liv_rong

i meant u dont always have to replace housing..oops.lol

Raiyn

The English language is a beautiful thing, why scar it with AOL'ese?

Retro Grouch 

Basically you're talking about a complete tune up with about $20.00 in additional parts. I'd say that $70.00 is going to be a typical LBS price. If you brought it to my shop, I'm going to to do a quick check of the hubs, crank and headset, remove and clean the chain if it's grotty and clean and polish the frame while it doesn't have any cables on it to have to work around.

Feltup

I think the brakes are a lot more of a pain to set up.

Feltup

Still ain't worth $70.

Raiyn

Actually for a full cable job and a tuneup that's about right

Retro Grouch 

What's your basis of comparison? If you're saying that you'd do it yourself rather than pay somebody else $70.00 to do it, well I would too. If you're saying that most shops will do the job for significantly less than that, I think that you're wrong. The original poster asked what he should expect the shop to charge. I think that $70.00 is the right answer and I said why. It sounds to me like the other guys who have had shop experience think so too.

Raiyn

Same here

Feltup

On I totally agree with the price. I am saying it is sad that LBS have to charge that much. I know they have to stay in business.

peripatetic

So, to do a quick hijack with an easy response, I hope: anyone know where I can order some orange cable housing for my bike?

Also, what kind of cutters does one need to cut housing.

Could I clean out the housing with any lubricant, such as, for example, Tri-flow?

And can one use various cables with various housings, or do you use the two you bought together?

nolageek

As a novice DIYer myself, I have to play devil's advocate and state that many people just don't want to DIY. $70 seems OK to me to do a fair amount of work that many just dont know how to do and possibly dont want to bother to learn. Not to mention they'd have to buy $30 in tools, then buy cables, housings, etc... Personally, I'd go to my local Bike CoOp and do it. Free tools, low prices, and plenty of help to do it myself.

peripatetic

Very good point. I'm in your position and have been getting frustrated at the constant need for proper tools to do even the smallest adjustments. Bike co-ops can be a bit intimidating, though...

SpokesInMyPoop

I'm gonna chime in with DIY. It takes me about an hour to do all my cables (Honestly, I've never really timed myself... but it's somewhere around there), and costs me about $6 (maybe around $8 more if I put in new housing) Seriously, it's worth it. If you get a Bell tune-up kit (with all the cables necessary), it comes with instructions.

Happy... uhh... cabling?

SpokesInMyPoop

I'd google around for the cable housing, or check with an LBS.

As for cable cutters, look for diagonal cutters. They seem to work the best, and they aren't that exp. either.

I use triflow for lubing cable housing... that doesn't sound like a bad idea. I haven't really used grease on my cables like I've heard some others suggest on this board, but it probably works if people stand by that method.

And brake cable housing and shifter cable housing are 2 totally different things, although they look similar on the outside. Pick up both varieties if you plan on changing all your housing! (don't forget shifter cables and brake cables if your also changing them out).

I think Sheldon has something on this...-

Retro Grouch 

There are three basic reasons why people take their bike to a shop for service:
1. They are unsure of how to do the job themselves.
2. They lack the tools to do the job.
3. They just don't want to bother with doing it themselves.

nolageek

True. But, they are all valid reasons for some people. To some people, it's just worth it to pay someone else to do it. That's the reason there are 15 minute oil change places.

I paid someone to do oil changes in my car, but I do most of my own bike repairs. I'm more comfortable with some things.. somethings I'd rather a professional do.

I guess if I had enough money I'd rather bring it to a bike shop, get it done right in 15 minutes and go riding, rather than spend 3 hours fiddling with it myself and have it start raining. For my current financial situation, this isn't an option.

Hell, I brought my bike in to get a flat fixed once because I had just walked 3 miles in 100 heat and I was just OVER IT. It was worth the $15 just so I could sit in the A/Ced shop, chit chat, cool my temper (and body) and dry off. I walked in and they were like "wow, you look like crap" I was all "Fix my flat. I dont want to even look at my bike right now" and we all laughed.

Feltup

It don't take 3 hours to change cables; unless your blind folded. But I understand where your coming from. I would rather spend the money on upgrades.

Rev.Chuck

"It don't take 3 hours to change cables"
That depends on the person doing it.

Portis

And it also depends on if your LBS where you are buying the cables and housing keeps screwing you up. It once took me three days to replace a rear derailler cable and housing. THanks to my LBS giving me the wrong cable, then the wrong housing, then cutting the correct housing too short.

I have since wised up and do all of this myself and order online.

nick burns

And how much beer is on hand.

DocF

Either pay the $70 or learn to do it yourself. The price is reasonable in my opinion, but then, I charge my billable accounts $125.00 to 300.00 an hour depending on what I'm doing.

Doc

PS: learning is much easier if the beer is nearby and not on site.

liv_rong

$70 for just cables is too much.I dont know where everyone else goes but you must be getting ripped off, no matter what you say.I've worked in many shops and never came anywhere near 70 bucks for that job,unless something else needs service. Now lets see how much longer this thread goes on for because it seems a lot of people might learn something.

KJL

If the final bill was $70 that seems about right after taxes etc. Maybe less in a smaller (non-corporate) shop. Anyway, for me - when it comes to my road bike I would gladly spend 50 to 70 knowing I have the right cables, brakes adjusted, shifting adjusted correctly. I can tinker with my Mtn. bike but when it comes to road stuff it seems to need a more precise hand. That's just me though.

Little Darwin

I didn't look at the dates, and until I saw one of the posters knew I was reading an old thread... over 9 years since the last post.

Nice resurrection, I hadn't seen a post from Sidney in a long time...

RoadTire 

Though I"m still a rookie I just replaced the cables and housings a few minutes ago on my mtb which has 7 sp Rapid Fire shifters from '90. Cost was 4 bucks in materials, and a little dinking around. I needed a 9 mm wrench and inexpensive cutters from Sears. Also, I don't trust LBS much - a couple bad experiences can ruin a guy. But I hate working on cars, and cost of oil and filter is as high as the on-sale $17 oil changes so I let someone else do it.

Next on my to-do list is learn how to make my 2009 Trek 2.1 shift perfectly.