Safety inspection
An inspection describes the bicycle as presented. Tell us about recent knocks and changes in handling so the check can be directed to the right places.
Pretoria · South Africa
Ratchet YardBring us the rattle.
At Ratchet Yard a good intake note might read: third climb, seated, only under load. It need not name a broken part. Our Pretoria workshop starts with what the rider noticed, checks the bicycle and quotes the work before replacing anything.
Prepare my noteJobs on the stand
General tune-up
A practical service for a bicycle used regularly. We inspect it first, agree the labour package and distinguish ordinary adjustments from components that need replacing.
Brake service
Say whether the symptom appears as the lever moves, while braking or after you release it. Those three descriptions point to different checks.
Gears and drivetrain
A jump in one gear under load is different from a noise that follows every turn of the cranks. Note the pattern if you already know it.
Puncture and tyre repair
Let us know whether the wheel went flat suddenly or softened overnight. The tyre, tube and seating need assessment before a replacement is chosen.
Build a symptom label
Choose the riding condition closest to what you noticed. Keep the description in your own words; it is evidence for inspection, not a remote diagnosis.
Carry this result into my noteMy workshop card
Choose the option you want to discuss and add a detail in your own words. Describe what happened rather than naming a part you suspect. The text file is yours to keep or share later.
Read the estimate like a mechanic
A useful estimate links an observation to a proposed action. A replacement part should have a reason, and a proposed adjustment should tell you which symptom it is meant to address. If two options are available, ask which one is necessary for the agreed repair and which can be considered later.
The brake that rubs on the way home
A rider notices a faint scrape after releasing the front brake. It disappears by the time the bike is wheeled through the workshop door. Saying that the brake is broken commits to a diagnosis; describing the lever movement and the delayed scrape leaves room to inspect the mechanism as it is. Add whether anything was recently taken off or refitted.
The quote that follows should distinguish a correction made to the existing assembly from replacement hardware. Read both lines before approving. If a part has to be ordered, agree how the collection date will be confirmed. These small decisions belong on the job card because a rider planning the following week’s commute needs a date they can actually rely on.
Two lines on the job card
2–4 working days estimatedAt least one day to bookParts quoted separately
Put the requested work on the first line and the observed symptom on the second. That way a request for a brake check does not silently become approval for every available replacement. Once we have examined the bicycle, the scope and labour charge can be set out clearly.
At collection, ask which adjustments were made and what wear is worth watching. If a sound returns, compare it with your original description. You do not need to ride a bicycle with a worrying fault simply to reproduce the noise for the workshop.
At the counter
Can I bring the bike for assessment?
The neighbourhood workshop takes walk-in assessments and appointments. A repair slot and an assessment are separate things.
Will you fit any brand I request?
We check compatibility and supplier stock before confirming a part. The quote records the replacement that was agreed.
Does the estimate include weekends?
The essential tune-up estimate is in working days. A Saturday opening for intake does not turn a supplier delay into a confirmed collection date.
Terms of use
The labour package is fixed after initial inspection. Replacement parts are quoted separately and additional work needs approval.
No service guarantees that a bicycle is failure-proof. Workshop attendance is Monday to Friday 08:30–18:00 and Saturday 09:00–14:00. A same-day repair requires explicit confirmation.
Saving a working note does not place an order, take payment or confirm a booking.
Privacy policy
The build a symptom label tool runs on your device. Your selections and the words you put in your working note stay in the page until you download them or close it. Ratchet Yard does not receive a copy from this form.
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