A commitment to individual service .....

A commitment to individual service with out the cookie cutter industry standard , that is my commitment to a client. I will no longer use the term customer as that is too broad of a statement that implies the fore mentioned cookie cutter service. I will only recommend what I believe is the best for the customer after discerning from them their needs.

When add a new client with a preexisting bicycle, I will take that bike back down to bare bones and begin anew with that frame and components. I will ensure that the frame is precisely aligned and properly chased and faced. I will clean , inspect and recommend replacements / service needed. When finished the bicycle will be assembled into a precision tool for cycling.

When I build a client a wheel or set of wheels they will be individual to that customer alone. The wheel will have specific spoke choice, tension and rim for that customer alone. most wheel builders will tell you that rim and spoke have just one tension to be at this is false on so many levels as riders have differing needs and weights that effect the tension of a wheels. All hand built wheels have a range of tensions to be at most wheel builders only tension at the upper end of the scale, again this is wrong and does the client no use. A wheel has to work in conjunction with frame and rider to produce the desired results. If a wheel has to high a tension for a light weight rider who is doing no more than touring or fitness riding on an overly stiff frame that rider in most cases is not enjoying their rides due to the harness of all things combined.

Lets talk about hype over experience

First thing you need to know anyone who calls themselves a technician is not someone who has a vast and deep experience level in bicycle mechanics. Those that call themselves a mechanic generally have dept of experience. Internet sales is a difficult proposition selling wheels and pro bikes even more so you need someone with a lot of experience not hype. Both sales take a person that can ask and get answers out of a customer to get them headed in the right direction. These sales also demand that a buyer be proficient and know their fit and needs well. Blog only sellers with no depth of experience are risky especially ones that relight on this as their only sales. A good to great wheel builder will have thousands of wheel under their belt before striking out on their own not someone who only has hundreds and most by internet sales alone. As an example before I sell a hand built wheel I will as at least two dozen questions even if this is a face to face meeting, more so if not. If you are buying a bike by internet all built you need to know your fit (IE contact points down to the 0.5mm). A tec. that solely depend on internet sales may be all flash in the pan and not have the best tools and or knowledge. There reputation may solely depend on coordination of parts and accessories to the frame. ( IE fashion over function) Dose this tec. measure and inspect the frame for quality and alignment, do they face and chase with top quality tools or do they just buy the cheapest they can afford on a shoe string budget since a blog is free anyways. mechanics will invest in the very best they can obtain and afford even if they have to wait a bit to gather the money to do so. Tools and technique matter in this industry fail them and things can go bad easily. A mechanic will pick a tool that will last decades under use and fit their own ergonomics, they will not choose to buy the cheapest.

I am the real deal ...

I pull no punches when it comes to parts, builds and maintenance. I have no brand loyalties or underwriters if parts work they get recommended/ used. My dogma is build it right or do not bother.

It is time for yearly maintenance time to strip the bike down to the bare frame leaving only the head set in the frame. ( unless it needs replacing) This is the time to replace all the cables& housing, bar tape, bearings and any fasteners that have corrosion. Time to inspect all parts thoroughly after cleaning/ de-greasing.

Big tips use the best bearings you can afford, use standard or stainless fasteners it is not worth risking failures with AL or TI bot are inferior fasteners for differing reasons the weight you save is minimal in comparison to safety. ( some pros do use them but they are switched out quite frequently)

My suggestions do not spend a lot on bar tape or chains as you will be changing them frequently. Chains should be changed every 1-1.5k bar tape every 3k as the cables and house will be changed at that time too. Shift cables every 1k to keep the shifting performance up to peak.

CX amd MTB racers I can not strongly enough suggest that no CF seat posts be used . This is a component that takes a lot of stress and has a high failure rate in these disciplines. Use an high quality alloy post it may just save you from a DNF or injury one day.