I’m thinking of ordering a new bike but intend to swap out the chainset to 1×11. Would the mechs and cracks be already fitted? If not I’d just ask for them to be left off.
Any input from you guys in the trade would be appreciated.

Normally turn and tighten the bars, check gears. Usually mechs etc are already fitted before they get to the shop

I watched a nationwide store assemble a new bike the other week

They put the front wheel in, lined up the stem/bars and put the brake levers on

check gears

Not if their Edinburgh Co-op they don’t, or at least didn’t on the bike I got from them. Indexing was blooming miles out.

Depends on the bike manufacturer, could be anything from twisting the bars and pumping the tyres up to full build from scratch.

depends on the bike shop as well , What has been witnessed and experianced above is not uncommon how ever would not be tollerated on my watch.

If you wouldnt ride it dont **** put it out the door was my approach – fell out more than one mechanic because of their lax building.

Sounds like I’d better ask the dealer 🙂

even from just sitting in the workshop of my LBS when chatting, when they’re building anew bike (usually Specialised, Raleigh some Giants) it’s a pretty full build process – well, not build but check for sure, wheel alignment, gear indexing, mech hanger alignment, heap of stuff.

Some stuff just needs putting in place but a good lbs checks everything. Down in Oz several arrive as a frame with several often retail boxes from the dealer. Ask lbs about deals if they can get one. I

I took a road frameset, components, wheels and group set into Steele’s in Newcastle a few years ago for assembling. They put everything together but neglected to tighten the handlebar clamp tightly enough and the first curb I went off they rotated and i almost came off. They also replaced (and threw out) my turbo skewer with a ‘better one’ without asking.

Not been back since.

The biggest hassle job is changing the hydraulic brake hoses over and bleeding brakes. Otherwise it’s as above, fit front wheel, fit bars, check indexing, inflate tyres and general check over for transit damage.

As above really depends on brand/make,
A good bike shop will/should check every thing. more often than not it needs a tweak somewhere.
When I first started at a bike shop many many years ago, a new manager got us to strip the bike, check/grease BB,, hubs, headset etc. and this was on crappy universal bikes!!! A high end bike I can understand, but a cheap nasty thing was a pain in the ass!
I do know of some shops that still strip high bikes and check it all.

I am with Trail Rat, on his outlook, if I not happy to ride it it don’t go out the door.

had similar last month when selling a bike, customer wanted shorter cranks (to be the same as his other bikes) and I replaced them for him, FOC. I think he could replace them himself correctly but I feel it something we should do, help with any issues on warranty, gears working etc. also it the kind of customer service we try and deliver.

I do the works. Including trimming cables,rewrapping bar tape,tensioning wheels,greasing hub/headset bearings and anti seizing bb/headsets (mandatory on cannondales).
Saves them coming back at the first free service as a creaking,rusty pile of crap.
Used to get massive grief of my ex employer as apparently I was doing him out of money as he’d not be able to charge when the came back to get their bikes fixed!