Warning to all you folks who are aiming to learn how to DIY your bike maintenance/repair -
You'll end up spending a LOT more money than you expected and find so many more things to update/fix/repair that you'll be out even MORE cash!
I started out last month intending to just replace my aerobars, which were completely rusted out after 7 years.
I'm now at new aerobars, new bar end shifters, new cables, new chain WAXED (not oil, wax is awesomely clean - I have a crockpot for the wax), and probably new brakes in the near future. (Self-discovered pro-tip: a $40 ultrasonic cleaner can totally rejuvenate a front and rear derailleur since it gets into all the nooks & crannies!)
Then I continued the crazy streak, and went to update my rusted-out entry-level Giant bike which ended up getting a full Tiagra group upgrade, now it's at the shop getting a headset replacement since I can't free it up as well as a fix for the frozen seat, - that's the only LBS fix I've needed. I have new carbon handlebars for it now, too. The groupset upgrade involved removing a square cartridge BB and upgrading to a Shimano Hollowtech (an easy swap but I can't believe I even know what this is now - wasn't remotely on my radar of interest beforehand)
Spent over $250 in bike tools, and have used all of 'em except a $50 Park tool internal cable routing kit, which I might return since I haven't had any problems with internal cabling of my Cervelo without it.
Next I'm gonna have to replace my Powertap wheel hub since the splines are seriously nicked (another $100).
I'm approaching $1000 in tools+parts now, and I'm not even counting all the hours I spent teaching myself how to completely disassemble and reassemble a bike down to the BB.
Despite the cost, I'm hoping it'll pay off down the road as I can now maintain the bike in a near-new state from top to bottom now and swap out worn/broken parts without taking it to the shop. (I embarassingly brought my bike to the shop 2 years ago when I froze my front brake due to sweat, and was completely lost on how to replace it. It now takes me 5 mins to install and adjust if I'm not recabling it.)
So be forewarned - its a fun, but potentially pricey hole to go down! (I still think it's worth it just for the knowledge.)
You'll end up spending a LOT more money than you expected and find so many more things to update/fix/repair that you'll be out even MORE cash!
I started out last month intending to just replace my aerobars, which were completely rusted out after 7 years.
I'm now at new aerobars, new bar end shifters, new cables, new chain WAXED (not oil, wax is awesomely clean - I have a crockpot for the wax), and probably new brakes in the near future. (Self-discovered pro-tip: a $40 ultrasonic cleaner can totally rejuvenate a front and rear derailleur since it gets into all the nooks & crannies!)
Then I continued the crazy streak, and went to update my rusted-out entry-level Giant bike which ended up getting a full Tiagra group upgrade, now it's at the shop getting a headset replacement since I can't free it up as well as a fix for the frozen seat, - that's the only LBS fix I've needed. I have new carbon handlebars for it now, too. The groupset upgrade involved removing a square cartridge BB and upgrading to a Shimano Hollowtech (an easy swap but I can't believe I even know what this is now - wasn't remotely on my radar of interest beforehand)
Spent over $250 in bike tools, and have used all of 'em except a $50 Park tool internal cable routing kit, which I might return since I haven't had any problems with internal cabling of my Cervelo without it.
Next I'm gonna have to replace my Powertap wheel hub since the splines are seriously nicked (another $100).
I'm approaching $1000 in tools+parts now, and I'm not even counting all the hours I spent teaching myself how to completely disassemble and reassemble a bike down to the BB.
Despite the cost, I'm hoping it'll pay off down the road as I can now maintain the bike in a near-new state from top to bottom now and swap out worn/broken parts without taking it to the shop. (I embarassingly brought my bike to the shop 2 years ago when I froze my front brake due to sweat, and was completely lost on how to replace it. It now takes me 5 mins to install and adjust if I'm not recabling it.)
So be forewarned - its a fun, but potentially pricey hole to go down! (I still think it's worth it just for the knowledge.)