Our 33 Step Service

Every bike we receive goes through the 33 Steps. Whether it's a classic three-speed, a family runaround, a carbon road bike or the latest e-bike, this is what we'll do to your bike...

Stage 1 – The Assessment:

Put bike in stand.
Check frame and forks for damage and alignment – whether steel, aluminium, titanium or carbon.
Check tyres for wear, cracks and any signs of perishing. If sound and not clearly punctured, fully inflate; on tubeless setups we check the sealant and valves too.
Give it a whirl (where possible). Lubricate all points, assess any major wear and damaged or seized components or accessories.
Remove any broken/superfluous components, parts or accessories.
Spin wheels. Check trueness and for any broken/damaged spokes. Assess condition of rims, check hubs for smooth running and the axle – quick-release or thru-axle.
Check headset and bottom bracket for play and smooth running.
Operate the gears and brakes and assess their condition – cable, hydraulic or electronic.
On e-bikes: check the battery, contacts and charging, and run the manufacturer's diagnostics where supported.
Assess the condition of any other elements of the bike, plus any specific requests.

Following the assessment we'll contact you with a breakdown of the required parts, an estimate of costs and any recommendations or other observations. This is usually by WhatsApp or email, though sometimes by phone.
Once we have your go-ahead and approval of the estimate then we'll get cracking with...

Stage 2 – The Strip:

Remove chain – or belt (if necessary).
Remove any damaged/worn/seized cables, hoses and brake pads.
Remove wheels.
Remove any other worn / damaged / to-be-replaced components.
Remove any worn / damaged / to-be-replaced contact points – saddle, pedals, grips, handlebar tape etc.

Stage 3 – The Clean:

Once we know that nothing else is coming off the bike, we clean the frame, components and wheels. This is essential for the smooth running of your bike. We always clean by hand, using a Rozone parts washer, biodegradable citrus degreaser and no water. We will also remove any rust spots, paint marks and scratches where possible.

Stage 4 – The Rebuild:

Replace tubes, tyres and/or wheels (as necessary) – tubeless refreshed with new sealant where fitted.
Adjust/overhaul hubs, replace axles/skewers and any broken/damaged spokes (as necessary).
True wheels.
Adjust/overhaul/replace headset and/or bottom bracket (as necessary) – threaded or press-fit.
Fit any new major components.
Refit any removed components, torqued to specification – particularly important with carbon parts.
Fit any new cables, hoses or brake pads. Bleed hydraulic brakes (as necessary).
Refit wheels. On disc brakes, check rotors are true and calipers aligned.
Refit/replace chain – measured for wear precisely, not by eye.
Replace pedals, saddle, grips, handlebar tape (as necessary/requested).
Check/secure/replace any extra fittings, racks, mudguards etc.
Fit any requested lights/accessories/extras.
Anything else required.

Stage 5 – The Tune:

Check/reposition/secure handlebars, stem, headset, seat post and saddle – dropper posts included.
Check/adjust/tune operation of gears – setting the range, alignment and position of the derailleurs, straightening the derailleur hanger if necessary. Electronic shifting is charged, updated and fine-tuned.
Check/adjust/tune brakes – on rim brakes, repositioning and 'toeing in' the pads to reduce/eradicate squeal; on discs, centring the calipers and bedding in new pads.
Road test – e-bikes tested under power.
Further work as required if apparent following the road test.

Depending on the type and condition of the bike, this process will take from an hour and a half up to several hours. When it's done, your bike will purr.

Notes:

This is a generalisation – every job is different and we're not working on a conveyor belt here. We adapt to your requirements and budget.
Please don't read this and think "that must take forever/cost a fortune." Lots of points are marked 'as necessary' for a reason. We do this a lot, and we have got very efficient at it.
Whatever you ride, the 33 Steps flex to fit it. Internal hub gears, belt drives, suspension, dropper posts, electronic gears, e-bikes of every brand, wheel building, resprays – after 23 years there's not much we haven't seen, and we do it all.
For any purists out there wanting to pick this to pieces, we are well aware that some jobs would necessitate a different order.

Ready to book in your bike? Book your collection and free estimate here.