Noonievut

capnjonny 

If you can you should volunteer at a bike co op or a non profit like the Bike Exchange. There you will see every kind and quality of bike. Our warehouse often has high end 10 -20 year old bikes waiting for someone to take home for a "homework project", which means you have to bring it back after you finish playing with it. Personally, I like playing with old "10 speeds" as the parts are mostly interchangeable with the exception of the French bikes, and English 3 speeds. not only will you get to educate yourself for free using someone else's materials but the result will be supporting a good cause.

Crankycrank

There are a few Apps for local sellers near you that are becoming more popular all the time and here's a link to some of them. https://wellkeptwallet.com/best-apps-to-sell-local/ I know 3 people who regularly use "OfferUp" and are very happy with it. Seems to always have some cheap bikes available where I live. I can't vouch for any of the other Apps listed but easy enough to research them for yourself.

deacon mark

Learn it when you have to do the task really. It is not that difficult. Working on old bikes not really a great thing in that they sometimes uses different tools and specs. One thing you could try is to buy a new cheap wheel and simply rebuild it by loosening all the spokes and tensioning again. When you need to replace a chain get the chain tool and new chain read up and got at it not rocket science but makes sense to me.

Bill Kapaun

Stay away from the lowest tier bikes. You'll find them frustrating, especially if you are inexperienced.
Look for a frame decal that says CR-MO (chrome moly steel) and "butted". Double butted is a bit lighter than single butted. "Hi Ten" steel is just the cheapest grade and relatively heavy.

branko_76 

Any 10-speed from the 1960's or 1970's for under $100 would be perfect for learning how to overhaul and tune a bicycle. Try to find one that has all of the original parts and restore them. Don't fall into the "upgrade" trap. Re-use the cables, inner tubes, cable housing, etc. Spend your money on tools that will allow you to work on your keeper.

alcjphil

If you own a 10 year old road bike that has been well maintained, How did you manage that? Maintaining your own bike yourself is the best way to learn how. Your 10 year old bike has a new drivetrain. Did you do the upgrade yourself? Even a new drivetrain will require regular care, replacing wear items like chains, cables, brake pads, tires, along with servicing bearings in hubs, bottom brackets, headsets and pedals. A gravel/bikepacking bike is going to need service even more often than a road bike. Learn how to maintain the bikes you already own, you don't need another one

Noonievut

Noonievut

HerrKaLeun

That way you learn one piece after another and what is applicable to your bike. Obviously if your goal is N+1, you can follow the plan to buy one.
i wouldn't buy a cheap wheel to dis-assemble. Build a new one with good material when you need one. A cheap wheel is not great and the outcome can be questionable. and what do you do with a cheap wheel that may be worse than the ones your bikes already have? throw away?

I once had the idea to restore bikes for fun (not much money in flipping, not if you want to get the bike to be actually good). but after doing a project bike at a coop, and restoring 2 Walmart bikes, I never really want to revive old bikes that should go into recycling. Newer and higher tier equipment is so much easier to work on and the outcome can be a really good bike. Now I really only want to work on my bikes and install good stuff. I rather ride more than to work on bikes. already spend way too much time wrenching (and researching upgrades) on my 2 bikes as it is.

Your bikes are in good condition, so start with just normal maintenance (hub bearings etc.) and go from there in case you want to upgrade or something brakes. You'll buy the necessary tools over time as needed. As you work on the bike you will know better what to buy.
Don't be afraid to take the bikes in the rain, they are bikes and not made of paper.

Obviously go N+1 if you want to.

andrewclaus

Ditto volunteering at a co-op or non-profit.

branko_76 

You've got the right idea. The best to learn bike repair and maintenance is not only to do the work, but also to ride the bike for an extended period to find out where you need to improve your skills. Repairing bikes for others as a volunteer will not give you the first-hand feedback that a bike you've ridden hundreds of miles will.

There are hundreds of thousands of bikes from the bike boom era that are still in peoples basements and garages waiting for someone like you to bring one of them back to life.

Don't be afraid of plain gauge, low carbon steel frames. They may be a pound or two heavier but most were built to last. My main commuter is a 1977 Raleigh Grand Prix that I bought from a thrift store for $25.00. It was in sad shape but that made it all the more challenging. I save my 1980's Holdsworth and 1970's Falcon for fair weather rides.

Here's the finished product

ironwood

People throw away good old bikes. I've picked a bunch from the local dump metal pile. Most of them went to a local charity, Bikes not Bombs, but I've kept some that fit me. These bikes are perfect to practice on. Even if a bike is damaged you can learn how to remove and repair various components .

squirtdad

+1 start with what you have....

AtNjineer

Noonievut

JoeTBM 

tkamd73 

NoWhammies

That's my plan @tkamd73. I have a second bike that is in good condition but likely needs some new cables, new lube of the hubs, etc. I plan on going through Zinn's book over the winter and overhauling my bike. If I get really stuck I can head in to the LBS and hopefully get some hints/tips on what I'm doing wrong.

AtNjineer

AtNjineer

Noonievut

AtNjineer

ddeand 

AtNjineer