Bike repair (Alexandria, Reston, Springfield: apartment, buying, prices)

[slduvall]

Since there are some bikers here...

My daughters bike lost the bearings out of the pedals. Of course she didn't tell us, but the chain kept coming off and another kid would fix it. She finally mentioned the wobbly pedals and the fact that some metal balls rolled out!

Any rec's for a cheap bike repair place? This is just kids bike, but is less than a year old and slightly too big for her, so has about another 2-3 years before she outgrows it.

Thanks

[bornindc]

You can maybe get the bearings re-packed or simply get a new crankset "bottom bracket". It's not hard to do but you need special tools. Try Performance Bike, Spokes Etc., Hudson Trail, REI or a local bike shop. I'd call around and see what a few of those near you will charge to do it, obviously you don't want to spend a lot on it. If you are mechanically inclined you can get some tools and instructions from one of those places.

The bike techs in Performance in Springfield and Spokes in Alexandria have always been very helpful with my needs and will usually try to help you out with the cheapest option if they know you have a budget on your repair. Sometimes they will even have used parts around they can let you have/use etc.

[slduvall]

Thanks, Performance is where I was headed, since it is the only one I know about, but nice to hear they wouldn't try to stiff me on a bike that isn't worth a major repair.

[car54]

A repair shop for pedals?

That's a really simple job...go to Walmart and grab a universal set for $10-12 and put them on. All you need is an open end wrench (probably 9/16 or 5/8).

The only glitch is that one of the pedals has a left hand thread...I believe it's the left side crank. You have to turn that one clockwise to unloosen it and counter clockwise to thread it in....this is the opposite of how you normally do it.

[Carlingtonian]

This place is great. Basically one guy. Reasonable prices and no attitude.

[bornindc]

Originally Posted by car54

A repair shop for pedals?

That's a really simple job...go to Walmart and grab a universal set for $10-12 and put them on. All you need is an open end wrench (probably 9/16 or 5/8).

The only glitch is that one of the pedals has a left hand thread...I believe it's the left side crank. You have to turn that one clockwise to unloosen it and counter clockwise to thread it in....this is the opposite of how you normally do it.

A kid's bike may have a real simple set up like this now that I think about it. Look at the place where the pedal arms (cranks) go into the bike (bottom bracket). If there is just a basic hexagonal wrench-type setup this will work. If there are a lot of little slots/teeth all the way around the bottom bracket that you need a special wrench for you'll need to hit the bike store.

[slduvall]

Thanks, DH said it would need a tool he didn't have. What about the bearings, do those come with the new pedals?

[Joke Insurance]

Check out this place:

The Bike Lane-Springfield & Reston, VA - Road Bikes, Triathlon, Mountain Bikes, fitness & youth bikes

[car54]

Originally Posted by slduvall

Thanks, DH said it would need a tool he didn't have...

Mmmm, I've always used that as an excuse to buy a tool! LOL

I even used that premise to buy a diesel tractor with backhoe for a sewer line replacement job I wanted to tackle. I thought my wife was going to kill me for buying it! She softened her stance somewhat during Snowmageddon when I used the thing to dig out our little enclave.

As far as pedal bearings, I've never seen them sold separately...pedals are normally sold as an assembly. If ball (or roller) bearings "escape" from a device, it is usually the result of extreme wear or damage.

[slduvall]

Originally Posted by car54

Mmmm, I've always used that as an excuse to buy a tool! LOL

I even used that premise to buy a diesel tractor with backhoe for a sewer line replacement job I wanted to tackle. I thought my wife was going to kill me for buying it! She softened her stance somewhat during Snowmageddon when I used the thing to dig out our little enclave.

As far as pedal bearings, I've never seen them sold separately...pedals are normally sold as an assembly. If ball (or roller) bearings "escape" from a device, it is usually the result of extreme wear or damage.

Are you my dad??? He had so many speciality tools it wasn't funny! My DH, is well...not my Dad. I could probably fix the bike before he could. He was apartment raised, I was raised by Tim the Toolman!