Guess how much I paid at the LBS

[Ruthie]

Having to buy tools (headset press, special spanners, clamps) is one of the things that put me off. And my hands and arms are quite weak these days, it’s very frustrating.

[Flite]

I nearly never do any bike work. If we had an LBS in my village I'd get them to do my punctures, even my bike cleaning.

Quite agree.
We have division of labour up here.
I ride bike, I break bike, I wash bike, HE MENDS BIKE.
On the rare occcasions he rides his bike, I do wash that as well!

[matthew]

Using the LBS for servicing keeps them in business and that helps make sure they're there when you need them for something you can't do yourself.

(I nearly never do any bike work. If we had an LBS in my village I'd get them to do my punctures, even my bike cleaning.)

This, I would buy my components from the LBS that was 200m from the back gate because then when I had a frame repainted and needed to refit the headset they lent me the correct tool for the 10 minutes it took to walk home, fit the headset and walk back with the tool. Ok the components were pricey but the convenience and service was outstanding.

[Peter]

So that's something along the lines of:

(click to show/hide)

LCC tried to mend the electric bike
Herself. It failed to work.
And serve her right!
It is the business of the cycling fan
To give employment to the artisan.

Very good, Cudz - if not Hilairious!

[Peter]

I suppose an awful lot depends upon the conscientiousness of the individual, their pride in their own work.

I know that I would want to do a job to a level which I would do it for myself.  Of course the big unanswered question there is, how high are my own standards. 

I'm guessing that if you had asked our infrequently resident bicycle necromancer he would have given you a similar quote.  Many a time has he detailed a tale of a bso appearing in his shop with nothing working and everything needing replacing and the owner thinking that it can be restored to full health for a cup of tea and a few friendly slaps on the back accompanied by the usual racist and sexist diatribe.**

**  Aspects of this may have been over emphasised for dramatic effect.

No over-emphasis at all, PB.  This excellent artisan is known to both of us.

[Cudzoziemiec]

I would never consider buying a specialist tool like a headset press that I might need once every ten years. There's always someone I can borrow one from or... a shop I can take it to, even if I'm doing the rest of the work myself.

Something I've found very useful locally is Bike Kitchen, a scheme where you pay a nominal amount to use a workshop full of tools (and various parts if needed) with a knowledgeable person, who might sometimes even be a professional bike mechanic, on hand to give advice as needed. Perhaps there's something similar in Ruthieville?

[Polar Bear]

I have a wide and varied selection of bike tools simply because I loved fettling my own machines.  And these days I get the occasional joy of fettling the machines of my friends who still use their bicycles.

I have a Brompton rear wheel to rebuild with new spokes.  Really looking forward to a therapeutic afternoon with that one.  👍

[perpetual dan]

Owning the tool is all very well. But there’s also the learning (likely without an expert to hand) to use it at least as well as the LBS person will do for me.

I also don’t have an indoor workshop space with a stable vice. Which makes doing some jobs well really quite hard.

So, I’ll do what I can, but head to the LBS if the chance of me breaking something expensive or making a really shonky job of it is significant.

[hatler]

My philosophy (roughly), is that if the cost of the tool is less than double what the LBS will charge to deploy said tool, I'll buy the tool. If I have cause to use it once, it's likely I'll have cause to use it again, and if I do, then I'm quids in.

[phantasmagoriana]

I used to do more of my own maintenance - owned lots of tools, workstand etc and was able to build bikes up from a frame. However, disc brakes defeated me and I just CBA to learn about them. I also have zero ability to index gears these days. Not sure if bikes got more complicated (are 11-speed gears more difficult than 7/8 to index? It feels like it) or I lost any semblance of competence. Probably a bit of both. I also haven't had any outdoor space to do the proper messy stuff for the last decade, which doesn't help.

That said, stripping and regreasing hubs/heatsets is oddly satisfying!

[De Sisti]

That said, stripping and regreasing hubs....

Is something I'd like to learn how to do (on Shimano 105 5800, 32 hole hubs).

[Paul H]

Using the LBS for servicing keeps them in business and that helps make sure they're there when you need them for something you can't do yourself.

(I nearly never do any bike work. If we had an LBS in my village I'd get them to do my punctures, even my bike cleaning.)

How much would you pay for a puncture fix?
My LBS used to charge £10 plus the tube at RRP.  I think they got fed up with people considering that too expensive, while they said they only offered as a service in the hope people would buy something else while there.  I don't think everyone has a realistic understanding of workshop costs, particularly the admin and non billable hours. 

[Socks]

I do my own maintenance, partly for the satisfaction of being able to maintain my bikes and also build up a bike from a frameset, and build wheels.  The latter obviously takes me longer than a professional would, but they seem to have lasted well enough.  Although lately when I needed new 20" and 26" wheels I just bought them ready made as there isn't much price difference compared to buying hub, rim, spokes separately.

However I have various non-standard bikes (vintage Moultons, recumbents) and still use 9 speed gears with friction shifting so that I can mix and match whatever parts are in the bike shed (aka the largest bedroom) and minimise buying new stuff.  And vintage Sturmey 3 and 4 speed hubs, which I haven't attempted to dismantle and service.  Local bike shop might not be interested in this sort of niche activity anyway.

[Adam]

My LBS used to charge £10 plus the tube at RRP.  I think they got fed up with people considering that too expensive, while they said they only offered as a service in the hope people would buy something else while there.  I don't think everyone has a realistic understanding of workshop costs, particularly the admin and non billable hours.

Our labour charge for a puncture on a standard bike is £9, so with the inner tube, it's usually £15 total.  Never had anyone moan.  It's usually around 10 minutes total time, which includes checking the gears are still indexed ok, and writing up what else is wrong with the bike.  We get a lot of extra work from simply flagging up other things that need doing.

[Ham]

I have a mate in an LBS in USAnia, who often ruminates on stuff like this https://citizenrider.blogspot.com/2021/10/bikes-are-like-cars-now.html

[L CC]

I think £10 + tube is fair.
Here's one I paid earlier (I think it was €10), in Maassluis.

[mrcharly-YHT]

I have a mate in an LBS in USAnia, who often ruminates on stuff like this https://citizenrider.blogspot.com/2021/10/bikes-are-like-cars-now.html

That is a great blog