Screwin’ the bike
I got my bike back from the newly-opened Landry’s Bikes in Boston. They did an overall tune-up, fixed my seatpost, supposedly loosened the left pedal so I can get it off next time I disassemble my bike, and retaped my handlebar. They even replaced my front brake which, while functional, was screeching (they were supposed to have done it by the time I got there but they wound up doing it on the spot. Oh, well…)
The one thing they, and all the other bike stores I’ve been to, haven’t been able to do is give me a replacement adjustment screw for my left rear brake. The head on mine is getting worn and is hard to adjust. You know the screw I’m talking about; it would be the one in the middle of the following picture:
All the bike stores say they don’t have any. What’s up with that? Same goes for the standard bicycle bolts. Last summer I had to bike out to the Home Depot to get some because not even my local hardware store carried them. I’m not sure I even got the right threading.
You’d think bike stores would be able to sell you little kits with all the standard bolts, screws, and other paraphernalia you may need to work on your bike on the road. Grumble.
April 16th, 2006 at 11:43 am
You should call up Trek, tell them you are biking around the world and ask them to send you a “complete set” of every bolt, nut, screw on your bike.
Get two.
April 16th, 2006 at 11:58 am
Yes, I was thinking of emailing them to ask for the replacement brake screws. You’re right, though, I should ask for a replacement kit for everything, and also for the proper size bolts that go into the pannier holes.