Had a parent today who refused a proper brake job on their kid's bike.

Their kid's bike had brakes that were totally shot. The parent just wanted me to tighten them up, but that won't make it safe. Where do you draw the line on cheap fixes?

3 comments

3 Comments

rileym962mo ago

Man, that drives me nuts! Seen it a bunch of times myself. Had a guy last month who insisted on a cable tighten instead of new pads, even though the rotors were toast. It's not worth the risk, you know? Gotta stand your ground on safety stuff, for kids it's super important. Cheap fixes can lead to real bad news.

nora_park2mo ago

I get what Riley says about standing your ground, but sometimes a simple cable tighten is all that's really needed. Not every worn part is a total emergency. It feels like there's a lot of fear mongering around kid's bikes now. If the brake still stops the wheel, maybe it's okay for a little while longer while the parent saves up. We can't expect everyone to pay for top repairs all the time.

dianaanderson2mo ago

Last spring, my buddy Carl let his kid ride with worn brake pads just to save cash. The kid tried to stop on a hill and slid right into a parked car, bent the front wheel. Carl ended up paying for a new bike and doctor visit, which cost way more than new brakes would have. Makes you wonder why people skip the safe fix, right?