Bike servicing etiquette

I've booked my 7 year old bike in for a full service, priced at £105.

I've not used the bike shop but the mechanic seems very competent. He's full until next Friday so he said he'd have a quick look over it this morning just to see what might need seeing to, and quickly discovered that I needed new wheels. Not surprising as they're the original set, but just in case, he showed me how concave the rims were and said they were gone.

He quoted me £235 for a set of Mavic Open Pros on Shimano 105 hubs (to match my groupset) and said he'd fit them as part of the service, which is fair enough I think as the service is supposed to include a full break down and rebuild.

Now, I've been thinking about upgrading the wheels anyway, and I've seen some Velocity A23s on Miche Primato hubs for about £25 more.

Is it an absolute no-no to now order the A23s, and either:-

a) take them in and ask that he fit them as part of the full service (preferable, but more cheeky); or,

b) have a go at swapping my old cassete over from the old wheelset myself and then riding the bike in and asking for him to check out the wheels as he would have done as part of the service anyway?

Thanks for any advice.

I would pop in and discuss. He may be able to supply wheels as you have found at a similar price or be happy to fit the ones you order. It would seem fine to me to ask politely and then respect his answer if he says no.

Velocity A23 is a good choice I reckon! Has he diagnosed new wheelset on the basis that the hubs are also knackered or are they a weird spoking pattern? If they are OK (with new bearings maybe) and of a usual number of holes then it might be worth investigating if you could have A23's built onto your existing hubs.

In answer to the original question, I wouldn't expect the mechanic to have any issue in swapping the wheels as it's a 10 min job max. But as Gareth said, it will certainly sweeten the deal if you order the wheels / parts through the shop.

Garnett, in what sense do you consider that wheelset an "upgrade"?

i'd avoid miche
not the best of hubs

Based on what evidence?

Use the search function

Which will show what exactly?

At their price point, Miche hubs offer tremendous value for money.

Anyway, back on topic - can you not ask if he can build you a pair of Shimano 105 hubs to a pair of Velocity A23s?

+1 for miche hubs!

+1 for both Miche & 105's - have both and honestly couldn't tell the difference between them. They seem no more/less prone issues

Thanks for the advice. I reckon poping in is the best bet.

Garnett, in what sense do you consider that wheelset an "upgrade"?
It's a definite upgrade from the knackered Bontrager Select wheelset apparently due for imminent failure that I have on there at the moment.

It's also an upgrade insofar as there weren't any negative comments about them on the Road Wheel Recommendations? thread.

Would you have gone for the Open Pro/105s then?

+1 for Miche hubs.

I had a budget pair of Miche wheels on my road bike, retired them due to a crack in the rim after only a few thousand miles but the hubs were still perfectly smooth.

It's a definite upgrade from the knackered Bontrager Select wheelset apparently due for imminent failure that I have on there at the moment.

No doubting that. But debatable whether its an upgrade over 105/OP which are both well-proven classic bits of kit.

When you said you'd seen these other wheels, presumably that was somewhere else? If your guy can source them through his own suppliers, he probably won't mind doing it. Definitely pop in for a chat.

open pros + 105, anytime, hands down!!!

open pros + ultegra, anytime, hands down!!!

ftfy

nah, the increase of price doesnt come with a increase of performance

instead of Ultegra, get 105 and a basic bike maintenance book

It looks like I can get Open Pros and Shimano 105 hubs for £168 which is a lot cheaper than the A23s and Miche hubs.

It's a bit odd, because in this thread it seems like they're the clear and away favourites, whereas in the Road WHeel Recommendations thread it was the A23s by a long way.

A23s have the 23mm rim width which is becoming increasingly popular. I have ordered some 23mm rims and am really looking forward to finding out if I can feel the improvement it's claimed that they make when used with 23mm tyres. Open Pros are tried and tested favourites. The choice is yours!

What sort of riding do you do?

^^ also...

• lighter
  
• variety of drillings
  
  • n/msw (which doesn't matter in this case).
    
    

Personally I would choose A23s on that basis. Hubs meh, at that price point I sure most will do the job.

As for the real question, Garethhon nailed it:

I would pop in and discuss. He may be able to supply wheels as you have found at a similar price or be happy to fit the ones you order. It would seem fine to me to ask politely and then respect his answer if he says no.

If he's a good guy do him the respect of asking him. If he can't match the price and won't switch the cassette inclusive (which IMO he should), just say you'll do it yourself and buy the tool. It's not hard.