The day mobile bike servicing came to my rescue
I’m someone who will have a go at fixing most mechanical things on my bike and have changed sprokets, bar tape and am quite an expert in inner tube changing. However my big problem is cables. Yes, I realise that this of course covers about 50% of all possible bike problems, meaning gears and brakes.
Unfortunately, I’ve found that this part of bike maintenance isn’t really covered by the Haynes Bike Manual (nor the ‘other’one I have – it doesn’t have as many pictures). One day I’ll get round to going on a short course to show me the basics. In the mean time I have to rely on the local workshop to sort out any gear woes I may have, and these seem occur regularly. I would love to know what I’m doing to the gears for them to need attention so often.
However there is a big problem at the moment. A good problem, but a pain in the arse for me. Cycling has taken off in London. Fabulous. But what this means is that I can no longer call into my trusty workshop at Cycle Surgery on Great Portland Street on a Monday morning with a view of dropping the bike off a few minutes later for it to be fixed by the end of the working day. In fact, there is a two week wait for the next slot.
With grating gears and a chain that kept dropping off when I shifted from 9 to 18 action was required. It was at this point that I remembered about a post on London Cyclist blog, about mobile bike repair.
Looking at the different options, I decided to give BikeAde a call to see if they could come and help. He came that afternoon to work, and called me when he was outside my office. Bascially they work by cycling round with a trailer attached to the back of the bike that contains all their tools. There outside work, he indexed my gears, adjusted my rear derailleur, sorted my gears out and applied oil to all the relevant bits on the bike, and gave it a little test run, and all for the fraction of the price of going to a workshop instore.
Brilliant, efficient and quick service, that comes to your door (work or home) and is very reasonably priced too. If you’re in London and need some bike first aid, give BikeAde a whirl.
