How Much To Repair A Bicycle

How much to fix a seized front derailleur? Whenever something goes incorrect on a bicycle the typical course of activeness is as follows.

Step ane – curse the cycling gods! Step 2 – Try to ignore the problem for as long as possible. Pace iii – give in and visit the nearest bike shop. You and so find someone who looks knowledgeable and draw the trouble. This invariably ends up being a test of the grasp of advanced English language as cycle problems tend to be a little tough to describe. "The thingy at the front is making a weird grinding sound like grank grank when I pedal".

This will cause the bike store banana to look at the bike and assess how dirty it is. This I always find a little strange considering I did not ask for an assessment of my bicycle cleanliness. I could enquire whatsoever erstwhile stranger if that'south what I needed: "Alibi me sir how clean would y'all say my wheel is on a scale of ane to ten?".

The bike shop banana volition then test out the bike, confirm it doesn't piece of work and tell you lot how much it costs.

At this point you either just become yes, hand it over and walk home in a miserable country or go home and call back well-nigh it. In a miserable state.

How do you lot know if what they have quoted you is a good toll?

Well, during a recent ride to Chichester my forepart derailleur seized and I decided this would be a good time to test out the different prices of London wheel shops.

New shop down Theobald's Road

The commencement was a new pocket-size cycle shop that has but opened downwardly Theobald's Road.

I went in, described my problem, got my bike cleanliness assessment and was quoted a toll. £10 for labour and £25 for the office. I could get out the bike there and and so if I wanted.

Evans Cycles

The next day I establish myself cycling around Canary Wharf and spotted an Evans. I cycled past information technology then remembered I wanted to write this weblog post. And then I cycled dorsum and asked how much the repair might be.

£25 for labour and £20 for the part. I would need to book it in for the repair.

On Your Bike, London Bridge

Afterwards on I'm around London Bridge area and popular into an old favourite shop of mine On Your Bike. I ask an banana who points me in the direction of the repair workshop. Inside at that place I find 3 people sitting effectually swirling on their chairs. It looks like fun. I interrupt their swirling and inquire how much their repair would be. They bring out 1 of their mechanics who takes a look and and so tells me information technology will be £25 for the labour and £25 for the part.

Yet, he besides advices me I may be able to un-seize it by taking it off, giving information technology a good make clean and spraying it with plenty of lubricant while working it side to side.

This is the just cycle shop that gives me this bit of extra advice and I really appreciate information technology.

Wheel Surgery

I walk into the Cycle Surgery well-nigh Kings Cross and ask how much the repair will be. £20 – £25 for the part and £20 to £25 for the labour.

And so let's compare these:

New store: £35 total
Evans: £45 full
On Your Bike: £50 full
Cycle Surgery: £40 to £50 total

The winner is..

The new shop down Theobald's (I really should notice out its name rather than calling it the new shop). Whilst at that place wasn't a huge departure in prices it shows that it is worth shopping effectually. In particular smaller contained shops may be able to offering a ameliorate price. The added bonus is of course that you lot are supporting local businesses.

What am I going to do? I'm going to take the advice of the On Your Wheel mechanic and endeavor and fix information technology myself. Wish me luck!