justin89 Posted October 30, 2012 Report Share Posted October 30, 2012 I have to say my local Halfords is pretty poor. I got told by one lad that 160mm disc brake rotors were really rare and near impossible to get a hold of, another told me the reason I got punctures on my old trials bike was because I had lots of holes in the rim (drilled rims), went in with my bmx to get a tube and was told my bike was illegal as it didn't have brakes and that they shouldn't let me leave the shop without making it road safe! They also seem to go through staff quicker than I can keep track of because every time I go in there is a new numpty working n telling me a load of crap! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisTrials2012 Posted October 30, 2012 Report Share Posted October 30, 2012 I was waiting 6 weeks for my Avid to be bled, because "Avids aren't common". 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ash-Kennard Posted October 30, 2012 Report Share Posted October 30, 2012 I was waiting 6 weeks for my Avid to be bled, because "Avids aren't common". it is probably more likely they lost a piece of the bleed kit, or the mechanic is an idiot Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisTrials2012 Posted October 30, 2012 Report Share Posted October 30, 2012 it is probably more likely they lost a piece of the bleed kit, or the mechanic is an idiot This was a big shop, well established apparently. But whatever, it's over now, all over. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ash-Kennard Posted October 30, 2012 Report Share Posted October 30, 2012 This was a big shop, well established apparently. But whatever, it's over now, all over. mine is a big one too, but ive heard some insane lies to customers in my time. gits Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leistonbmx Posted October 30, 2012 Report Share Posted October 30, 2012 This. Although we have the tool at work, I tend to just use a block of wood and a hammer, it does the same job. Halfords employees, flaring headtubes since employing "the best repair/building team in the country." :ermm:Hang on... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rockman Posted October 30, 2012 Report Share Posted October 30, 2012 But now I work in Halfords in Middlesbrough so i now have access to all the tools and lubes i need and there is two of us who are trials riders who work there so all the repairs that come in and all the new bikes that go out are set up perfectly like we set up our own bike. I'm pretty sure all good bike shops treat a customers bike like there own. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dezmtber Posted October 30, 2012 Report Share Posted October 30, 2012 I don't setup the bikes like they are my own. Most customers wouldn't come back if i set there bike up for 5'5" guy with unusual taste for abnormal setups. I know what your getting at though. By treat is as if it were your own. When repairing bikes you should ask yourself epistle you ride it in the condition its in. Although that depends on what you are used to riding. If you ride a 20 year old raleigh covered in rust, i would guess the standard would be low. Key to being a great mechanic is knowing what new feels like and what current trends are. To get the bikes to feel and look right. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rockman Posted October 31, 2012 Report Share Posted October 31, 2012 I don't setup the bikes like they are my own. Most customers wouldn't come back if i set there bike up for 5'5" guy with unusual taste for abnormal setups. I know what your getting at though. By treat is as if it were your own. When repairing bikes you should ask yourself epistle you ride it in the condition its in. Although that depends on what you are used to riding. If you ride a 20 year old raleigh covered in rust, i would guess the standard would be low. Key to being a great mechanic is knowing what new feels like and what current trends are. To get the bikes to feel and look right. I am a cycle mechanic, what I mean by "treating it as your own" as in, taking care of it, making sure it works, for example, if you wouldn't ride it with the cabling frayed then the customer probably doesn't want that either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dezmtber Posted October 31, 2012 Report Share Posted October 31, 2012 What would happen if bike mot's come in will trials bikes fail because of no seat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
g1nge@trials Posted October 31, 2012 Report Share Posted October 31, 2012 What would happen if bike mot's come in will trials bikes fail because of no seat it wouldnt only fail at that if trials bike's did have MOT's haha Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
isitafox Posted October 31, 2012 Report Share Posted October 31, 2012 I went to the Stockport Halfords branch on the hunt for a freewheel tool and had a word with a lad working there who seemed pretty sound, said they didn't sell them and I had no chance of getting one from there as his own manager wouldn't even let him have one for the workshop?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CalopS Posted October 31, 2012 Report Share Posted October 31, 2012 Portsmouth cycle exchange is really good. They were more than happy for me to use there huge vice out the back to get my busted freewheel off so I could fit a new one for the memorial ride. Very helpful guys and didn't charge me. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VAMPIRE V12 Posted October 31, 2012 Report Share Posted October 31, 2012 to be honest i used halfords middlesbrough before brad got there and i took my old mtb in the bike came back with all the brakes so loose that you could pull the leavers to the grips the gears did not change the seat was actually on backwards! and the front tyre was on the wrong way around aswell as there being lots of scratches around the seat tube area/ toptube. So i shall never take my bike there again unless i'm certain that either alan or brad works on it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pashley26 Posted October 31, 2012 Report Share Posted October 31, 2012 Honestly I don't think any bike shop employees should be able to touch a customers bike until they have a Cytech level 1 as a minimum qualification. Too many people see bike shops as a quick fix and an easy job, not many people see it as a profession. Those sorts of uncaring and uneducated muppets have no place working on any mode of transport and should be weeded out of the industry to regain the trust and respect people used to expect from their local bike shop. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ogre Posted November 1, 2012 Report Share Posted November 1, 2012 re: halfords, i've worked there for over a year now, the avid comment is rediculous most of our premium range use avid. it's not a bad store when you get legit staff in, but we ride a very niche sport and we pay a price for that, home diy *** anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ali C Posted November 1, 2012 Report Share Posted November 1, 2012 Honestly I don't think any bike shop employees should be able to touch a customers bike until they have a Cytech level 1 as a minimum qualification. I disagree, as long as you show you are competent then you should need such qualification. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dezmtber Posted November 1, 2012 Report Share Posted November 1, 2012 If you know you can fix bikes then there's nothing stoping you getting a qualification and its free in most cases. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ali C Posted November 1, 2012 Report Share Posted November 1, 2012 I don't really care for cytech qualifications Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark W Posted November 1, 2012 Report Share Posted November 1, 2012 If you know you can fix bikes then there's nothing stoping you getting a qualification and its free in most cases. I checked ages ago and seemed pretty expensive to get Cytech qualifications? I was thinking of getting the qualifications after I left uni in case I wanted to do anything bike related, but I figured having a clue and having actual experience working in a shop was more valuable (and according to most people in 'the industry', they don't really give a shit about Cytech anyway). I just checked their site and it's £450 for the Level One. f**k that. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
isitafox Posted November 1, 2012 Report Share Posted November 1, 2012 I just checked and thought the same, £300 for the home mechanic course?! Best one has got to be £140 for the online theory learning or an extra £50 to have it sent to you on paper to cover admin costs, no thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dezmtber Posted November 1, 2012 Report Share Posted November 1, 2012 It's free if you have Saturday job at a bike shop Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dezmtber Posted November 1, 2012 Report Share Posted November 1, 2012 http://www.bikebiz.com/news/read/madison-throws-weight-behind-two-mechanics-training-companies/03447 This is what I did Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ash-Kennard Posted November 6, 2012 Report Share Posted November 6, 2012 halfords havent offered cytech training for a number of years, but there are plans to bring it back in the near future Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dezmtber Posted November 6, 2012 Report Share Posted November 6, 2012 (edited) if you know how to fix a puncture do level 2 and ignore level 1 cytech. Edited November 6, 2012 by dezmtber Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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