"Are you just a repair shop or do you sell bikes?"
We do both of those things but I like to think, as a bicycle is a greater machine than the sum of it's parts, so are we. Sure, we service, repair, modify and upgrade bikes as well as sell new, reconditioned, used and consignment bikes but we also have accessories, parts and friendly advice about most anything bicycle related.
"How much do you charge for a tune up?"
"Tune up" means different things to different people. The service we call Basic Tune up costs $60 and includes adjusting everything on the bike starting with the bearings to make sure they are not too tight or too loose and spin smoothly in the wheels, headset and bottom bracket. If you're not sure what all those are, here is a glossary of bike terms. Shifting and braking mechanisms are adjusted, the wheels are trued, worn parts are replaced as needed, a light cleaning is done and all nuts and bolts are checked for safety.
We also offer what we call a "Performance Tune" for $90. It's something I took back with me from my days working on the road with the pros that involves degreasing the entire drive train including crankset, sprockets, chain and derailleurs. In addition, the entire bike is washed so you get it back looking and working it's very best. This is the same service the pro's get because the sponsors want the bikes to look their best at the start line and the riders demand the bike work their best during the race. Then I take it a step further and the rear derailleur jockey pulleys are ultra-sonically cleaned in a special solution with 46,000 exploding microscopic bubbles per second. To my knowledge, Southwest Bicycle is the only store to offer this service. No one else will do it. So instead of a black, greasy chain and sprockets that you try not to touch or get on anything, you will have a transmission literally clean enough to eat off of. When your transmission is clean, it will last longer and work smoother.
Replacement parts are additional and typically include chain, shift and brake wires and brake pads. To finish it off you might want fresh bar tape or grips. They go a long way to make the bike look and feel like new. Just need a brake adjustment? We can do as much or as little as you need.
"Is my chain okay?"
Probably not. Most people think the number one replacement part on a bike is tires or brake pads. They're not. It's the chain. Keeping a fresh chain on a clean transmission is the best way to ensure smooth, reliable shifting and longer lasting sprockets. Generally speaking, the more speeds your bike has the more frequently the chain needs changed. For instance, A chain made to run on a 10 speed cluster is narrower than a 7 speed chain so the load bearing surfaces are smaller and wear faster. Chains and sprockets wear together. If you run a chain too many miles, chances are that when you replace it the gears will "jump" because it no longer meshes smoothly on the worn cogs and you will need a new gear cluster as well. Even if the chain does not skip, running it on worn cogs will accelerate the wear so a new chain will last only a fraction of time it should. Change the chain more often and the sprockets will wear much longer. For more on chains, look here.