Mechanics and Fixing Any Questions Answered

Not sure if this is the correct thread to ask, but I finally had my bespoke touring bike built up and the mechanic worked very hard to build it. It is a very nice build indeed!

The shop is only charging me £290 for all the labour including building the wheels which I think is cheap, they have also given me 10% off the total bill.

So I want to pay the mechanic a bonus, what would be a sweet spot that shows my appreciation but not sound insulting?

The boss is going give him £100 bonus already, but all the build, comms, recommending parts, putting up with me and the framebuilder, he deserves more than that.

Any suggestion?

No, it's just regular brakes. I posted this group as example, wasn't sure if this part in frame where chainset is mounted is always the same and universal for all bikes (my knowledge about bikes doesn't exist). During order I'll place version with normal brakes.
i.e. I thought that because I have freewheel I'll have to replace heel, so it's a good news :)
Thank you!

Square taper BB question:
Is the shoulder on a typical cartridge unit necessary? or is it just for easy installation without measuring anything? Would the BB still work if I remove the shoulder/found another cup without one?

A bit like the Phil wood version, no shoulder either side:

I want to move the driveside crank in a bit....

Isn't is usually so that a lockring on the opposite side (usually shoulder/'lip' on the drive side, no shoulder, but a lockring, on the NDS) can screw down tight and hold the BB in place, without starting to affect the position of the other side, such as pulling it inwards or pushing it outwards...?

Gah I've just tangled my brain thinking about a BB's opposite screw threads and then the lockring thread as well - ignore me if no sense...

Aaaaand I think I'm talking about loose bearing BBs, not cartridge, so almost definitely ignore me. Sorry!

I have 2 tools so I could hold both sides while installing.

I guess what I am actually asking about : Will it start to loosen later/creek...

Is this cone shot? I realised I don't really know what pitting looks like.

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That's very gracious of you.

If someone did that to me, regardless of the amount, I'd be chuffed and grateful for the appreciation more than the money. Money is bloody nice though too.

There isn't really any amount that can be wrong. Go with how you feel.

Find his shoe size and buy a nice pair of boots . Thats something they would appreciate and not forget.

Can’t really tell from the pic, but it looks like a normal line from the bearings. Basically minimal wear, still in good condition. Try running a ball point pen over the cone surface; you’ll feel if it catches on any pits. Pits look like dents, chips or grooves in the otherwise smooth surface.

Edit: they also look like scratches. Even tiny imperfections will eventually mess up your bearings, cones, hub.

I could get him some Evans voucher? 🤣 I don’t know how could I find that out...

Guess I don’t want him to feel I am tipping him, I want him to get paid the amount of work he’s put in and want to thank him for such an amazing build. You can see the love and attention that’s gone into it. Even he admitted himself, if it was a standard job, he’d have built it and forgotten about it.. I mean not every customer gets bi-daily parts sourcing and build report, right?
As for appreciation, this bike has a very very long story behind it, I first commissioned the frame builder in Sept 2017 and I first met this mechanic a year later, so he has become a mate as well, which makes it even more awkward... 😬

Get them beer, that'll do, but also, they'll be skint because they're a mechanic so any amount of money would be amazing, from a fiver for beer to fifty quid for beer.

Get the shop to get the parts in, you're basically taking any small profit they might make on parts and giving it to an online company. They might not be able to get everything quite as cheap but you can probably save a few quid on labour and they'll make sure you get the right bits.

LBSFTW!

Is the shoulder on a typical cartridge unit necessary?

IMO, yes.

I’ve never used a Phil bb so don’t know how well they work but at work (velodrome) I get kept fairly busy fixing bikes with the Miche bb that has no lips/shoulders. They tend to loosen off and move themselves to one side or the other.

Quick question for those in the know. Is there a htread i need to use instead of this? Sorry, if this should be some place else.

I have had an American Classic wheel that i popped a spoke about a decade ago. Is there any place i can take to have a aero spoke replaced? South West (Putney)? That i wont have to wait 4 months due to the queues of free bike services being offered on new bikes. Whats the costs? (as @Vince pointed out), i have no need to be a shameless chancer. Just looking for someone who could get the wheel useable again.

I have had an American Classic wheel that i popped a spoke about a decade ago. Is there any place i can take to have a aero spoke replaced?

You will be better off in the Wheelbuilding thread.

@broken_777 & @arup will be able to help as they are professionals

Then I think @Turkish does it on the side.

LOL,

@vince, you dont want to do it for £0.50? I heard you once did it for a beer 20 years ago and with deflation...

thanks for the guidance btw - will ask there.

I'd sort it out if it was normal DB stainless steel spokes as I have loads and I enjoy wheelbuilding.

But aero spokes are an acquired skill!

Problem is, its one spoke... Its very hard to find someone who will do one spoke. I need to find a few things to put together and add that as an extra.

Thanks, Real world knowledge!

I think I will try with a lockring on the non-driveside cup then and see if it holds.

Would recommend Bon Velo in Herne Hill, though not sure what they’re turnaround time is like.

Spoke key, what to get? And any pointers on truing a slightly wonky disc brake wheel without a wheel stand

Zip tie or a piece of blu tac and a cocktail stick attached to frame or fork to help see if the wheel is true.

Spokey

I’ve been known to leave a zip tie on the seat stay permanently for this purpose.

As for spoke keys, I probably prefer the Park Master that found it’s way into my collection (I think I lifted it from a bike shop I worked in!) but given how much more they cost than Spokeys I can’t say I like it enough to ever justify the expense.