Tacoma Bike offers a full range of services from expert bike fitting to wheel building to basic services and complete custom builds.
The service department is manned by master technicians Rick and Seth. They build all the bikes in store including the custom builds. Together they can service just about anything you can throw at them. If they can’t they’ll give you the best options to make your ride workable and improved.
To inquire about products, rates and to book your bike in please call the store on 253 272 1351
Click on the links below for more information on some essential services.
Tune Up * Drivetrain Clean * Overhaul * Fender Install * Tubular Tire Install * Tire/Tube Install * Caffe Latex Injection * Hub Overhaul
Tune Up- All bearings (headset, bottom bracket, & both hubs) are checked and adjusted. Wheels are trued, tires inspected and inflated to correct pressure. Bike is wiped down and inspected for damage. The chain is wiped down with degreaser and both derailleurs are set for limits and proper function. Brakes are checked and adjusted as necessary. All bolts on the bike are checked for proper adjustment. Bike is test ridden and final clean & lubrication is applied. Back to top
Drivetrain Clean- Front & rear derailleurs, chain & crankset are removed from the bike and soaked in the parts washer to remove all grease and grime. Bottom bracket cups are cleaned and checked for proper torque. Once all drivetrain components are cleaned, they are re-installed, adjusted properly and lubricated. Back to top
Overhaul- The bike is stripped to bare frame and fork, with all applicable components going into the parts washer. Typically all cables and housings are replaced along with handlebar tape & brake pads. All bearings are either replaced or cleaned thoroughly. Frame is cleaned and inspected for any damage or wear. Components are fully cleaned and lubed before re-installation. Once all parts and frameset are cleaned, the bike is re-assembled, adjusted & test ridden. New cables & housings are stressed and all adjustments are re-checked. Back to top
Fender Install-Many bikes have eyelets and braze ons which make fender installation quite straightforward. Fenders are mounted with adequate clearance between tire & fender to allow full coverage without tire rub. This type of installation is a standard cost of $20.00. Some bikes, especially road bikes may not easily accommodate fenders, so custom fitting is required. Special brake fixing bolts are used, fenders are cut to allow clearance and custom fabricated bridges are made to allow full coverage without the tire rubbing on the fender, especially under the brakes, where clearance is minimal. This type of installation is the custom option, which runs $40.00 plus additional hardware. Both fender installations can have “buddy flaps” or extensions installed to maximize coverage and minimize spray onto feet and riders behind. Back to top
Tubular Tire Install-Standard tubular tire installation follows a tried and tested traditional method of applying 2 to 3 layers of glue to the rim with curing time in between each application. Prior to gluing, the rim is prepped, either by sanding the new rim bed for better glue adhesion, or cleaning the old glue from the rim to allow proper installation. Once the final glue layer is applied to the rim, the tire’s rim tape is also prepped and glued. Once both surfaces are tacky, the tire is mounted on the rim and inflated to approximately 80-90 psi and the tire is aligned and then fully inflated to maximize glue penetration & roundness & trueness of the tire. After approximately 30 minutes, any excess glue is cleaned from the edge of the wheel where the tire & rim meet, resulting in a cosmetically clean job & maximum adhesion. 24 hours is required before the tires are to be ridden to allow the glue to cure properly.
Triathletes often request that a portion of the tire remains unglued to allow quicker tire removal when in a race situation. This can be accommodated with the understanding that the tire may not adhere to the rim under extreme conditions of cornering. Tufo tubular tape can be used instead of glue, with the understanding that the tire’s adhesion to the rim is compromized but the ability to change tires quickly is maximized. Back to top
Tire/Tube Installation-Old tire & tube are removed from the wheel and both rim and tire are inspected for possible cause of the flat. Tube is inflated to determine site and cause of the puncture. Inspection of the rim includes checking for rim damage from road hazards such as potholes and excess wear & proper coverage of spoke holes/heads. Tire is inspected for cuts, casing failure and tread wear. Any cuts found are inspected for remaining foreign objects such as glass or sharp stones. Tires are evaluated for continued use or replacement. Once everything has been inspected, a new tube is installed with the tire’s label at the valve to facilitate future flat inspection and cause determination. Often talc is used to minimize potential of tube pinching and allow the tube to move freely in the tire casing. Once installed, the tire is fully inflated to ensure proper installation, with no high or low spots and proper bead seating. Back to top
Caffe Latex Injection-Caffe Latex is a new flat prevention liquid latex that is injected into the tubular or clincher tire. Under rotation, the latex foams and if punctured, will seal small holes without appreciable loss in pressure. If there is pressure loss, re-inflation must be done without the use of CO2 cartridges, since the CO2 reacts with the latex to harden it. Back to top
Hub Overhaul-The hub is completely disassembled and appropriate parts such as axle & cones are run through the parts washer to completely clean them of old contaminated grease & dirt. With open bearing hubs, all bearings are replaced and the cups and cones are inspected for wear or pitting. If cups and/or cones are worn, they will be replaced if possible. New grease is packed into the races and new bearings installed. The hub is re-assembled and adjusted properly. The hub is then spun for a period to ensure the adjustment is correct & any excess grease is cleaned from the exterior. In cartridge bearing hubs, the old worn bearings are pulled and new cartridges are installed. Axle and cones are cleaned and inspected before re-installation. Once reassembled, adjustment is double checked to ensure that the bearing is neither loose or pre-loaded or binding. Back to top
To inquire about products, rates and to book your bike in please call the store on 253 272 1351
