I had similar problems, get someone round to replace your coaxial cable from the aerial, make sure it’s one complete run and pay a professional to do it.

Worked for me, only when the weather is really bad I get a few channels that don’t work.

KMC are the way forward, and they make Shimano chains.

Shimano have finally admitted defeat with pins I think, some are now coming with quick joining links like SRAM and KMC. Only took them nearly 20 years :wink:

I’d be **** rich if I could charge for advice 8O

TBH if you’ve done it for a while it doesn’t take long to realise the customer isn’t going to buy from you, we have a big argos down the round and we get loads of people in thinking I was born yesterday as they only want to know the ‘size’ of bike little Johnny wants, not the price or what we have in stock.

My response is usually ‘the one that fits him’

Well I punctured my lung with a rib and was in hospital for 2 weeks with a further 8 weeks off work, fully fixed in about 3 months IIRC.

Yeah we get that also but it’s worth pointing out that the bike won’t be assembled and your warranty is invalidated if it isn’t PDId by the dealer, even the bike boxes now state that. Might also be worth pointing out if they have any warranty issues then they have to ship it back to where they bought it from at their own cost. Not a big deal if it’s an ipod, much more hassle if it’s a bike.

Another instance I had today was that a customer was after some Magura Menja forks, seen on CRC for £399.99 with a claimed saving of £50, oddly the forks full retail is £399.99, so I was happy to price match.

As the OP said price isn’t everything, wanting it then and there is sometimes more important, that’s where you can beat the internet retailers. Bikes in particular due to sizing and clothing.
High end components I pretty much don’t stock now, but spares like tyres, tubes, disc pads etc we keep lots of as the workshop consumes alot of these items.
We will price match for regulars though on larger price ticket stuff, and shimano spares are carraige free also.
We’re up on turnover a fair amount this financial year and it’s busier than ever so some of us can do it right :-)

It’s more than a 30 second job that’s for sure! Also you can’t sharpen the cutting heads you need to buy new ones, £120 a pop for a Park one.

I’m still not utterly convinced facing really makes that much difference, but as said above it seems a fairly small cost to know your new chainset is fitted correctly.

Ok I wasn’t going to answer but…

It’s all to do with currency rates as you all know, Madison the Shimano importer were absorbing the increases in costs for 6 months prior to the recent price hikes. As an importer they have to try and work out the average for a currency for a year to set prices, a difficult task I would say. Printing a new price list every month would get expensive!

Anybody that thinks shimano or others are profiteering are just cynical, there’s a recession on so the first thing to do would be increase prices? C’mon that’s hardly realistic.

Dibbs – Member
I expect someone will be along in a minute to tell us that we’ve not been paying enough for years and that if prices had kept pace with inflation we’d be paying loads more

And yes you’ve never had bike parts as cheap as they have been for the past 5 years.

Oh gawd :roll: someone please make him stop

don’t most cyclists look down on those who use footpaths?

Oh I shouldn’t worry, they are far too busy pulling over innocent motorists like me :roll:

You will be covered by your insurance for the front screen, without penalty without affecting your NCB, however not sure on the rear, not that will make you feel any better.

Oh balls

Too late :roll:

Marc Bolan?

Nice try uplink :-)

that’s a useful link

YES

R*****R is on the Motor Insurance Database today

The details on the MID are:

Vehicle Make/Model: HONDACIVIC VTI (5 DOOR)

Car is fully road legal, hhmmm, maybe cloning is the answer.

Yep bland japanese cars are the way to go, Honda Civics spring to mind, I’ve got one and it never goes wrong, ever. Everything still works and not a spot of rust, not bad for an 11 year old car.

As TJ says, why?

Just buy some new ones, not worth skimping on brakes.

Yep Tektro Aurigas are fine, been on GTs for years and basically are copies of Shimano and just as reliable. However on Halfords GT bikes watch for cost cutting, the main one being the rear hub, we get alot in the workshop with bent axles as they have 8 speed freewheels, not cassette hubs.

Halfords have a licence from GT to build bikes, they are not the same as supplied by an LBS.

You certainly can get crap spokes, usually OE only though. DT swiss are by far the best.

Ultimately the sum of the parts is only as good as the wheelbuilder who is putting the parts together.

Well I used to sell Konas back then, but I’m pretty sure I remember selling these for £459.99, no discounts in those days as there were never enough to go around :-)

Yeah not alot there although me and the lad usually head out there when they open it up, shame the original village isn’t there, just a bunch of concrete training huts now.

Don’t expect much techical riding though as you have to stay on hardpack roads, I remember as kids stolling across there and collecting empty shells :-)

Loads of good pubs too in the local area for food.

Argos[/url]

Proper Canandian made Syncros stems and seatposts.

Oh and original Flites can still be bought.

Tried the gripshift option but the newer generations have bulky brackets that get in the way of the rear shift levers. In fact I tried it both ways and was much easier to operate the gears for the front with the shifter pod, just looks untidy but is functional.

Yeah a geared hub would be ideal, but cost was a factor here, the complete bike was only £500 which is sensible money.

No need he has a prosthetic arm to grip the other side

I’ve just finished setting up a bike for a one armed rider, Avid cable discs with a cable doubler, upside down front shifter, works a treat!

Pics will be posted later.

The experience I had of a Honda dealer of late makes me think they don’t want to sell cars, only £500 discount on an £8k car? Hardly any wonder they can’t sell any.

Looks like a hanger that’s fitted to Carreras, Konas, Diamondbacks etc.

I’ve definately got loads in stock but couldn’t guarantee delivery for Fri, that’s down to the postie.

Part no RMM 234 from a Raleigh dealer.

Remove the pawls :wink:

I actually think that my details were taken at a well known national Hire Shop’s Bath branch but clearly can’t prove anything.

You mean Help Hire? I’ve got a car coming from them tomorrow. I’ve yet to be a victim of fraud yet, although not having alot of money helps on that front I guess 8O

How does he fit in all the lever clamps kiwijohn?

I guess you could run a matchmaker clamp to free up some room.

My idea with brakes was to fit Avid BBs with a cable doubler and fit some longer cable adjusters for the calipers so the brake bias could be altered from front to rear to suit the rider. So the rear would apply before the front or vice versa.

That’s all useful info folks :-)

Yeah the front shifter will be a gripshift mounted in reverse. Might give Hope a call, can’t really go nuts on cost though.

I’ll post some pics when I’m done and hopefully a report back from the rider.

Hamilton promoted to third now.

Definately worth getting up to watch so early.

Yep, based on the south coast.

You having issues as well?

This would get you noticed

Couple of quid from me as well.

More importantly what you doing for work next? Pimping?

Yep your insider is talking horseshit

Higher end bike parts generally attract lower margins, everyday bike brands and essential spares like tubes/tyres make the most margin.

Nowhere near a 100% on bikes/frames though.

Apparently the place for margins is jewellers, into the hundreds of percent on some items.