. I didn’t ask them to do anything with the headset or brakes or cassette when I came in first last week.

    Now I will just  to look at it myself piece by piece or find a real LBS who are willing just to do the BB on its own. For those mentioning mileage, I don’t think it is all that much, I don’t do regular centuries, there are some big boys out there who ride way more than me. I was hoping to get to 10KK this year, but that seems unlikely now.

     

    >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
    Parts

    Part Type Item No. Description Qty Line
    Amount Notes
    EV207049 EASTON BEARING 6803 MTN HYBRID 2 £17.98  
    EV204261 PRO HS BEARING 52/40/8MM 1 £13.49  
    EV204258 PRO HS BEARING 41.8/30.2/6.3MM 1 £9.99  
    EV220535 BC SHIM 105 5800 1 £26.49  
    EV190089 BB PRAX 68MM SHIM CONV PF30 1 £59.99  
    EV219234 CS SHIM 105 5800 1 £49.99  
    EV266115 BP FWE ROAD BRAKE PAD INSRT 1 £4.99  
    EV160670 FWE GEL CORK BAR TAPE 1 £10.99  

    Labour 

    Item No. Description Qty Line
    Amount Notes
    027427 Silver Service 1 £60.00  
    027432 CABLE FITTING (SINGLE) 2 £30.00  
    027446 15MINS LABOUR (StoreUseOnly) 1 £15.00  

    All recommended parts have be assessed and are expected to need replacing within the next six months if continued to be used. We have included them in this quote in an attempt to preempt any short term issues after your service.

    Total £298.91
    Enjoy the ride
    The Evans Cycles Team

    March 17, 2017 at 12:00 pm #889131
    0
    Jimmy Ray Will

    Well… its not the shops

    Well… its not the shops fault that you have a bike with press fit bearings. Its not their fault you don’t have the tools or knowledge to change yourself. 

    Headset sounds a bit dodge… it looks like a standard set up to me… so should be tightenable… that may not solve the problem though, if you’ve been riding it around with play all winter the chances are the bearings will be knackered. 

    The calliper is the calliper… this is absolutely serviceable, however there are two things to bear in mind… 1. the bearing surface will probably be compromised, so the brake will always feel a bit crunchy moving forward… 2. it will take best part of an hour to service, which based on my understanding of labour charges is going to be close to the cost of a new calliper. 

    Would you be happy paying £30 to service the calliper and not have a perfect calliper at the end of it? 

    Cassette – you can’t argue with that as you mentioned

    Cables – Good, clean cables are the back bone of a pleasant cycling experience. Well worth changing if undertaking this service. Again, going back to the brake, if you spent £30 replacing or servicing the rear brake, you won’t be happy if it feels rubbish because the cable is stiff.

    Brake Pads – Not sure about this… probably standard fair for the shop when changing cables… Hardly the end of the world. 

    Basing costs around RRP I reckon you’re being asked to pay for 2.5 hours labour, which is hardly excessive.

    In short, apart from the quetion around the headset, I think you have been given a fair quote. 

    You may not like what that quote is, but really the total cost of the bike (which is very competively priced by the way), nor the age of the bike is a factor. What is needed to get the bike back up and running is what you are paying for. 

    as touched on, if you could do it yourself, then you would, but you can’t, why should a shop fund your cycling?

    Sorry to be negative, but I believe that as consumers we are all too often blinded by super cheap pricing found online… things cost money, labour costs money.. .  neither the brilliance of the deal you got on the bike, nor the small amount of time it has taken you to batter your bike makes any difference to the time and cost it will take a bikeshop to profitably service your bike. 

     

    March 17, 2017 at 11:52 am #889129
    0
    beezus fufoon
    Simontuck wrote:
    Is this not just a ‘duty of care’?

    If you have no end on your cable for starters, that WILL fray and is easy to sort and the cable end should stay on. The fact that you haven’t sorted it would lead someone to assume that you can’t or won’t maintain your bike.

    if this is true – take it to a proper shop where they’re used to fixing proper bikes – they sound like the sort of shop where you take the bike out and immediately have to adjust the brakes and gears yourself so they actually function.

    March 17, 2017 at 11:33 am #889127
    0
    Miller

    > The cabling is particularly

    > The cabling is particularly egregious; it can’t be stretched by now; it is like they can’t index
    > the gears incase they jab their little fingers.

    If I was a shop mechanic sighing at the sight of another transmission bristling with frayed cables, and the frayed ends are pretty painful if you get a jab, I’d be holding out for new cables too.

    >. I am sure the bike will be smashing if I pay for all this.

    Yes it will. Just pay the money then go riding. Maybe look at keeping the bike tidier too, no-one on the clubrun will enjoy the sight of your bartape flapping in the breeze, lol.

    March 17, 2017 at 11:21 am #889125
    0
    surly_by_name

    I imagine the shop have given

    I imagine the shop have given you a menu that you can choose from rather than saying that they wont replace your BB unless they are also retained to do everything on the not very surprising list of things that you might want done to restore your bike to as new-ness. If this assumption is correct, you should stop complaining. It’s a shop, they don’t have to work on your bike. Maybe they’ve decided they couldn’t be arsed dealing with a customer with such a well developed a sense of entitlement so they’ve given you a daunting list of stuff that they recommend (and a correspondingly high price tag) to encourage you to find another shop. 

    Good news though, you can save a fortune doing it yourself. (This will also allow you to feel superior/stick it to the man.) Taking the bits you need in order:

    • New press fit BB – these are essentially disposable. The Shimano ones go for around £23.
    • New cassette  and chain – you can get a new 105 cassette and chain bundle for £47.
    • Brake caliper – I’d start by taking off the bike and washing/flushing with GT85/WD40 as recommended above. If that doesn’t work or you can’t be bothered you can get a new 105 caliper for £27 (i.e., essentially free). 
    • New headset bearings – I imagine you only need the lower bearing. Cost depends on what type of headset you have but these are often surprisingly expensive. 45 ACB £14 (steel) or £22 (stainless) from Tweeks. This is replacement I would definitely do, but only because I find that vague steering feel you get from a worn headset to be shit scary. Your experience may differ.
    • Need new brake pads – “though I have more at home and put new ones on a month ago”. So this sounds like a complaint for the sake of it? You have necessary spares already knocking around and you know how to fit them.
    • Need new bar tape – £8.00. Obviously optional (unless you have self respect, in which case probably not optional).
    • New cabling – if hypothetically you enjoyed crisp shifting and responsive braking, you can get a Shimano (Tiagra – fetching yellow outers) box set of inners, outers, ferrules and cable ends for £18. Or you can scrounge around in your shed for some previously unused outer cable and just buy new inners for c.£9.00, althought that seems like a false economy.

    So I’d estimate the DIY cost to a bike that works like new is approx £130 – £135. And none of this stuff is that difficult to do.

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