I bought a brand-new road bike from a website.
The bike was preassembled and delivered in a big box.
The only things I had do were: - remove the styrofoam wrappings - screw on the pedals - loosen/reposition/tighten the handle bar (when the bike was delivered, the handle-bar was rotated and hooked under the top-tube so it was more compact for shipping) - adjust the height of the saddle
I have ridden the bike. The tyres were already inflated. The gear shifting works fine. The brakes work. The wheels spin fine.
But I noticed a (very) slight rattling noise (as if from the chain).
I took my bike to a local bike shop. The man there told me the bike needs a service and it would cost £50. He claimed it would make the bike "safe" to ride, and if I had bought the bike from his shop (a physical shop instead of a website), it would be "put together properly".
The cost of £50 was a little more than what I expected. This is a brand-new bike, after all.
So my question is: should I get this brand-new bike serviced before I ride it?
Or are there some simple things I can do myself? I can of course tighten everything with an allen key. I can also lubricate the chain and sprockets (or do I need to that? I read somewhere that brand-new bikes all have been lubricated in the factory before they're sold.)
What else must I check (either myself or by a bike shop)?
Is it a not a good idea to start riding the bike without getting it serviced first?
Thank you for your input.