Do you ever get the feeling that something has got it in for you? Well this week I experienced a “maintenance crisis paranoia”.
How so? Well as you may know I have a small fleet of MTB and things “of the dark side” – a.k.a. road bikes. So last Saturday I went into my garage with a spring in my step looking forward to going out for a ride in the sunshine.
Going to pick up a bike I found:
- Inbred Alfine hub bike. As I wheeled it out of the garage it started crunching. A quick check of the drivetrain showed that the hub cones needed some TLC (off to the bikeshop with the hub for that one). No previous indication of hub needed some TLC in 2 winters of use. Next!
- Clockwork Orange. Quick check over – gears not indexing, no pads left on the rear brakes and chainsuck. More maintainence required. Next!
- Trek Fuel Ex9. Very stiff bottom bracket. Hardly could turn it. Seemed to have seized up since my last ride. Next!
- Mudguard road bike. Gave up with the MTBs at this point. Changed shoes and got as far as the end of the road. Another crunchy BB! Back to the garage. Next!
- Best road bike. Finally a working bike. Bliss. Went out for 1.5 hours and got 2 punctures!
I think some days it’s probably better to stay on the sofa.
Andy C says:
Ah, sounds v familiar. Strange that at least one bike wasn’t already in for repair, as that’s when the other bikes all seem to play up!
What we need is a travelling mechanic service where they call round regularly to check and manitain the various bikes in the collection so you know they’re all ready to roll. Either that or more time to do it ourselves, but somehow bike fettling always seems to get pushed back for other more pressing domestic issues (other halves, children, immediate house repairs etc.)
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Posted on February 15, 2010 at 10:15 am
Dave says:
Hi Andy,
I’m sure Matt will draw your attention to the advert top right for a mobile bike mechanic………either that or he may just make the colours bright.
I currently have 2 bikes needing some attention although both will probably ride.
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Posted on February 15, 2010 at 10:34 am
Matt says:
As Dave says, Mark at the Biketech is a pretty good guy and provides exactly the service you’re describing, based in Epsom so anywhere in the South East within reason is do-able.
Dave, nice nod to our sponsors!
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Posted on February 15, 2010 at 11:16 am
tony says:
It absolutely looks like a good service I would use it if I didn’t just like fettling with my bikes!
Maintenance crisis’s must be catching. Jem too was down to one (partially) working bike out of 3 this Sunday.
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Posted on February 15, 2010 at 1:05 pm
Lee says:
Just have one bike and rarely ride it. Job done.
Worked for me for most of last year!
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Posted on February 15, 2010 at 1:23 pm
tony says:
Ahh Lee but you have now fallen to the charms of being a multiple bike owner!
They will both be certain to require maintenance at the same time!
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Posted on February 16, 2010 at 9:11 am