Bike Maintenance makes me hate cycling. Seriously!
I really envy those who can do everything. Every time I try to do something it is a fight. I just tried to true my own wheel and messed it up, so off to the LBS tomorrow to fix it.
I want to learn, but am terrified of making things worse - as has just happened. Not to mention all the tools etc are bloody expensive. Just bought a truing stand that I doubt will get used again after this debacle.
Truing is not normal. I almost chimed-in on your truing thread to say âdonât do it.â Truing is difficult, it just is. I can remember the first time I attempted it. It was very frustrating, but I eventually developed the skills and have built wheels. But, I would never build a wheel today. I can true my wheels, but I have never needed to so far.
IME, bikes generally do not need that much maintenance. Here are the things that you might run into and my thoughts on complexity. Most only need a hex tool, with a few exceptions
Replace a chain - very easy (if you buy a chain with a quick link) - need a chain toolAdjust an RD - easy and low risk - most folks mis-adjust a few times and then lock it inAdjust a FD - easy and low risk - even if an RD is off, it still works mostly fineAdjust brakes - easy but tedious - centering & setting the right distance from takes iterations, but risk is lowAdjust or replace headset - easy - this looks like a big deal, but is simpleReplace bottom bracket bearings - harder because of the tools, but infrequentTruing wheels - outsource to an expert - infrequent and a refined skillReplace a tube or tire - not maintenance, just an essential skill - practice & master it
Bike Maintenance makes me hate cycling. Seriously!
I really envy those who can do everything. Every time I try to do something it is a fight. I just tried to true my own wheel and messed it up, so off to the LBS tomorrow to fix it.
I want to learn, but am terrified of making things worse - as has just happened. Not to mention all the tools etc are bloody expensive. Just bought a truing stand that I doubt will get used again after this debacle.
ItââŹâ˘s very easy once you learn the basics. There are numerous books on bike maintenance, and thereââŹâ˘s probably a YouTube video for any repair you could imagine, including multiple truing ones. Even though IââŹâ˘ve built numerous bikes, done countless repairs, etc., I still check out the videos (just watched one on chain sizing). Park tools are very expensive, so only buy the specific ones (a tool that nobody else makes), I use cheaper ones (Performance or Nashbar use to sell a very good set, sure someone is selling these now). Pick up an old cheap wheel set and practice truing.
If youââŹâ˘re not truing wheels daily, donââŹâ˘t attempt it. I think todays wheels are more complex than when I worked a local bike shop when I was in college. Aluminum 32-36 spoke wheels were much easier. Everything elseââŹÂŚ.YouTube is your best friend.
I will echo the same thing I do lots of wrenching but leave trying the wheels to the pros
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Bloody nightmare. Hope bike shop can sort it out easily ðŸËÂŤ
You say you want to learn⌠Iâm afraid that in my own experience(s) in many genreâs⌠youâre going to butcher sh*t learning to do it right. Itâs similar to âeveryone is happy on the internetâ that messes with peopleâs social ideas, well you might watch a youtube video of some dude spinning a wheel truing it perfectly by sound, but what you donât see is the wheels he totally Fâd in the bin to get to that point.
That said - itâs generally a good idea not to start learning on your race wheelset 
Off on a slight tangent, but another maintenance type thing that is irritating me. How do you guys carry all your spares during a race? I have a road bike, I got a bottle style tool holder, but I can only just manage to get 2 tubes, 2 gas cartridges and tyre levers in there. No room for a multitool or pressure gauge. I have a saddle bag that holds a bit more, but then I have the issue of where to put the race number. Iâm pretty sure it shouldnât be this hard!!
I let lbs deal with trying a wheel. Honestly IââŹâ˘ve never had to do it. IââŹâ˘ll adjust my derailleurs, change the chain, replace disc rotors and pads. Change Bottom bracket. I changed a group set on my road bike. But I wonââŹâ˘t do that again. IââŹâ˘d rather pay somebody.
Off on a slight tangent, but another maintenance type thing that is irritating me. How do you guys carry all your spares during a race? I have a road bike, I got a bottle style tool holder, but I can only just manage to get 2 tubes, 2 gas cartridges and tyre levers in there. No room for a multitool or pressure gauge. I have a saddle bag that holds a bit more, but then I have the issue of where to put the race number. Iâm pretty sure it shouldnât be this hard!!
Iâll assume you are talking about triathlons when you say race. 1 tube is usually sufficient, multi-tool and pressure gauge are really not necessary for a race but if you have to have them, jersey or shorts pocket works (may fit in storage bottle if you remove 1 tube and tape the other tube under the saddle, if you need 2). Many races have neutral support also.
My race day repair kit would just be 1 tube, 1-2 co2 cartridges, 1 tire lever, co2 inflator.
You donât need a multitool or a pressure gauge.
My race day repair kit would just be 1 tube, 1-2 co2 cartridges, 1 tire lever, co2 inflator.
Thatâs interesting. I thought people generally carried more.
If youââŹâ˘re not truing wheels daily, donââŹâ˘t attempt it. I think todays wheels are more complex than when I worked a local bike shop when I was in college. Aluminum 32-36 spoke wheels were much easier. Everything elseââŹÂŚ.YouTube is your best friend.
30 years ago truing a wheel was pretty straight forward. Today there are fewer spokes, often bladed, under much more tension. I do most of my own work, but if truing a wheel is any more than a minor touch-up, I let someone that does it every day handle it.
Off on a slight tangent, but another maintenance type thing that is irritating me. How do you guys carry all your spares during a race? I have a road bike, I got a bottle style tool holder, but I can only just manage to get 2 tubes, 2 gas cartridges and tyre levers in there. No room for a multitool or pressure gauge. I have a saddle bag that holds a bit more, but then I have the issue of where to put the race number. Iâm pretty sure it shouldnât be this hard!!
Iâll assume you are talking about triathlons when you say race. 1 tube is usually sufficient, multi-tool and pressure gauge are really not necessary for a race but if you have to have them, jersey or shorts pocket works (may fit in storage bottle if you remove 1 tube and tape the other tube under the saddle, if you need 2). Many races have neutral support also.
My race day repair kit would just be 1 tube, 1-2 co2 cartridges, 1 tire lever, co2 inflator.
Even for training rides, the pressure gauge and second tube is overkill. Depending on how tight the tires are you might not even need levers. In lieu of the second tube Iâm an advocate of glueless patches. a 6 pack is about the size of a postage stamp. I would def keep the multi-tool for training. Keeping on top of little things stops them from becoming big things later (loosening stem clamp, brake adjustments, etc).
I have no problem truing my HED 3 but the rest I leave to my local bike shop.
But seriously folksâŚ
What is easy for some folks, is tear-inducing, wrench-throwing, 911-calling, for others.
Not to say that âitâ is impossible, but that âitâ can be damned hard.
And just like some folks canât/wonât follow the written instructions to build that Ikea furniture, some folks canât/wonât learn to adjust a rear derailleur, bleed a brake line, change a tyre, by watching a You-Tube video. What they may need, is to be next to a patient person, breaking it down, step by step by knuckle bleeding step when they have time & are motivated.
Then, âitâ might just happen.
I think Iâm typical for most AGers, who are NOT bike experts, do NOT want to have an entire garage full of tools, and would rather minimize the bike maintenance and have no interest otherwise in tinkering with their bike.
I took the deep dive a few years back to learn to manage most of my road and TT bike, both of which I redid the entire drivetrain, and reinstalled the aerobars/stem combo on the TT bike.
It was kinda fun, but man, sooo time consuming. Made literally every mistake under the sun and more. Saved some money but if you factor in my persona labor time, I probably lost the equivalent of several thousand dollars.
The worst part - even after I learned to do all that (and learned it pretty well due to all the mistakes I had to redo), I rarely had to do it again. So I promptly forgot all the tips and tricks and made things like an aerobar install with internal cable routing easier.
Thought I was all hot stuff getting a derailleur hanger adjustment tool, which worked WONDERFULLY for 2 years - until I cracked the rear frame of my Cervelo P2c, which I found to my chagrin does NOT have an replaceable hangar. You break it, the frame is done. (Repair is $750). So even a basic derailleur-adjustment skill I learned totally backfired due to my noobness. (I did get a new superbike as replacement, which was soooo worth it - actually had the fastest bike split in one of my local races!)
Then I got a new bike - all new DI2 cabling, internal brake cabling, and a whole different set of tricks and tips to learn.
At this point, I say, F-it. The ONLY maintenance I do on my bike is wax the chain and install latex tubes/tires, and clean the bike. Itâs a huge waste of cost and time do try to mess with stuff on modern bikes, especially with all the internal brake cabling, etc.
So donât feel bad OP. You donât need to learn all that. And fortunately, the vast majority of bike repairs are one-time deals, and the regular stuff is very easy. (Lube your chain, etc.)
Ditto above. You really only need 1 CO2, 1 tube, and tire levers. I also carry a multi-tool, because I occasionally have something obscure happen. There are those who argue that tire levers are superfluous, but not for me (nor anyone else I know personally). I am an expert and have pretty strong hands, but there has never been a time when I could remove a tire without tools. When your hands are sweaty on a ride, ripping a tire is next to impossible. Tools are orders of magnitude faster.
For training rides I carry a lot of stuff. And can fix anything (well almost) For races mostly I carry a good luck charm.
Recently I stopped to help a kid with a flat, who hadnât a clue. Really, not a clue. Now thatâs sad.
OK truing a wheel can be tricky after all you have to loosen two spokes and tighten one.
And the tool for that is really tricky, it has slots for different spokes.
You have a built in truing stand, theyâre brake calipers.
A lot depends on how good, âgood enoughâ is.
If the brakes donât bind, good enough.
Off on a slight tangent, but another maintenance type thing that is irritating me. How do you guys carry all your spares during a race? I have a road bike, I got a bottle style tool holder, but I can only just manage to get 2 tubes, 2 gas cartridges and tyre levers in there. No room for a multitool or pressure gauge. I have a saddle bag that holds a bit more, but then I have the issue of where to put the race number. Iâm pretty sure it shouldnât be this hard!!
I tape a can of fix a flat to the top tube behind the headset as well as a crack pipe in case itââŹâ˘s the back wheel. As suggested many years ago here in ST
No spare, no gas cartridges, no pressure gave no multi tool
What I do is watch a park tool video, order parts from shop or online, buy the tools I need for the job if something specialized required, then go out in the garage and take a shot. Generally, tool plus part is cheaper than the shop and your bike isnât gone for a week. I screw things up sometimes, but itâs just a bike.
I have not serviced a suspension fork but have mostly figured the rest out. Iâm a mediocre auto mechanic and many of the tools are interchangeable. Some of the expensive tools I share with a group of friends who also get into stuff, things like a headset press for example. Also, when standards change like bottom brackets, you end up with obsolete tools. I try to stick with Shimano as much as possible to keep the tools at a minimum