Big_papa_nuts

2 minutes ago, Seths Pool said:

their online rating has gone from a high 4 to a 1.8 since they made this decision. the people have spoken. LOL

 

I don't know if you want to bring up public approval rating during a conversation about the police these days. 

Also, anyone can leave a Google review not just paying customers. MJ's could double their profits because of this and we would never know. They will also likely go through the proper channels to have non-relevant reviews removed.

I don't think anybody is mad at the police for WHAT they are doing, it's the how and why that are causing the issues.

And the selective enforcement that Seth mentions is part of a much bigger problem that I think most people would want to fix if they looked at the big picture.

Walnut was bone dry as of noon today. Some of the corners are actually getting pretty loose, and some of the bench trails are starting to deteriorate.

There is actually three sizes of bottom bracket shells I'm aware of for one piece cranks. The Ashtabula or American, a "mini" American (common on cheaper kids bikes), and Look makes one for their CARBON FIBER ONE PIECE CRANKS.

There are also square taper bottom brackets for Ashtabula bottom bracket shells.

Related reading:

http://www.gsportbmx.co.uk/support/rideuktech/bottombs.html

http://www.gsportbmx.co.uk/support/rideuktech/bbs again.html

http://www.gsportbmx.co.uk/support/rideuktech/bbs again.html

And a video:

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://m.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3Dw2p7VJuZA2c&ved=2ahUKEwik7_GwpfbqAhVCSK0KHX-KARMQwqsBMAB6BAgKEAM&usg=AOvVaw25m3U7DmV-Xl5cMjZIhSA7

44 minutes ago, taco_junkie said:

Is Fairdale still a local company?

Really never was. They employed some locals but their profits go to California.

On 7/23/2020 at 6:04 PM, Shinerider said:

Still available

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Is the longer black post a 27.2?

Widest set of drop bars in the bunch?

Where are you located?

3 hours ago, FrankRizzo said:

Are the Tues night rides still happening?

Most ride leaders have taken the stance that they do not want take on the liability that goes with organizing a gathering during a pandemic. 

Reading this thread reminds me of the trips to the appliance store with my dad as a kid.

7 hours ago, RedRider3141 said:

I think where Automotive or bike shops become a scam is not when they charge you for something that you probably can do yourself but when they "diagnose" some thing to drum up business.

I've noticed that users have a much higher opinion of LBS on bicycle forums vs car/truck/motorcycle forums where they dealers are called "stealerships".

Long winded example from years ago where I am obviously still slighted... I had a Nissan Dealer in a rather affluent area diagnose my '01 pathfinder with a Check Engine Light. I do all my own maintenance and many repairs but I was having trouble tracking down a specific code that could have been 6 different things. I figured the dealer could use their proprietary scan tool to get more than the P Code and tell me the issue. They came back with a $6K repair estimate on a 14 year old car with a 150K miles. Their claim: Engine Sludge was causing issues in the valve train. Their solution: replace the entire upper half of the engine. When I pointed out that a brand new engine usually runs $5-6K and that after their work I'd sill have a bottom end with 150K miles on it the repair advisor just shrugged and said that most people just have the repair done or buy a new car. I ended up going home, looking in the valve cap and seeing a perfectly clean engine with no evidence of sludge so I did one more diagnosis myself based on some internet advice and replaced a $40 sensor in <5min. 60K miles later I've had no issues. The great thing was on the repair estimate none of it should the sensor replacement, just everything around it.

Diagnosis is the HARDEST part of any mechanic work. Everyone who has tried to track down "bottom bracket noises" can attest. I feel sorry for car mechanics because CARS ARE ONE OF THE MOST COMPLEX THINGS most people will have interaction with. 

In a bike shop the service writer would be the most experienced person in the store, hands down. But try to justify $20+ an hour for a person who fill out paperwork at a bike shop.

1 hour ago, AustinBike said:

 when I do take it to the shop I gladly pay for their expertise and know it will be done right.

One of the major problems with shops, car, bike, or otherwise, is that, for the most part, their is no guarantee that the work is done correctly. Their is no mandatory certifications, no governing body, and worst of all no customer demand. 

I have literally watched a customer tell a "mechanic" how to do a job while they were doing it, then pay the shop for the work.

44 minutes ago, WLemke said:

Got a blast from the past for y’all. A customer brought in an early 90s Gary Fisher ProCaliber.

The fork did not work at all. Did some research on the fork and determined that it was a Manitou 1. I also discovered this fork uses elastomers, something I’ve never even heard of before. Any-who, found a company in NM that makes refresh kits for ancient suspension. 

 
Started to take this fork apart and noticed that there were no elastomers! Very strange. Well, turns out the elastomers were indeed in the fork, just in goo form at the bottom of the lowers. 30 years in the Texas heat is not an ideal climate for them. 

After a liter of acetone, an hour of scrubbing and a few curse words, I finally got all the goo formerly known as elastomers out. Everything from there was smooth sailing. Installed the new elastomers and dust seals and slapped the fork back together. 

well, that was fun. With that said, I don’t think I’m going to take on this type of work again. The elastomer goo was just too frustrating. 

 

Risse Racing will do a full overhaul on most of those older fork for $65. What's the place in NM selling the elastomers?

7 hours ago, quixoft said:

Automotive shops are scams for a whole lot of services. For example, I had an old Chevy pickup that needed brake pads and rotors all around. Three different shops all quoted me above $1000 for all four sets of pads and rotors to be install. I bought the stuff myself for $220 and had them installed in two hours. 

I guarantee their materials cost would be less than mine. They upcharge the shit out of basic stuff people can do themselves very easily. I guess people are just scared of brakes but in reality they are very simple.

Have you ever been to a restaurant?

11 hours ago, Barry said:

From my personal experience 15 years ago, and with my observations with other's bikes in the last couple of years, Trek/Garry Fisher has had one of the slowest warranty responses in the industry. 

Double post.

11 hours ago, Barry said:

From my personal experience 15 years ago, and with my observations with other's bikes in the last couple of years, Trek/Garry Fisher has had one of the slowest warranty responses in the industry. 

VERY shop dependant. I worked in a Trek shop for years and find their warranty process one of the best. We would usually have a resolution within a week if we were on top of things.

8 hours ago, Cafeend said:

 

 

Curious.. with your experience what would you do differently if you could?

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Where do I start...

15 minutes ago, AustinBike said:

While BSS may not be everyone's favorite, they do hold a spot in the overall bike ecosystem here in Austin. 

Every market needs a "big name" that handles the top name bikes and has staying power. It is hard to get the average consumer to pay $2,000 for a bike if they a.) don't have confidence that the shop we be around and b.) don't feel like they can have a decent service experience afterward.

Honestly, I don't use BSS much, rarely, if ever buy anything from them. Their service on Guadalupe is convenient to me and they have always taken care of me.

They are akin to the big car dealer in town. Yeah, you may overpay but at least you don't have to worry that they will be out of business in a few months. Everyone loves to bash BSS (and I have had some issues with their service in the past) but they are far from horrible and they serve an important role in Austin. 

I have more of an issue with them on a professional level then a concept level. Big shops make a lot of sense, for a lot of reasons, but BSS is a shady business hiding behind a nice facade. 

It's hard for me to comment on "average" shop pay because I have 20 years experience, a business management college education, and industry certifications but I have been at  roughly $20/hour for my last 3 jobs.

Generally speaking, shops are poorly run, mechanics are undertrained (and customers don't care), and the hourly rates reflect that.

Honestly I think operations such has Velofix or Austin Bicycle Union will start to do a lot more business, and big boys like Sport Shop will (unfortunately, because they are a terrible company) never go away.

29x2.1 SB8, not tubeless

29x2.4 DHR 2, 54, EXO, MT, 3C

29X2.25 Racing Ralph, not tubeless

27.5x2.6 Nobby Nic, TLE

Rock Garden of Greatness, Cheese Grater, Ewok (RIP)

I've "fixed" two cracked frames with it. One carbon one aluminum. Definitely works as advertised. Both riders continued to use their bikes until a replacement could be sourced.

9 hours ago, WLemke said:

1.  

Double post

9 hours ago, WLemke said:

 

1. Front forks and rear shock stanchions covered in a dirt/oil mixture must currently be in style

One of the toughest things about working in a shop is convincing people that expensive bikes need to be worked on too. Any dual suspension bike over $2000 is going to cost you $1000 a year if you're riding regularly and staying on top of regular maintenance.

9 hours ago, WLemke said:

 

1. Front forks and rear shock stanchions covered in a dirt/oil mixture must currently be in style

One of the toughest things about working in a shop is convincing people that expensive bikes need to be worked on too. Any dual suspension bike over $2000 is going to cost you $1000 a year if you're riding regularly and staying on top of regular maintenance.

9 hours ago, June Bug said:

There is also one at the Main Creek Crossing on the "far" side. However, for the average trail user with dog(s) and the complexity of the trail system, it's incomprehensible.  

I noticed a new "on leash" sign near where the trail comes in from the neighborhood by Shady Springs by the power lines. I'll keep an eye on it to see if it's vandalized.  Back in the day the little "on leash" icons on the carsonite posts were vandalized within 24 hours in that area. 

 

I actually just rode through there this morning and looked for those signed and didn't see them. I was mostly reminded by the women playing fetch with here dog IN THE MIDDLE OF THE BRIDGE.

I actually really appreciate that Walnut is off leash because it's one of the few places I can take our dog for a run/ride. We haven't been recently because the park has been overcrowded, which is where I think most of the recent problems have been stemming, but I don't think I've ever had a problem there otherwise.

8 hours ago, RidingAgain said:

Okay, someone just posted this... It shows that the park on one side of the river is off-leash, but on the other side isn't.

But the speaking on the websites I went to that were for dog activities in Austin didn't make that clear.

 

I actually just noticed this map on the podium on Power line recently. 

But like any law, it's only effect with proper enforcement.