There was once a zany bit on Monty Python where everyone dressed like Superman, doing mundane, everyday things, but this one guy had a secret superhero identity: Bicycle Repairman! That would be Enoch. \t\n\t\nI went to Enoch's for years when the shop was on 52nd and 10th. This shop has always amazed me. They'd do things in 20 minutes that Toga would need days for. Enoch would reluctantly charge for his work and you'd be shaking your head in disbelief that the price could be this low and the service so good. I thought it was gone forever. Thankfully, he's relocated to 37th and 10th, actually two blocks from my office. \t\n\t\nThe other week he gave me a tune-up. He had to replace a spoke or two, and apologetically charged me $40. Apologetically! He told me that my "dropout" (derailleur hanger) was the wrong one, and he'd be happy to replace it for me if I could find it online. (My bike is a Schwinn, and he just doesn't deal often with Schwinns or carry their stock or catalog, etc.) Now let me tell you, the reason it was the wrong one was because some years ago, his former employee did me a solid -- the thing had broken, and I traipsed all over town trying to find one, to no avail -- he fashioned one for me from an old dropout. I forgot all about it -- it was that good a job. So here we are in 2010, and now, armed with Google, I find the part and order it, and bring it in to Enoch. Enoch's mechanic, using some elbow grease, removed the make-shift dropout. and commenced to replace it with the part I brought in. Unfortunately, despite my best efforts, it t was simply not the correct dropout. Even more unfortunate, the one he took off was now fatigued metal, and could not safely be used again. What to do? He told me to leave the bike there, and he'd talk to Enoch about possibly making another makeshift dropout to give me some time to hopefully find the correct one. I called back a few hours later and Enoch told me he made a new dropout for me. He said "Eh, fifteen bucks -- I can't really charge much for this. The bike rides, but you should really get the right part." I walk in 10 minutes later. Enoch said, "What a fiasco! I had a lot of problems with this -- I put a lot of pressure to get it to fit, and the damned derailleur broke apart! So I put on a new one for you, but it's my fault, so no charge. Just the $15." \t\n\t\nI dare you to find another bike store in this city or perhaps anywhere that will provide this kind of service, go the extra mile(s), give you same-day service, take responsibility when something goes wrong, and charge you 1970s prices.
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