How tricky is it to fit new road bike wheels?

[a_nic_an]

This is one of those questions balancing cost against quality of workmanship.

My LBS has recommended that I start thinking of new wheels on my road bike, it has been going strong for 5 years and is used regularly so I'm pleased with the wheels thus far.

They recommended some Shimano R500 wheels at £150, not including labour. I am keen to go for these but am concerned that the same wheels can be purchased for £85 on tinternet.

Money is tight so this seems like an attractive option.
To be fair to the LBS I feel that I should discuss it with them but to prepare myself for the chat I need to know a few things:

If I bought them online then I would have to fit them myself, is this a difficult job that I am likely to make a mess of or is it relatively simple?
Are the LBS trying to squeeze money or are they charging a normal sort of price?

Thanks for any tips.

 

[Herzog]

As long as it's not a vintage frame with odd OLD (i.e., 126mm), the new wheels should be a straight swap. The tricky part for you may be to change the cassette over (or put a new one one). These are not difficult jobs with the right tools and they would be good lear how to do!

It's an easy job and well worth doing yourself (with the help of youtube and us!).

 

[Somewhere]

So the rrp is around £130 for them and they are charging you another 20 to fit them. Try asking them for a discount? Remember they will have much bigger overheads than Wiggle, CRC etc.

TBH if you can't do it yourself then why should you expect someone else to do it on the cheap? Sounds a bit harsh but they are in it to make money in the same way that you do your job.

 

[Berties]

Some shops charge £8 to change a tyre and tube ,to be honest as is already said it's the cassette change tyre and tube,skewer out and in,and a gear tweak,job done saying that my lbs does it for me as part of its sale,every thing is negotiable as part of their service

 

[slowmotion]

It's not difficult to do it yourself. To change over the cassette you will need a chain whip and a cassette lock ring tool which you can probably borrow. Even if you have to buy them, they needn't cost more than about £8. It's fun to learn how to maintain your bike.

 

[youngoldbloke]

Not even £85 at http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/sp/tr...andard-spoke-clincher-wheels-pair/shimwhfr202

 

[Banjo]

Changing the Cassette takes about 5 mins.If you post where you live maybe some kind cycle chatter can pop over and show you how.

If the cassette is original its probably time for a new cassette and chain anyway.

 

[LarryDuff]

I changed the wheels on my bike to the R500 and it was fairly easy even with changing the cassette over and I'm a bit of a technical idiot.

Youtube is great to show you how as was the toolkit I bought cheap in Lidl.

 

[HLaB]

Ive changed wheels a few times, there not much to it if you've got tyre lever, lock ring tool/ Adjustable spanner and chain whip to hand.

 

[TheJDog]

The hardest part is fitting the tyres. If you think you can do that, you can do the rest.

 

[cyberknight]

It's not difficult to do it yourself. To change over the cassette you will need a chain whip and a cassette lock ring tool which you can probably borrow. Even if you have to buy them, they needn't cost more than about £8. It's fun to learn how to maintain your bike.

Not even £85 at http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/sp/tr...andard-spoke-clincher-wheels-pair/shimwhfr202

I have those wheels from ribble, as said once you change the cassette over from the old wheel the hardest part is changing the tyres and tubes over, you might have to tweak the barrel adjuster on the mech a smidge but it should run fine without any adjustment.
The LBS does have to make a profit and cover the cost of wages. rent etc so its up to you whether you want to support them or save money .
Have you got a spoke key ? as the wheels bed i you might need to tweak the spoke tension to keep them running true.

 

[Thomk]

So the rrp is around £130 for them and they are charging you another 20 to fit them. Try asking them for a discount? Remember they will have much bigger overheads than Wiggle, CRC etc.

TBH if you can't do it yourself then why should you expect someone else to do it on the cheap? Sounds a bit harsh but they are in it to make money in the same way that you do your job.

I think he said "not including labour".

 

[youngoldbloke]

£150 PLUS labour, or around £65 DIY (+ tools which you can then use when you next need to change the cassette, and so on) Sorry LBS, but it's a no-brainer for me

 

[a_nic_an]

I have ordered the wheels and a chain whip (sounds like something from an erotic thriller movie), now I just need a locking tool, these seem to be readily available but is there anything that I need to look for? Would any locking tool fit any wheel? These are the wheels
http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/showPart.asp?part=SHIMWHFR202&bike=
Would this do?
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/cyclo-pro-series-cassette-lockring-remover/rp-prod7975

Clearly im going to go for it myself, in previous years I have relied on the shop for absolutely everything but I'm due to become a dad in 2 weeks today and need to look after the pennies in order to buy a trailer for the little one (not just yet of course) and as one or two of you have said, it is good to look after ones own bike, so time to get mucky.

Thanks for the help, I'll undoubtedly be back when they arrive!

 

[MikeW-71]

If the bike has Shimano or SRAM gearing, buy the Shimano lockring tool. It would not fit Campagnolo though.