- Service Introduction
- Tune-Ups
- Reconditioning
- Facing
- Frame Painting
- Wheel Building
- Dropout Replacement
- Chain Control Device
Service is the back bone of the bicycle industry. Even though the sale of the bicycle is an important part of the economics of every typical American bicycle shop, it is the service of what they sell that keeps them in business.
Tail Wind Bicycle Shoppe was created in 1981 out of a need that I saw in Madison Wisconsin for a service shop. Not just your run of the mill service but top notch tune-ups and reconditioning of bicycles. At the time, it was clamed that in Dane County there was over 600,000 bicycles, more steeds per person than anywhere in USA.
If you visited Italy, you would find that the bicycle shops were more specialty shops, one doing wheel building, another known for frame building and so on.
So why was there not a shop that was more like a "Tune-Up Clinic" in Madison? Thus was born "Tail Wind Bicycle Shoppe".
Working like a doctors office, I see my patients one at a time by appointment. This way I can keep my overhead down and quality of service up.
Today, I am still offering that quality of service to the people of NE Wisconsin. If you live in the Antigo area and need any of the services offered, drop a line.
Desperado Cycles was born out of Tail Wind Shoppe. I offer a full service shop to all of my clients.
Jalon Hawk
Bicycle tune-ups are the heart of any American bicycle shop. Even though many people are capable of servicing their own bicycles, they may want to have a Professional work on their rides.
Tune-ups consist of:
Disassembly of the braking and drive train components which include the parts to be cleaned and lubricated. Cables and housing replaced. Chainrings removed from crankset, cleaned and reassembled.
Wheels trued. Spokes replaced if necessary at $1.00 each.
Tires inspected with recommendations if needed.
Additional servicing if needed:
Bearings overhauled @ $25/bearing.
Handlebar tape replaced.
The Reconditioning includes everything that the Tune-up does, but is a complete service to the bicycle by including the bearing sets.
There are 6 bearing sets:
Wheels (2)
Bottom Bracket
Headset
Pedals (2)
Full Reconditioning: $175.00
At this time it may be advisable to have your fork inspected for proper alignment. This is an area that determines how well the bicycle steers. Having the proper tools for this is already available due to my affiliation with being a frame builder.
Additional cost: $15.00
One of the great dismays of some riders is how they burn out bottom bracket or headset bearings rapidly.
This is more than likely to be the culprit of the facing of the headtube or bottom bracket because of improper alignment.
The Bottom Bracket gets reamed and then faced. Cutting the treads is important to being able to properly tighten the cups, while facing allows the cups to be parallel to one another.
The headtube may not have threads that need chasing, however the headtube may need the inside of the tube reamed while the face is chased for the same reasons of the bottom bracket.
Each of these services require approximately the same amount of time involved.
Price for overhauling the bearings; facing and reaming the surfaces is going to be:
$50.00
Lets face it, the bicycle is a functional piece of artwork.
To some like myself, this piece of artwork holds a place in my living room as well as many other places in my home.
Imron paint had long been the standard for American bicycles to be painted with for a good reasons. Not only does the finish have that forever "wet" look, it can stand up to the test of time. Originally used as a fleet color for simi-trucks, this durable finish had to stand up against the elements 24/7 365.
Underneath I use VariPrime Phosphoric acid base primer for neutralizing oxidation. It also provides a protector of the metal a harder surface than that of the Imron. For imperfections in the metalwork I use a filler primer.
Decals can be custom made using my Canon Pro9000 printer on water slide decal paper.
Price for painting a frame is $255. To add the fork is an additional $40.
Lug work can be masked and painted another color for an additional $200.
At this time I can install braze-ons such as cable guides, water bottle mounts etc.
For a better look at examples go to the Photo Gallery link provided below.
I dedicated a page on wheel building:
Labor charges: $47.50 per wheel for build. Parts extra
With so many variables between rims; hubs and spokes just drop a line for a price quote.
With the advent of the single speed coming back there has been a great deal of request to change dropouts over. One must take into consideration that the geomerty may change with a streight forward change over. Extentions on the stays can be done to help prevent any undesired effects however the cost for conversion will continue to climb.
Not only is there to be a dramitic change in the affected areas, painting must be a consideration. Just primer and a quick coat can be done by the client, however if I am to do this then I will recomend a complete paint job.
Of corse, it is your choice.
Labor for just the removal and replacement of dropouts: $250
Paul's Dropouts: $61.54
Henry James Single Speed Dropouts: $30
Henry James investment cast: $45
If you desire any other such as Ritchey, please inquire!
Way back in the late 80's I was selling Klein’s and had it out with Gary. I was explaining this concern and he indicated that the problem was not with the frame. I called him ignorant and he explained it was not his problem. Two weeks later one of his engineers called and asked more on what I thought might help rectify this situation. I said we should bolt on a plate to prevent the chain from going past the chain stay.
Hence the anti-chain-suck-thing.
This is my version and is a perfect working system. This plate has been on this frame for 2 years. See any marks from chan suck on the stays? Simple water bottle mounts installed into the chain stay allows a plate to be firmly mounted preventing any damage to your precious frame. Cheep too! Just $30 to install the mounts and if you want me to custom file a plate then adds another $25.
