View Poll Results: Who does your bike maintenance?
I do all of my own maintenance
94
57.32%
I use the LBS for very limited things like truing wheels, etc.
62
37.80%
I use the LBS for all maintenance needs
8
4.88%
Voters: 164. You may not vote on this poll
Who does ALL their own maintenance?
04-03-17, 10:37 AM
#1
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Who does ALL their own maintenance?
Just curious who does their own maintenance vs those who rely on the LBS for everything. Growing up, my dad was really big into cycling yet he went to the LBS for literally everything, even slight adjustments.
04-03-17, 10:41 AM
#2
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I do all my own maintenance, but maybe there should be a fourth option for people who oil their own chains and go to the LBS for cable adjustment?
04-03-17, 10:48 AM
#4
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I guess I didn't think that some people might not lube their own chain. But I know a LOT of people probably take advantage of the LBS doing 30 day/6 month/annual tune ups (my dad loved them) or go to them when things are out of adjustment vs those who really just do things themselves. I do pretty much everything except for truing wheels.
04-03-17, 10:57 AM
#5
Senior Member
I have lbs do wheel truing if it is bad . Some of the times I can get wheels true some times they go the other way. . I have got to the point where I know to leave it alone ,and take it to shop before I totally screw it up
04-03-17, 11:14 AM
#7
This poll is missing something like "I use a LBS for most maintenance jobs but do some jobs myself." No to very rarely to always leaves too much uncovered.
04-03-17, 11:21 AM
#8
I do most maintenance myself. I go to the LBS for things where the frequency of the maintenance does not justify the cost for purchasing the tools, such as pressing BB bearings or cutting steer tubes. I do it so infrequently, I really cannot justify purchasing the tools to do it.
04-03-17, 11:24 AM
#9
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You should be able to do most of the maintenance. You don't need that many special tools for the more common stuff. I also leave wheel building and frameset stuff requiring special tools (alignment, BB thread chasing/refacing, carbon fork cutting, etc) for the LBS. You just buy the special tools as you need them. Last season, I got a Park DAG-2 derailleur hanger alignment gague. Stuff like that you can leave for the LBS until you feel adventurous enough.
04-03-17, 11:28 AM
#10
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I use the LBS more and more. For time mainly. I do the trick / weird stuff (Cables). I have them do bearings and bend RD hangers.
Last edited by Doge; 04-03-17 at 05:11 PM.
04-03-17, 11:29 AM
#11
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04-03-17, 11:31 AM
#12
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04-03-17, 11:44 AM
#13
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When I was doing my initial upgrade of my bike I had to invest in all these specialty tools, so it makes sense now to do my own maintenance. Even go a truing stand, but haven't had to use it much. I don't bother with some of the more esoteric items, and thus far haven't run into issues that I can't resolve.
For me it's also a time thing. I save more time doing it myself rather than going to the LBS. It's not far away, but it's the hassle of packing up the bike and driving over, and then doing the same thing a day or two later to pick up.
For me it's also a time thing. I save more time doing it myself rather than going to the LBS. It's not far away, but it's the hassle of packing up the bike and driving over, and then doing the same thing a day or two later to pick up.
04-03-17, 02:23 PM
#15
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I'm learning and like to splurge on bike tools. I've re wrapped handlebar tape, swapped out stems, changed chainrings to compact, grease speed play pedals, disassemble cup and cone hubs to service, true wheels on truing stand, disassemble cassette for deep cleaning. I've only serviced bottom bracket once and need experience with that. I've never re-routed cables, straightened rear derailleur hanger, adjusted speedplay cleats, or adjusted derailleurs' position on bike (only adjusted shifting), so I look forward to those.
04-03-17, 02:28 PM
#16
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Had a shop swap a cassette and bottom once since I didn't want to buy the associated tools.
Had them swap a 10sp to 11sp groupset last year again because of the tooling thing.
Over the winter finally grabbed all the tools and assembled a (threaded bb) bike fully from the ground up.
Wheels came built so that might be next.
Had them swap a 10sp to 11sp groupset last year again because of the tooling thing.
Over the winter finally grabbed all the tools and assembled a (threaded bb) bike fully from the ground up.
Wheels came built so that might be next.
04-03-17, 02:29 PM
#17
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Little bit of trivia here. I started working on bikes in the early '80s and acquired tools for everything including BB and HS, numerous cone wrenches and pullers. With modern bikes, some of the tools became more or less obsolete.
Then, I bought a late '70s Italian bike, all Campy NR, and had to dig out all of these old tools to work on it. I'd forgotten that I even owned some of them.
Anyway, back then, I did everything from pressing races to building my own wheels and never thought a thing about it. Now, I find myself using the shop more than I ever did back then.
Then, I bought a late '70s Italian bike, all Campy NR, and had to dig out all of these old tools to work on it. I'd forgotten that I even owned some of them.
Anyway, back then, I did everything from pressing races to building my own wheels and never thought a thing about it. Now, I find myself using the shop more than I ever did back then.
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04-03-17, 02:42 PM
#18
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I do 96%. I haven't done bottom brackets or hubs.
04-03-17, 02:46 PM
#19
About 10 years ago, a car physically ran me into a deep ditch. Bent the derailleur hanger. The bike got me home, but shifting was worse than sketchy. I took the bike to the best LBS in the area for repairs. When I paid the bill and got the bike back, the shifting was a LOT WORSE than sketchy.
I have done everything myself for ten years -- and, to be honest, did over 95% of my own work before that. In the last 10 years, I have allowed the LBS (the owner of the shop) to assemble one new bike. Everything else and assembly of all the other new bikes has been done in my garage. The reasons?
1. I do better work than all but the owner of the LBS -- and he doesn't do much work on bikes anymore.
2. I enjoy it.
I have done everything myself for ten years -- and, to be honest, did over 95% of my own work before that. In the last 10 years, I have allowed the LBS (the owner of the shop) to assemble one new bike. Everything else and assembly of all the other new bikes has been done in my garage. The reasons?
1. I do better work than all but the owner of the LBS -- and he doesn't do much work on bikes anymore.
2. I enjoy it.
04-03-17, 03:54 PM
#21
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I just started cycling last year. I need to learn how to do maintenance but busy taking care of both my parents (health issues) so not much time with work and all. I have a bike mechanic that works on the side. As of now I'm happy that I'm back working out since I had my own health issues. Actually still do but not that bad.
04-03-17, 05:00 PM
#22
Senior Member
I will never let a LBS touch my bike again. I was a slow learner but not stupid. I do trust the wheel builders I have dealt with however.
04-03-17, 05:11 PM
#24
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I also do everything with the exception of pressed in headsets. I did do that once without the proper tools and that worked out fine. But I won't do it with the current frames I have. I truly love working on my bikes - always have.
