Comments on: No User Serviceable Parts Inside

By: Ghost Rider

Ghost Rider — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 19:08:17 +0000

The cogs and any other Helicomatic spare parts are worth a small fortune…of course, no one’s really rockin’ those hubs anymore, even “retro fans”. I still run one, but only because I’m too poor to have another wheel built.

By: Guitar Ted

Guitar Ted — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 17:59:01 +0000

Ghost Rider: Got me there! But…………the shop I work at has all the Heliocomatic cogs and tools.

By: Ghost Rider

Ghost Rider — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 14:36:37 +0000

I’ve got a bunch of oddballs in my toolbox, too, but not one of those! I should have known that YOU had one, though…

Alright, here’s a potential stumper — how ’bout a Helicomatic lockring tool? Maybe that’s common, but I’m the only one I’ve met personally who has one!

By: Guitar Ted

Guitar Ted — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 04:08:08 +0000

Ghost Rider: Umm………………..actually, I have that Shimano 600 headset wrench!

By: Ghost Rider

Ghost Rider — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 03:09:57 +0000

There’s really nothing new in this…bike component manufacturers have long been notorious for requiring proprietary tools to fix headsets, freewheels, etc. The French were the worst back in the day with their oddball thread sizings on cranks, requiring a unique crankarm puller. There were also a couple of headset locknuts that had to have a special spanner to loosen/tighten.

Shimano has been pretty bad at it, too — anyone remember the 600-series “starfish” headsets? Try finding a tool to fix one of those beauties these days!

By: Mudpuppy

Mudpuppy — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 02:58:12 +0000

Everyone with money in their hand has a choice.

Before you buy that latest pink gizmo, ask what tools are needed to service it. Then ask how much they cost, and then make your decision.

I suspect some different decisions would result.

By: Desert9r

Desert9r — Fri, 30 May 2008 16:30:48 +0000

I actually am seeing the opposite, I am seeing more and more people, getting into bikes and fixing bikes, Because they are so much more simple than a car. and many are learning like I did- “specialize” in your own bike(s) and expand your knowledge from there. also many are going for the simpler fixie, 1x, rigids etc.
also, going for the compact cranks, cyclocross bikes and 29er, so they can do a wide range of riding on 1 bike.

By: Nato

Nato — Fri, 30 May 2008 02:37:33 +0000

It doesn’t really matter if parts are user-serviceable or not. An inner tube is user-serviceable, but I still spent half the day today putting tubes and Tuffy liners into people’s tires.

If someone wants to fix something, they’ll figure out a way. Most people are lazy and want someone else to do it anyway. If mechanics can make money off people’s laziness, good for them.

If you don’t want to buy into the system, ride a Surly, buy an old car, use downtube shifters. Old parts will always be around.

There will always be rich people who want the fanciest, best stuff. If there wasn’t a demand from dentists and lawyers for stupid stuff like 12 pound carbon bikes, then it wouldn’t be an issue.

Every day I work on thousand dollar bikes for whiny rich dudes. They bug me, but their business means my shop stays afloat, and I get to spend each day working on bikes.

Then I go home and ride my full rigid, singlespeed mountain bike.

By: Old Fart

Old Fart — Thu, 29 May 2008 19:52:09 +0000

We all gotta find our niche.
I still haven’t bought into this whole
“indexing” thing.

By: Grant

Grant — Thu, 29 May 2008 17:52:55 +0000

I kind of fall in line with Gunnar’s take. The reason the pros make use of the newest, lightest, stiffest is because the variations in ability from rider to rider are so slight. For the rest of us, the stuff that only the shop can work on (cough..Cannondale) is little more than emotional edification. Kind of like Dumbo’s feather. Kid could fly all along, you know?

Just let me know when I need to start hording parts. I love keeping my bikes, the beater and the racer, running by myself, but I don’t want a $200 bottom bracket tool.