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How do I learn how to work on my bike?
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fatbastardtris
Oct 5, 08 16:31
Post #1 of 28 (969 views)
How do I learn how to work on my bike?
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I've been riding for 3 years now and honestly know nothing about wrenching my own bike. In fact, I don't even know how to change a flat (never had one). I know that is embarassing to admit but just being honest here. I take my bike to my LBS whenever anything goes wrong. It hasn't been an issue but can be a bit of a pain in the ass. I really think I need to learn how to do my own maintenence this off season. Are there any dvd's out there that provide step by step instruction on baisc to advanced bike maintenance?
TriBriGuy
Oct 5, 08 16:35
Post #2 of 28 (962 views)
Re: How do I learn how to work on my bike? [fatbastardtris]
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Get the race mechanics set of Park tools, a work stand, and then go to Parktool.com. Everything you need to know about wrenching. Well...if it isn't...then check out Sheldon Brown's site...or shoot Zinn an email.
********************
AmZof Lemming
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xraycharlie
Oct 5, 08 16:39
Post #3 of 28 (956 views)
Re: How do I learn how to work on my bike? [fatbastardtris]
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Zinn and the Art of Road Bike Maintenance
, by Lennard Zinn. Out of the many books on home wrenching, this is probably the most comprehensive. Well-illustrated, easy to understand, and actually rather entertaining in a few places.
http://www.amazon.com/...enance/dp/1884737706
I learned enough from an earlier edition of this book to build up a bike from a frame - that bike is now my well-loved commuter/winter/touring bike, getting more miles than either of my racier bikes.
-----
Over 500 days bike crash free.
JamieJ
Oct 5, 08 16:40
Post #4 of 28 (954 views)
Re: How do I learn how to work on my bike? [fatbastardtris]
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save your money on the books. Surf a little on youtube. Amazing how many bike repair videos are on there. You have to cull through some garbage but you can find some very useful videos.
2009 Races:
TTT, Muncie Endurathon, IMoo
mhemberg
Oct 5, 08 16:56
Post #5 of 28 (932 views)
Re: How do I learn how to work on my bike? [fatbastardtris]
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REI has a basic mechanics course. Here is Philly we have the Trophy bikes Park Tool School. I have yet to take it but I here it is pretty good. I would imagine that you have something similar in Hotlanta. You could probably call Park tools and get a referral
http://www.trophybikes.com/...es.php?classpageid=1
Bull_Winkle
Oct 5, 08 17:26
Post #6 of 28 (892 views)
Re: How do I learn how to work on my bike? [mhemberg]
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SRAM's website: make the leap.com has video's on how to install and set up all of their parts. The park tools web site has a lot info as well, but no
video. I used both of these resources when I built up my SLC SL.
Jan Pena, Pacifica Ca
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by Bull_Winkle on Oct 5, 08 17:27)
foots
Oct 5, 08 18:51
Post #7 of 28 (832 views)
Re: How do I learn how to work on my bike? [fatbastardtris]
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I would venture a guess that one of your LBSs has bike maintenance/repair clinics during the off-season, I know Inside Out does. It's a great way to learn hands-on and helps the store during the slow winter months. Other than that, x2 on the Lennard Zinn books.
tigermilk
Oct 5, 08 19:13
Post #8 of 28 (811 views)
Re: How do I learn how to work on my bike? [fatbastardtris]
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You learn by simply doing. If you do something wrong the first time, it's a lesson learned and you'll have the experience for the next time. Just jump in with both feet.
pequa tri
Oct 5, 08 19:26
Post #9 of 28 (785 views)
Re: How do I learn how to work on my bike? [tigermilk]
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make friends with the mechanics at your LBS and then see if its cool if you can hang around and see what they do on stuff. I have worked at two bike shops, at one we are totally cool with people hanging around because we arent too busy. At the other they just get in the way b/c we have a fast turnover.
stal
Oct 5, 08 19:38
Post #10 of 28 (770 views)
Re: How do I learn how to work on my bike? [fatbastardtris]
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beer + trial & error
BK
Oct 5, 08 19:41
Post #11 of 28 (766 views)
Re: How do I learn how to work on my bike? [fatbastardtris]
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www.parktool.com
has tutorials on most everything. It's a great resource. Between that and Zinn's book, I've learned pretty much everything I've ever needed to know.
rrfr
Oct 5, 08 20:58
Post #12 of 28 (711 views)
Re: How do I learn how to work on my bike? [fatbastardtris]
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start out by seeing if your LBS will let you work on your bike there in one of their stands, during off hours. also, X3 on Zinn book, but best is latest "Zinn & Art of Triathlon Bikes".
Depressed; and happy about it !
ghc19127
Oct 5, 08 21:24
Post #13 of 28 (697 views)
Re: How do I learn how to work on my bike? [tigermilk]
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I'd have to agree that you learn by doing. I'm still pretty green but I've got some old beater mountain bikes I work on. If I have something I want to do, I might do a trial run on one of those and make my mistakes there. I've stripped screws adjusting derailleurs and it was better to avoid making mistakes on the nicer components.
nfreeman
Oct 6, 08 7:08
Post #14 of 28 (586 views)
Re: How do I learn how to work on my bike? [fatbastardtris]
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I vote for park tools blue book- very good book as well.
Just try it yourself. as long as you dont overtighten anything, you can do much that will damage things.
I work my way through it using the book- and figured it out over time.
Its really fun- and, i feel MUCh more confident at races knowing i can do my own work if anything goes wrong...
--------------------------
Proud member of the Guru Cartel, EH!
STP
Oct 6, 08 7:10
Post #15 of 28 (584 views)
Re: How do I learn how to work on my bike? [fatbastardtris]
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The Park Tool website is great. It is not uncommon for an LBS to offer classes in the winter where you basically do your own "spring tune up" in their shop with hands on instruction. At my LBS, the class is about the same cost you'd pay to have them do the work so the instruction is almost free.
The key is courage to try. This stuff is pretty easy to learn. To get started, the key is just to try something simple. Once you can do one thing, you're confidence will increase dramatically. The leap from doing nothing to doing something is pretty big but once you can do one thing, everything after that is just a small step.
jackmott
Oct 6, 08 7:25
Post #16 of 28 (558 views)
Re: How do I learn how to work on my bike? [STP]
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I learned a lot by getting new aerobars, and thinking I could just bolt them on
nooo
I learned to run cables, take apart shifters, cut cables, housings, everything!
NotYoMama
Oct 6, 08 7:44
Post #17 of 28 (533 views)
Re: How do I learn how to work on my bike? [xraycharlie]
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In Reply To
Zinn and the Art of Road Bike Maintenance
, by Lennard Zinn. Out of the many books on home wrenching, this is probably the most comprehensive. Well-illustrated, easy to understand, and actually rather entertaining in a few places.
http://www.amazon.com/...enance/dp/1884737706
I learned enough from an earlier edition of this book to build up a bike from a frame - that bike is now my well-loved commuter/winter/touring bike, getting more miles than either of my racier bikes.
+1
kdw
Oct 6, 08 8:14
Post #18 of 28 (498 views)
Re: How do I learn how to work on my bike? [fatbastardtris]
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Having a second bike (such as winter bike, commuter bike, wife's bike) is a great place to start. Pretty much every time you do a repair, you will still come out ahead $ wise even if you have to buy all the tools.
Also, the first time you do any repair, it will take you 3X as long as the second time, and the second time it will come out 3X as nice...
You will have a far heightened appreciation for the whir of your drive train and the crispness of your shifts when you have done the work yourself. (You will also likely want to choke the guy with the squeaky chain or clunky gears on your group ride...)
disco_matt
Oct 6, 08 8:43
Post #19 of 28 (475 views)
Re: How do I learn how to work on my bike? [fatbastardtris]
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Personally, I've found that completely taking my bike apart, cleaning, relubing everything, and putting it back together again helped me get to know the bike a lot better (in terms of ajustments and understanding how everything works). Parktool.com is also a great site to check out.
xraycharlie
Oct 6, 08 9:06
Post #20 of 28 (454 views)
Re: How do I learn how to work on my bike? [disco_matt]
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In Reply To
Personally, I've found that completely taking my bike apart, cleaning, relubing everything, and putting it back together again helped me get to know the bike a lot better (in terms of ajustments and understanding how everything works). Parktool.com is also a great site to check out.
Ah, so you're one of those types of home wrenches. Do you use the ShelBroCo Bicycle Chain Cleaning System?
http://sheldonbrown.com/chainclean.html
-----
Over 500 days bike crash free.
Johnny99
Oct 6, 08 9:16
Post #21 of 28 (429 views)
Re: How do I learn how to work on my bike? [fatbastardtris]
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Build or rebuild a steel frame beater bike. It won't be as touchy as a fancy ride and your mistakes are not as costly. Also, when you are done, you have another bike.
applenutt
Oct 6, 08 9:51
Post #22 of 28 (399 views)
Re: How do I learn how to work on my bike? [fatbastardtris]
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Park Tools website has a lot of good info.
TYBRacing.com
TriUno83
Oct 6, 08 11:19
Post #23 of 28 (332 views)
Re: How do I learn how to work on my bike? [applenutt]
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If you do any group/social riding, chances are you know a guy like me who's accumulated a shop full of tools over the years and has a bunch of spare parts/bikes (practice dummies) laying around the garage, and has too much empty space in my beer fridge... The equivalent LBS shop rate of ~$50/hr will buy a LOT of beer.
tigermilk
Oct 6, 08 15:04
Post #24 of 28 (244 views)
Re: How do I learn how to work on my bike? [fatbastardtris]
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I forgot to add - working on bikes really is easy. In fact, to me the hardest thing is nothing other than a good bar tape job.
kristiancyclist
Oct 6, 08 16:28
Post #25 of 28 (205 views)
Re: How do I learn how to work on my bike? [fatbastardtris]
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I started off with Todd Down's, "The Bicycling Guide to Complete Bicycle Maintenance and Repair: For Road and Mountain Bikes". It has lots of pictures and everything is explained fairly well. The book is aimed at the beginning wrencher and it makes for a good reference for simple things like which pedal is reverse threaded. After that, experience and the web are your two best resources. Be sure to get good quality tools. Even some the "generic" tools from Nashbar and the like are good too, especially for things like pedal wrenches, cone wrenches, etc. Some things you don't want to skimp on like truing stands, saw cutting guides, etc.
Good luck and have fun! :-)
-- Boris
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