The Shop Index · The Ledger
The repair & service price ledger
How to read this ledger Bands, not quotes. Compiled October 2026 from the published service menus of independent US bicycle shops: coastal metros (New York, the Bay Area, Seattle) price at the top of each band, the Midwest and South in the middle, small-town shops at the bottom. Parts are extra unless the line says otherwise — at every honest shop, not just the expensive ones.
The tune-up tiers
| Service | Fair band (US) | What the price includes | Desk note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Safety / check-over tune | $45–$85 | Bolt & torque check, brake and shift adjust, lube, tyre pressure, test ride | The honest entry tier — enough for a bike that already runs well |
| Standard tune | $75–$160 | Safety tune plus minor wheel true, hub/headset/bottom-bracket adjustment, drivetrain clean | The tier most riders actually need, once or twice a year |
| Advanced / pro tune | $150–$240 | Standard plus cables & housing, brake pads, deep drivetrain strip and clean | Ask for the parts list in writing before approving |
| Full overhaul | $200–$350 | Strip to frame, bearings serviced or replaced, everything rebuilt and torqued | For high-mileage or neglected bikes; parts are extra — always |
Single jobs
| Service | Fair band (US) | What the price includes | Desk note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flat repair (labour) | $15–$30 | Tube swap, rim & tyre inspection, cause found and removed | Tube itself $8–$18; tubeless sealant top-up extra |
| Gear / shifting adjustment | $15–$35 | Limit screws, indexing, hanger check | A bent hanger is the hidden cause in most 'mystery' shifting |
| Brake pad replacement (labour) | $20–$40 | Pads fitted, bedded-in guidance, rotor check | Pads $15–$45 a pair depending on compound |
| Hydraulic bleed | $30–$60 per brake | Full bleed with the correct fluid standard for your brakes | DOT vs mineral oil is not interchangeable — ever |
| Wheel true | $20–$45 per wheel | Lateral/radial true, tension balance | Spoke replacement $2–$5 per spoke plus labour |
| Chain fitting (labour) | $10–$25 | Measured, sized, fitted; wear check on cassette | Chain itself $20–$60; a worn cassette eats a new chain fast |
| Tubeless setup | $25–$50 per wheel | Tape, valve, sealant, seated and checked | Sealant refresh $10–$20 — every 2–6 months depending on climate |
Fitting & e-bike
| Service | Fair band (US) | What the price includes | Desk note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic fit | $75–$150 | Saddle height/setback, cleat position, cockpit check, 45–60 min | Right for a first road position or a new bike setup |
| Comprehensive fit | $200–$400 | 90 min–3 hrs, video or motion analysis, written report, follow-up window | The tier for pain, numbness, or serious mileage |
| E-bike diagnostic | $60–$120 | System scan, error-log read, firmware check, written finding | Ask whether the fee is credited toward the repair |
| E-bike tune | $100–$200 | Standard tune plus torque-sensor, firmware and connection checks | Motor-internal work is brand-channel work, not bench work |
| Suspension fork service | $60–$120 | Lowers service, seals & oil (50-hr) or full rebuild (200-hr) | Sent-out work adds 1–2 weeks — ask who does it |
| Kids' tune | $40–$85 | Safety check, brake reach set for small hands, bearing check | Should include a sizing check — kids outgrow, parts rarely wear out |
Why two quotes for the same job can both be honest
Scope is the whole game
A “tune” at one shop is adjustments; at another it is adjustments, a wheel true, a drivetrain strip and new cables. Neither is lying — but only one wrote it down. Compare line items, never totals, and distrust any quote given without the bike being looked at.
Parts are a second ledger
Labour bands above are stable across the country; parts are not negotiable in the same way. A shop that marks parts up modestly and says so is treating you fairly. A shop that hides a worn cassette inside a “tune” total until pickup is not.
The $40 rule
Agree a call threshold before work starts — “call me before any part over $40” is the sentence that prevents nearly every pickup-counter argument in this trade. Reputable shops suggest it themselves.
Method: bands reflect the middle range of published menu prices found across independent shops in all six Index regions, checked October 2026. They are guidance for judging a quote, not a promise that any shop will match them. Full method on the about page.