Walked into a shop in Portland with 40 year old Campagnolo tools still on the bench

The old timer there told me he hasn't touched a Shimano part in 15 years and refuses to learn modern hydraulic brakes. Has anyone else run into shops that just refuse to adapt or am I the only one who thinks that's nuts?

2 comments

2 Comments

nathan_foster602d ago

I had a similar situation up here in Bellingham where this old mechanic told me he'd been rebuilding his own hubs since the 80s and wouldn't trust any factory sealed bearing. He was dead set on loose ball bearings and cup and cone stuff. I finally got him to try a set of DT Swiss wheels just by letting him spin them on the truing stand and he admitted the smoothness was close to his hand built ones. He still won't touch disc brakes but he at least respects that some of the new stuff works. The key for me was just showing him one thing that worked better than his way instead of arguing about everything at once.

danielmartinez2d ago

Had the exact same thing happen with my neighbor who's been building wheels since before I was born. He swore by his Phil Wood cup and cone stuff and thought sealed bearings were garbage. I finally got him to try one of those cheap spin tests on a new set of Industry Nine hubs I had lying around and he couldn't believe how quiet they were. After that he let me put a set of hydraulic disc brakes on his old hardtail just for the front wheel. Now he still rebuilds his own hubs for his vintage bikes but he admits the new stuff has its place for sure. Little wins matter more than trying to change everything at once.