I recently began converting an old Peugot Monaco frame into a fixie. While very familiar with most aspects of bike repair, the old frame represented new challenges. Before I began buying a bunch of replacement parts (I found the frame without a seat and seatpost, wheels, brakes, chain. While also having a loose bottom bracket), I headed to Outdoors, Inc. Fortunately, I found Jason there and he demonstrated how to remove the bottom bracket and he set me up with some new bearings and a lockring tool (not something found commonly in stock at other shops). Jason also understood — without me saying directly — that I wanted to do the repairs myself. He removed the components of the bottom bracket and got me what I needed and threw it into a ziplock bag — ready for the work in my garage. The staff then helped me measure and order all of the components I needed to make the conversion. When the components came in I had some problems with the seatpost sizing, since the Peugot has an odd size seatpost. Mike (who also builds his own frames (Magnolia, if I remember correctly)) took the time to describe what I should do to shim a post in order to make it fit.
Furthermore, since I use bicycles as my primary form of transportation, Isaiah has been more than helpful and diligent in making sure that I was aware that parts I order were in and ready for pickup.
The bike repair staff at Outdoors, Inc. is knowledgeable, helpful and organized. With that being said, they need to make sure they continue to help bikers learn how to fix their rigs. After all, there aren’t bike repair schools readily available to teach repair techniques. And, if you hadn’t accommodated my needs for instruction, I would have gone elsewhere.
Outdoors, Inc. Midtown receives a 5 Broken Down Car rating. Cheers to you!
4 Comments
Leave a Reply
ABOUT
Biking as a way of interacting with your environment and as sustainable transportation.
Those guys are all good- I bought my first true single speed from Jason when he was working at the Peddler on Highland. Both Mike and Isaiah have both been good to me over the years, too. I got to know them when they worked at the Peddler on Highland before they got hired at Outdoors.
Good luck with the Peugeot project. I have a steel Peugeot frame hanging in my bike shed- bought it new in Germany in 1985 and rode it in several different European countries. Cool bike.
If we teach other people how to fix their bikes then how do we get paid?
That being said, Revolutions Community Bike Shop is the perfect place to learn how to fix a bike. 10 hours of volunteer time and a $40 membership fee will teach you ust about everything you need to know. They are also starting maintenance classes soon. Free for members and $10 per class for non members.
Well, not everyone is going to be a do-it-yourselfer, so there’ll always be work. Then, there are also some repairs that I run into from time to time that I want a pro to handle — like fixing an internal rear hub. Plus, if you teach me how to fix bikes, I’ll return to your store when I need replacements and maintenance items = $ale$.
Thanks for the info on Revolutions. I’m pretty sure I know most of what they’ll teach but it does sound like a great opportunity for those new to the bike maintenance world.
Hmm…I’ve never had my bike serviced at Outdoors since it’s kind of out of my way, but it’s good to hear that they assisted you well with your project. I’ll keep that in mind if I ever get around to finding a frame for a fix up project myself.
I thought about doing the Revolutions thing, but I looked at the hours and don’t think I could work it in at the moment. Interesting concept though.