urbanknight

Precisely why you want to know who the top mechanic is and make sure they are the one tinkering with your bike.

Leisesturm

Ignore list?

Schweinhund

My Dad could fix almost anything. The main thing he imparted to me is to try. Even if you fail, try.
He was climbing roofs into his 80's not for money, but because he loved construction.
Bicycles do that for me.

canalligators

My daughter is a physical therapist. She says that older men falling off a ladder and breaking both ankles is a common injury mode. “But I’ve been climbing ladders for fifty years!”

I’ve taken that to heart and gave her the long ladder. I will still climb a 12’ ladder, but not go off the ladder onto the roof. I also place ladder carefully, always have spotter, wear tie shoes with good grip and separate heels. Alway keep at least two limbs on the ladder.

RB1-luvr

flipped bars look great.

I'm not a fan of working on bikes either. I keep off road riding to a minimum because of this. The increased maintenance is a hassle.

When I hit lotto I'm going to be like Jay Leno and convert an old factory to my bicycle collection warehouse with a full-time staff.

Chuck Naill

I can't say I enjoy rotating the tires on the Suby, but I enjoy knowing I can and have the necessary equipment. This is how I look at bicycle maintenance. What I cannot perform can be outsourced.

SoSmellyAir

12' is a long ladder! I only dare to climb this (Little Giant MegaLite 17 Ladder with Tip & Glide Wheels | Costco) in its A configuration.

I do my own oil changes and tire rotation not because I like it, but because it is faster than taking it to have it done at the dealer.

andrewclaus

Same here, and sometimes I see other problems while I'm doing it--brakes, CV boots, engine oil or coolant leaks, uneven tire wear, etc.

Fredo76

I still enjoy working on GOOD or decent older bikes. Building up my brother's Rivendell Clem Smith Jr. as a 3x9 Shimano Mega-9 indexed bike was fun. It's a long fellow.


Rivendell Clem Smith Jr.


Tires and chains are still a chore, however.

SoSmellyAir

... with room for 5 water bottles.

greatscott

I do most of the work myself, been doing it for 40 years. Some stuff I don't do simply because I don't have the tools for it, but the reason I don't have the tools is because the part in question have never failed so why buy a tool I may only use once in my lifetime?

I have 8 bikes, not a lot compared to some people I've heard about, but sometimes I don't have the time to work on a bike to get it ready for spring, and since there is a newish bike shop in town operated by extremely nice and young husband and wife team, I felt the need to help support them so I have taken a couple bikes to them to be tuned, they don't charge much so why not! They have one of my bikes right now doing a complete overhaul because I found it leaning against a trash can and it's in excellent condition for being made in 1977. So between a badly injured pinky (almost lost it) finger, and lack of time, I took it to them to go entirely through it, and to rebuild the wheels which I don't do anyways because the cost of the wheel building tools doesn't make it worth it for me.

For me it just depends. Right now till my finger heals up to some degree, I might have to use the shop more than I like.

That 77 bike I found was a Raleigh Competition GS, it really nice shape, no pitting or rust on the chrome fork and stays, no rust or even scratches on the paint, just one rub mark on the bottom of the top tube probably from hanging for years on hooks. Some of the small bolts had rust, but the shop got it all off. This bike was barely used, the original B17 saddle was still on it and there's no sit bone protrusions?! Then the goofy owner put new Bontrager RL tires before dumping it? I think he dumped it because the headset locked up, the bike shop was able to get it to work very smoothly. I had partial box set of Campy Nuovo Record derailleurs and hubs that I never used when I bought them in 1976! So the shop took off the Campy Nuovo Gran Sport stuff and put my stuff on. I'm hoping to have it back tomorrow. I had them put on Brooks dark brown leather handlebar tape; I'm thinking of twinning it and shellacking it sometime in the near future. The bike had the original pump on it too, but it was all busted up inside, and I ordered a period correct water bottle cage and brackets that has to be strapped onto the frame because these came without the bosses. I also need to get a pair of Conti Classic Grand Prix tires, those have the dark tan sidewalls, they'll look cool it on it.

Normally I would be doing most of the work on that bike, except for the wheels, but the injury is preventing me at this time, not sure if the finger will come back correctly, the doctor had little hope for it, so I have to see how much use I can apply to it once some time has gone by, I was concerned about being able to ride my bikes this summer, due to swelling in the palm area, but that has mostly receded.

The way I see your situation, it's better to ride your bike, then to be working on something you don't like doing and getting burned out from doing that, then you'll have problems enjoying riding because of the dread of having to work on the bike, so keep doing what your doing, don't let someone tell you you're wasting money, it's your money, use it as you see fit!

Lombard

Is there anybody left here who isn't on your ignore list?

smd4

Kapaun would put you on his ignore list for saying you like hot dogs and Coke, or saying puppies are cute. It doesn’t take much.