daredevil

or 2 or 3 or....

sknhgy 

I too am just learning to work on my bikes, one task at a time. I recently replaced the rear axel, cones, and bearings on my Trek 820. I have a new cassette and chain on order. Next I'm going to teach myself about shifters,then bottom brackets.
I read as much as I can about a procedure before I do it, like on the Sheldon Brown site. Then I just go ahead and do it. Sometimes the descriptions of procedures can be confusing and intimidating. But if a person has any kind of mechanical aptitude and some experience with tools it seems like most of these procedures are doable. Like anything else, you just start off with what knowledge and experience you have and go from there.

Bud Bent

LOL, must be. After I bought my shiny new Corsa, and sold the old bike I used to be constantly upgrading and tinkering with, I soon realized I couldn't stand not having at least one bike that begged for projects on it. Enter the Nimbus.

solveg

I started my bicycle overhaul class tonight. It was so cool. Replaced the bearings in my hubs. I found a damaged cone. It rides so smooth now... a 25 year old bike that spins like new. I just want to go around breathing life into old bikes now.

Yen

How cool! I really want to take a comprehensive, hands-on class. Maybe you can take videos and post them here.

Tat2Art

Yeah, I'm a lot like everyone else in this thread. I'd rather learn to do it myself and feel confident it's done right then spend money in a LBS. That money is better spent on good tools. I’ve read a lot then dove in. Don't let truing wheels scare you I purchased a truing stand and it's not that hard after giving it a shot as long as you've got patience and you're not truing wheels for Lance. Lateral truing isn't hard at all and it's the rounding that is getting me but I'm not giving up. I ride daily on my wheels and have no complaints. BTW I've never worked on a front wheel. I start with the hard parts first. Do yourself a real big favor; get a good bicycle repair stand. I started by the old rope hanging from the rafters routine. You need some real stability to get those nuts and bolts nice and tight. Also don't over tighten; I think out of all the hurdles I've had to overcome was stripping bolts. Over tightening is not always the best way to go. Good luck and have fun.

ang1sgt

I've been around the Industry for the better part of 35 years. Started out as a 16 year old sweeping floors and hauling out the trash in a Schwinn Shop. Switched to working on Jets in the USAF and found a sideline working the fleet of bikes for the flightline areas. Heavy Working class bikes that got more abuse than most have ever seen.

In the early 90's after returning from a Federal Call up for Desert Storm, I was asked to help out my local Boy Scout Council start a Mountain Bike Program in the Adirondack Mountains. Worked that program for a few years as a Summer Volunteer repairing bikes and building new trails.

Worked at two different Shops Since then and still do a lot of maintenance in the neighborhood. Seems like some of the kids search me out. I try and teach the kids how to do things for themselves and to NOT attack their bikes with a Vise Grip! I have just enough tools to get me into trouble and buy more at least on a monthly basis either for my cars or the bikes.

I use a portable stand that I used to haul everywhere with me. I've been looking at getting a Park Single Arm Pro stand, but they take up so much space and are heavy. Still need to buy a GOOD truing stand, but put that off due to working at a shop and having one there to use whenever I need it.

I've built many a bike from a bare frame on up. Those are a lot of fun. My goal is to take classes and build a frame. That would be the ultimate for me!

Chris

PaulH

I'll work on my bike if I have to -- like the bike shop is closed and the alternative is driving to work. I don't enjoy it though, and it bothers me that most modern bikes require so much tinkering. It used to be that bikes were reliable and cars required constant tinkering.

Paul

bkaapcke

Repairing and maintaining your own bike is the most important thing you can do. You will soon 'know' your ride and be able to tell very early when something is out of kilter. Most of the time, it can be fixed with an adjustment and/or tightening/lubing. If you let ilt go, it may require an expensive repair later. Also, if you know your bike, you can do emergency repairs on the road because you understand how everythilng works. I like it because I can keep it in perfect tune, all the time, without going to the shop every month. This alone is worth going through the learning curve. bk

BluesDawg

I'm pretty much the reverse of this. I'll take my bike to the shop for work only if I get so busy that I absolutely don't have time to work on a bike before I need to ride it or if it needs something done that I don't know how or have the equipment/tools to do myself.

Early on I would be nervous about the work I did and would sometimes take my bike to the shop so I could be sure something was done right. Now I find myself double checking and often redoing anything done to my bike by a mechanic. I only trust it if I did it myself.

SaiKaiTai

Knowing how -and not being afraid- to has saved me on the road on more than one occasion.
When your riding alone and your FD cable slips out (!) being able to clamp it back in and adjust it means the difference between a long walk home and continuing on your merry way. Plus I have a really nice Park Tool stand... I see myself doing a lot, if not most, of my own maintenance.

John E

The skills I acquired from working on my bicycles have paid handsomely when I have tackled automobile and appliance repairs. It's nice to have a garage pegboard wall full of hand tools and the knowledge and confidence to use them.

solveg

My project is in pieces all over the house soaking and I am totally freaked out by it. I had signed up for this overhaul class because I thought it would be organized... one thing at a time. But my bike is so old and needs so much more work that I'm having to do stuff at home that the other people don't have to do. Like replace all my cables and scrub my derailleurs.

My dog took the new Nitto stem out in the yard when I wasn't looking. At least he didn't bury it.

I spent a fortune on stupid little rubber brake hoods.

europa

I notice that no-ones admitted to doing the work themselves ... then taking it to the shop to get it fixed

Personally, I like to muck things up myself. As someone said earlier, why pay someone else to do as bad a job as I'd do? Besides, as others have commented, I'm a fussy bear - pity about the conflict between competence and aspiration.

Richard

ollo_ollo

"My dog took the new Nitto stem out in the yard when I wasn't looking. At least he didn't bury it"

A dog helper can sometimes slow you down. Some years ago, I tore down a diesel engine for a rebuild and my labrador pup kept picking up pieces & bringing them over to give me. This became a lifelong habit for her & she would return bike parts or dropped tools. Here she is with a Grand Jubile we worked on. Don