Originally Posted by
blakcloud
Since my early adulthood, I have been fixing my own bikes. I own almost every tool save for a few very specialist tools. Yesterday I had to admit to myself that this repair was over my head.
What was so difficult that I couldn't do it myself? Installing and bleeding new brake levers on my Di2 hydraulic system. After three days of failed attempts, I finally had to admit defeat. After watching countless videos, reading the manuals from Shimano and just plain hands on work, I failed. To add insult to injury for the first time in my life (honestly) I didn't put money in the parking meter when taking the bike into the shop I got a $30 parking ticket.
There is a bright side to this tale of woe. The turnaround time is less than 24 hours! In Toronto bike shops have been swamped with repairs so I was surprised when they said it could be fixed in a day. On one hand I feel deflated that I just couldn't figure it out and the other hand delighted I will be able to ride my bike before the snow falls. New Di2 and carbon wheels await me. Happy cycling everyone.
Great news on the quick turnaround! I understand fully the feeling of not being able to fix something myself and having to give in to a pro. I am in the opposite situation right now. I am fixing a bike that two bike shops said could not be fixed. I punched a rather sizeable hole in the tube of a practically brand new Aluminium Specialized Allez. I am waiting to get to 10 posts so I can start a thread where I can post pictures and get the opinion of others regarding the integrity of the fix. It is a copy cat fix from a video I found on YouTube of a retired Navy Engineer repairing aluminium with carbon. In the current bike shortage I was not able to find a replacement for the bike nor did I want to considering this bike is for the trainer this winter and again, is basically brand new hardly having been ridden. The cost for the materials for the fix was less than $50. Congrats again on the quick turn around