Bicycle Servicing and Repairs

Our Workshop

Glow Worm Bicycles has a fully equipped mechanical workshop and carries out servicing and repairs for all types of bikes, electric and otherwise. Abraham and Lisa (Lisa now back in Denmark) are both graduates of the United Bicycle Institute's advanced mechanical courses. Below is a list of prices for typical repairs. Scroll further down the page for tips on basic bicycle care you can do at home.

Basic Service $75

The basic service is recommended about 2-3 months after purchasing a new bike, and 1-3 times a year after that depending how you're using your bike. It will have the bike running safely and smoothly, with the brakes and gears working at their best as well as increasing the longevity of the bike and wheels.

The basic service includes the following:

- Safety check

- Straighten derailleur hanger and tune gears

- Adjust/tighten brakes

- True wheels on truing stand

- Wipe down and Lubricate chain

- Check tightness of all bolts and screws

- Wipe down bike

- Pump tyres to correct pressure

- That little something that you can't get at home

The service price does not include the cost of any parts needed, or the labour for installing them. For example if a bicycle needs a new gear cable, the price will be $75 + the price of the cable ($8) = $83. If however a whole gear shifter needs replacing the price will be $75 + the price of the gear shifter (say $25) + labour for installing the gear shifter ($10) = $110. A bike that has not been serviced for a long time and may need replacement parts is a candidate for the Full Service (see below).

Full Service $125

The full service is for bikes that haven't been serviced for a long time, or have loose axles, parts on their way out, or just in need of some extra care and attention. Generally one can expect a 2nd hand bike not purchased at a bike shop to be a candidate for the Full Service. Those who have their bikes serviced regularly might expect to need the Full Service about once a year depending on usage. This service includes the labour for installation of any accessories at no extra cost such as pannier racks, lights, mirrors etc.

The Full Service covers:

- The Basic Service (see above) plus:

- Repacking wheel hubs

- Degrease and lubrication of entire drivetrain

- Regrease bottom bracket if needed

- Installation of accessories

Glow Worm Ultimate Service $200

Once in a while a high-quality bike deserves a very thorough service to keep it long-lasting and bring it to near-new smoothness and functionality. The Ultimate Service includes:

- The Basic Service (see above) plus:

- A complete strip-down and re-grease of axles and drivetrain (hubs, bottom bracket, headset, drivetrain components)

- Lubricate all moving parts

- Thorough cleaning of frame

- Any parts and accessories fitted for free

Specific repairs

Puncture repair $20 including cost of standard tube

True and dish wheel $25

Replace spoke and true wheel $35

Tune gears $25

Tighten/adjust rim brakes $12.50 each

Tighten/adjust disc brakes $20 each

Bleed hydraulic brakes $25 each

Repack/grease headset $20

Repack/grease bottom bracket/wheel axle $30

Bottom bracket replacement $20

Wheel axle adjust $15

Wheel axle replace $30

Pack bike in freight box $45

Wheel build labour $55

Tyre fitting, wheel replacement $10 each

Fit pannier rack/front basket $15

Fit baby seat $25

Fit mudguards $25

Assemble and service bicycle from box (eg bought online) $100 (Kids' bike $50)

Approximate Prices of common parts

Rim Brake pads $12/pair

Disc brake pads $20-40/pair

Brake/gear cable or housing $8

Innertube $8

Rim tape $4 each

Stainless steel spoke $1.50

Chain: Single speed/7spd $13 8spd $20 9spd $39 10spd $75

Poor quality bicycles

We don't enjoy telling people that their bicycle is not worth servicing, but we also don't enjoy servicing very poor quality bikes. They take much longer to service, with unsatisfactory results. This puts both us and the customer in a bad mood. Unfortunately we have to have a policy on bikes below a certain quality level.

Quality is of course subjective but generally bicycles bought from supermarkets or new bikes bought for a steal online fall into our category of "poor quality bicycles". Please do not be offended by our policy, we understand that people often buy these bikes with the best intentions but that doesn't change the reality of bolts stripping when you try to turn them. You can read more about substandard bicycles and how to avoid them on our post about buying used bicycles.

Our policy for these bikes is that we only carry out the following repairs:

- Replace innertubes, tyres and wheels

- Replace chain

- Tighten headset

In the case of "Industrie track bikes" bikes we can not carry out any repairs, not even pumping up tyres (the tyre falls off the wheel when you try).

Basic bicycle care

Here is a list of bicycle care procedures anyone can do at home, designed to be as simple and straight to the point as possible. These procedures are in addition to periodical servicing by a bicycle mechanic.

1) Keep tyres at correct pressure. Do this weekly, or if you're fanatical and have high pressure tyres, daily

- A floor pump with a pressure gauge is much easier for this than a handpump. (Hand-held pumps are better suited to carrying with you when cycling for emergencies or long rides.) Make sure your pump can be used with the type of valve you have on your tube. Most new pumps can be used on both of the main types: the Schrader (also called the American valve, used also on car tyres) and the Presta (Also called French valve, high-pressure valve or skinny valve).

- Remove the plastic valve cap. The Presta valve needs to have the metal tip unscrewed to pump. Keep the flap on the pump head down and push head down over the valve, then lift flap to lock the head onto the valve. Then pump away. For a Presta valve, screw the tip back in all the way after pumping.

- Your tyres will typically have a minimum and maximum recommended pressure written on the sidewall. Generally pump toward the higher end of this range.

* Benefits of keeping tyres pumped *

- A much faster ride. Every bit of pressure reduces rolling resistance

- Reduces incidence of punctures

- Reduces wear and damage to rim, tube and tyre

2) Keep chain lubricated. Do this at least 1-2 times monthly, or more often if you have been riding on wet days or using a light lubricant.

- Do not use WD40 as a lubricant. a degreaser can be used to clean the chain when it is filthy, but a lubricant should still be used afterward.

- The easiest thing to do is get an all-rounder lube from a bicycle store. Apply lube to the chain while rotating the pedals backwards with one hand until the entire chain has been lubed. Try to get every link, but don't overdo it. Run the bike through all the gears, front and back. Wait 5 minutes then hold a rag around the chain with one hand applying light pressure, and rotate the pedals with the other hand. This is to wipe away excess oil which will only attract dust and dirt.

* Benefits of keeping chain lubricated

- Drastically reduces wear on chain, sprockets and derailleur

- Makes for a smoother, faster, quieter ride

3) Tighten brakes

- Most braking systems come with 'barrel adjusters' located where the cable enters the brake lever. These are designed for quick and easy adjustment of the brakes as cables stretch and brake pads wear down. If your brakes feel a little loose, you can unscrew the barrel adjuster by turning it anti-clockwise with your fingers. Unscrewing it too much will result in the brake pads rubbing against your wheel, and also be careful not to unscrew the adjuster all the way out. Secure the position of the adjuster by screwing in the locking nut clockwise all the way. If the adjusters have reached their limit and the brakes are still not tight, it's time for a brake service at your local bike shop.

4) Storage and inspection

- Check out this link, some wise words about what has been covered here, as well as some pointers on storage and inspection of bikes.