Yep, that’s all….

This chainring explosion was probably a result of a little bit of neglect judging from the thick coat of grime on the drivetrain. Regardless, the owner wasn’t really sure why it happened.

* _{I say, Part 1, because, I’m sure, there’ll be more similar diagnoses in the future.}

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You know. Out where there are no sidewalks, no bike racks, nothing but parking lots, 40+ mph streets, car dealerships and “unique” restaurants with names like “Salsasitas.” Where the site of a bicycle furrows brows with confusion. Yeah where millions of Americans live.

This morning I needed to ride out into just such an area, to close my cable Internet account and return their modem. The closest location to do so was located in a grocery store, where, unsurprisingly there are no bike racks. I wheel it right on in the store and to the cable company’s kiosk. After asking what it was–my bike–I’m told i can’t bring my bike into a kiosk to return a modem. “Why not?” was met with a blank stare. Moving on then: tainted with scorn, the clerk closed my Internet account and took back my modem like I needed. Have a nice day, I’ll take some more “city” with my coffee thanks!

What is it called when you send a customer out the door with their “new” Technium single speed conversion that not only has the freewheel threaded on the fixed side of the flip flop hub, but also has 10×1 axle nuts on it’s 3/8×26 axle? Hmmmm.

Bad mechanics, a liability, and most likely a disaster waiting to happen. Not too safe a combination, especially when the brake housing is old and cracked as well.

I think I can safely say that a bike described as such would never leave my shop.

The other day a dude came in with his bike, insisting he needed new tubes and tires—on an old Nishiki—which he did, but more importantly he desparately needed new brake cables. His had only a couple strands left remaining, not to mention the pads were about an inch below his rim. Just wanting to ride fresh rubber, he adamantly refused and denied any further work. Were it my shop, I probably would have refused to work on it, but given the situation, all I could do was strongly advise he not ride the bike at all. And I explained this thoroughly on his work ticket and receipt.

People who know little about the mechanisms of a bicycle depend on us to not only make their bike fun and rideable, but also to make their bike safe when it isn’t. I think this must be some basic tenet of what a bike shop is; whether that shop be solely sales, boutique, repair, co-op, or whatever. We are responsible for, at the least, informing our customers of basic safety issues with their bike.