LBS why?

[aidan.f]

So rather than buy a headset press to install a viscoset on the up wrong trike  I thought I would pass some ££'s to my LBS regretting the decision now ..' yes we can fit it while u wait' , turn up and it's come back tomorrow despite having stripped it down ready. Had to stop the tech putting trike down on the rear mech despite seeing it in the car on its axle stand. I also had a long lecture about how the viscoset would not work and trikes shimmy due to being 'misaligned' I told him it was built by Geoff a  ex toolmaker all this despite admitting he'd never ridden one .. another day another dealer, maybe better..

[Peter]

Aidan, is this the beautiful Longstaff(e)?

[Boxford]

Aidan has one of Geoff Bookers two wheel drive Trykits   

[LittleWheelsandBig]

‘Know-it-all’ mechanics have always pronounced on things they don’t know about. I used to be one of them, decades ago. Viscosets and trikes are both unusual, so most shop mechs will not have experience with them. The steering behaviours inherent with multi-track vehicles like tricycles are completely foreign to bicycle shop mechanics.

Just tell him (almost always him) that what you are paying for may not be the best possible solution but it is what you want done and a lecture won’t change that.

[jsabine]

‘Know-it-all’ mechanics have always pronounced on things they don’t know about.

Sometimes right, sometimes wrong, always certain.

Principles to live by for far too many of us ...

[aidan.f]

Aidan has one of Geoff Bookers two wheel drive Trykits   

Actually two, they both shimmy quite a bit. Depending on outcome Spa cycles will be filling the second viscoset

[tatanab]

What do you mean by "shimmy"?  If you mean it shakes its head on rough surfaces, that is something I do not worry about.

Over the years I have had 3 Ken Rogers, 3 Longstaffs, 1 Chris Paulson, 1 Higgins, 1 Trykit and a couple of conversions.  My 1972 Rogers (built for me) was a bit sensitive to tyres.  It was fine on tubs, but on pressures a oscillation could be induced.  Back in those days we called it "speed wobble", or at least we tricyclists did.  My Trykit is a bit sensitive to a barbag when on tour, but that is all.

[canny colin]

I have an E bay cheapy headset press at your disposal . I had no problems,  fitting alloy Cane creek 40s cups and old stronglight alloy cups etc . 

[IanDG]

I've got a headset press too. Bought some obscure tools when living in Stornoway due to lack of a decent LBS (until Ali Glover opened a shop).

[LittleWheelsandBig]

I believe that head-shaking/ shimmy is pretty much unavoidable (in specific circumstances) given the very low trail needed for upright trikes to steer nicely, combined with the turning moments induced by rear wheel bump impacts, low drag headsets and the comparatively steep head angles of modern trikes. Ancient trikes tended to have more laidback head angles and a mile of fork rake to reduce trail to a manageable level (but still insufficient to minimise camber steering). The exact degree of shimmy is also affected by trike wheelbase vs. track width, front wheel weight and frame torsional stiffness.

I think that a Viscoset should significantly reduce shimmy on a trike without adversely affecting steering. A couple of rides with a similar damping system on a downhill MTB last century changed my previous opinion that damping would inevitably negatively affect steering response.

[aidan.f]

I think that a Viscoset should significantly reduce shimmy on a trike without adversely affecting steering. A couple of rides with a similar damping system on a downhill MTB last century changed my previous opinion that damping would inevitably negatively affect steering response.

LWAB Spot on - first short ride, it's brilliant!  Was able to sit back no hands whilst going downhill - previously impossible under any circumstances .. no negative effect on maneuvering although you have to be a bit more positive to flip the trike round in it's own length.

Currently on 2 out of 6 interleaved friction surfaces, set was delivered as 3/6 you pop out a circlip and rejig to taste. Action is silky smooth and there is a proper bearing under the plates.

Would highly recommend for laden tourers - even just to eliminate the situation where the bar bag and panniers flip steering when wheeling or parking.

BTW John at the LBS was fine today and they apologised for being busy by the time I arrived yesterday, on balance hardly their fault!

[aidan.f]

What do you mean by "shimmy"?  If you mean it shakes its head on rough surfaces, that is something I do not worry about.

Over the years I have had 3 Ken Rogers, 3 Longstaffs, 1 Chris Paulson, 1 Higgins, 1 Trykit and a couple of conversions.  My 1972 Rogers (built for me) was a bit sensitive to tyres.  It was fine on tubs, but on pressures a oscillation could be induced.  Back in those days we called it "speed wobble", or at least we tricyclists did.  My Trykit is a bit sensitive to a barbag when on tour, but that is all.

Geoff B. always said I was unusual.... have become quite an expert with the knee on top tube, but it's quite wearing having to anticipate all the time. Also bump steer reduced and general stability much improved.

[Paul H]

I never found a LBS I was happy with, some were good sometimes, but bad enough at others to put me off.  Now most of them are shut I haven't missed them once and I haven't stepped inside an independent bike shop in at least 10 years.  I've had a lot better service from online retailers and even the likes of Halfords, though I do miss Cycle Republic.
Bought a Cyclus headset press some years ago for not a lot of money,  it's done four of mine and about the same for others, if I didn't need it any more I expect I'd get my money back.

[Joe.B]

It’s been a long time since I’ve had an LBS that I’ve been happy to use.  We have a rather large, (too large, must shift at few), fleet of tandems, recumbents and as of quite recently a Nazca recumbent tandem.  Alien stuff to the modern boutique style LBS focused on high-end road bikes and full sus mountain bikes. 

[Asterix, the former Gaul.]

Have consistently found that I can rely on Cycle Heaven in York. The last thing they fixed for me, a trigger shift problem, cost me nothing.