NOTE ON SERVICES: Please read the important information about my thoughts on the industry. Not sure which service to get, please see the Service Comparison Chart for a decent breakdown of major service options. Contact me with any questions. I do not charge more if you supply the parts. However if I have to spend extra time fixing your components or chasing down repair parts then you will be charged accordingly. If you choose to supply the parts I will not be responsible for poor quality, incompatible, or other issues related to substandard parts that do not work together or function properly. You can continue to use them or we can find another solution. While some have seen me work fast in certain situations no service is performed with haste. It takes me about an hour to build a wheel from a pile of parts but I timed myself once and was able to build it in under 15 minutes by cutting out every important step and hacking it together. Finishing the build on a pre-assembled bike in less than 20 minutes is not a challenge but it won't be a precision machine, it'll be like a cheesy department store bike. For bike builds, attention to detail and ensuring that all parts are inspected and fixed prior to assembly takes at least 30 minutes. Putting grease and specialty lubes on all relevant parts adds another 15 minutes. Facing and chasing the bottom bracket and head tube not only require more than several thousand dollars in specialty tools but another 30 minutes minimum. A stock wheelset, up to 45 minutes to true and adjust. Eliminating these steps will save time but they are crucial to the longevity and proper functioning of the bike. Safety and functionality are not trivial concerns especially when they have been compromised. Ask your favorite bike shop about their practices. Most people have not had their bike properly assembled, serviced, or speced and they are mandated to a mediocre riding experience: gears don't work, wheels aren't true or they keep unlacing or detensioning, sloppy brakes, weird noises, poor basic fitting or positioning, etc. Until you've ridden a precision machine you'll never know the difference! Do you really want a shop owner who can't even install a cassette dictating how their employees service your bike? No, you deserve a competent, meticulous professional so you won't be concerned about zooming down a mountain pass at 60mph. There are plenty of good (average) bicycle mechanics. I'm happy and confident to say I'm not a good mechanic. There are fewer great mechanics. An awesome mechanic is a rare find and that's where I've set my sights. Most people want the best and knowing what questions to ask can prevent frustration and save time. The limiting factor for most mechanics' abilities isn't their aptitude, instead it is the attitude of the owner. Owners marginalize their mechanics' talents by limiting the time they spend on particular services. We mechanics can't do an exemplary job without repeated practice, there's not an on/off switch when that special customer walks through the door. If every customer doesn't get the same level and quality of service and if that service isn't top-notch all the time, everyone is cheated. A shop's tool collection will tell part of the story, it is difficult to fix a bike without the proper tools. Tools are designed for specific purposes and every year there are new tools. I have a greater variety of tools than just about any shop I've visited except for the (warehouse) museum in Wheelsmith's California shop... and no one has more than that. When necessary I design and manufacture my own tools or modify existing ones. A set of locking pliers, a hammer, and some duct tape can work magic but that's a lousy threesome for modern bicycles.
The foundation of my neutral supporbusiness involves traveling to events to provide mechanical support to the participants. Setting up shop and working under some of the most obscene conditions happens now and again, year-round outdoor racing rarely concedes a schedule to Mother Nature's whims. Picking up, delivering, or doing an on-site repair is not a special situation or service. The convenience of flexible hours and mobile services is priceless. Dealing directly with me during the entire process can end the hassles of loading, unloading, waiting, returning to pick it up, and dealing with an endless stream of employees. Simple and tailored, with a little planning it will be timeless. Nearly all regular services can be brought to you. Some equipment and tools are just too cumbersome or impractical to transport. These services are not available to mobile customers. The bicycle would have to be brought to my workshop or studio for such services. Most maintenance and repairs don’t require special parts or tools but I prefer to have the bike on my home base whenever possible. My recommendation is to bring in your bike (or let me take it to my shop) for its first service so I can document and assess the condition. Without knowing the specifics of your bike someone could call for an appointment for a department store cruiser while the next person calls with a $25,000 custom time trial bike. Obviously the two bikes are vastly different, and even among time trial bikes, the immense variety would challenge the best mechanic.
COST: listed or hourly rate plus any Other Charges NOTE: Appointment only, a $50 scheduling fee must be prepaid to schedule a mobile service appointment. The $50 will be applied to your invoice upon completion of the work or it will be refunded in accordance with the policy stated herein. CANCELLATION POLICY - Cancellations must be made within 72 hours to avoid forfeiting your $50 scheduling fee. This $50 fee is in addition to any non-refundable expenditures related to your cancellation as provided by law (including but not limited to recovery of past due funds with interest charges, hotels, ferries, tolls, mileage, food). Scheduling an appointment shall be considered an explicit legal and binding agreement according to these terms. These terms will be explained upon making an appointment. I'm not out to get rich on cancellation fees, I hope I never see any, just give some consideration and professional courtesy to our respective schedules.
Gosh, there's so much stuff you can do to a bike: overhauls, hand-built wheels, tune-ups, safety checks, general repairs, installing accessories or parts, crash inspection, component installation / upgrades / switchovers, race preparation, cleaning, shock or suspension rebuilds, custom spoke threading, shift lever rebuilds, paint repair (or get ready for a repaint), accessory and computer installation, on and on. If you don't see it on the list I'm fairly certain I can or have done it so don't hesitate to ask. Rates are for non-traveling services only! All parts and supplies are extra! Click on the links for a more detailed description.
Mechanical & Neutral Support Services: Promoters, teams, clubs, etc. Extended Service Plans - the ultimate bike care programs (click here for comparison)
Bronze: $200 (4 months, great value) Silver: $325 (8 months, for the more serious biker) Gold: $450 (1 year plus some other goodies) Platinum: $625 (1 year plus some serious goodies) Diamond: $1400 (2 years plus some major goodies)
Cleaning (may be required for dirty bikes)
Simple Cleaning: $20 - wipe-down gears and bike, some components degreased Basic Cleaning: $35 - degrease drivetrain components, pretty darn clean Showroom Cleaning: $65 - just about as clean as a bike can get Ultrasonic Cleaning: anything that fits in my tank, doesn't have to be bike-related
Crash Inspection, Estimates, Safety Assessment: minimum $45 with Basic Cleaning Tune-Ups
$65 with Simple Cleaning $85 with Basic Cleaning $115 with Showroom Cleaning
Overhaul: $225 includes Showroom Cleaning Fitting Services
Basic Sizing: $100 - find the right size bike for your needs Full Custom Fitting: $250 - design the perfect fitting bike R.A.D. Adjustment: starts at $75 - save those knees, all clipless pedals need this!
Bike Assembly & Rebuilds
Consumer Quality: $150 includes Basic Cleaning Race Quality: up to $350 includes Showroom Cleaning
Precision Wheel Building: a hand-built custom gem starts at $50 Tubular Mounting & Repair: starts at $25 General Services
Install shifters: $25-$60 Install derailleur (with hanger adjustment): $20-$30 Install brakes: $15-$25 per brake, $10 for pad replacement per brake Install headset (with facing, reaming): $70-$80 Install bottom bracket (with facing, chasing, and adjustments): $60-$70 Install wheel (with adjustments): $10-$20 Install crankset, chain, or cassette (with adjustments): $5-$50 Install handlebar, base bar, aero bar, or stem: $15-$70 Install saddle or seatpost: $15 Install handlebar tape, grips, or other: $10 and up Install computer: $10 and up Pack bike for shipping: $50-$75 Cable work and adjustment (front or rear shifter or brake): $10-$20 per cable Wheel repair, truing, spoke replacement: $10 and up Change tire or tube: $5 (add $2 for rim tape) Accessories: hourly rate
Frame & Fork Preparation
Facing/reaming head tube (1", 1-1/8", many integrated): hourly rate + $15 set-up Facing fork crown race (1", 1-1/8"): hourly rate + $10 set-up Threading fork (1", 1-1/8", 1-1/4"): hourly rate + $10 set-up Cutting fork (any size or style): $15 Facing/chasing bottom bracket (English or Italian): hourly rate + $15 set-up Dropout and frame alignment: hourly rate + $5 set-up Paint repair: hourly rate + $5 per color set-up Other machining: hourly rate plus set-up fee
Equipment Rental: Bikes, Wheels, more Education and Training: prices vary, ask for specific details
Clinics, Workshops, and Mechanical Instruction New Bicycle and Other Consultations Health and Wellness: Training Programs, Diet Suggestions, Bodywork Referrals For Retail Stores: Sub-contracting, Process Control, Education Service Area or Workshop: Design, Layout, Construction, Tool Selection
Custom Services
Bike and Equipment Transport Services
Spoke Threading Hand-Stitched Leather Handlebar Tape - classic old-school workmanship!
Other Services: generally shop rate of $60/hour
Meal Stipend - $35 per day or as detailed below
* Three full meals for each full or partial day (rest days or work days) * Travel days to/from job site will be included
Lodging - daily stipend at local rates or as detailed below
* May be required for locations more than two hours away * Hotel or motel with easy car access or host housing at secure location
Transportation Fees - computed from Holden, MA
* $0.55/mile - to and from job site and incidentals All tolls, ferry transport, and other travel-specific costs are additional
Click here to estimate round trip mileage
"Nucular!" - George Bush, Jr.
(c) 2011 Bicycle Support by Mark, LLC - all rights reserved; revised 12/1/2011; terms and specifications subject to change