Afraid Of Bicycles ?

[sidevalve]

OK, When DID we become afrain of bikes ? Of fixing them I mean. As I just said in another post a bike is a set of tubes, some bearings, a few sprockets, a pair of wheels and some very dinky but, in engineering terms quite simple bits tying it all together. Almost all the movements of all the bits are visible and oddly quite logical and easy to follow. I understand if you've never fixed anything in life before as, sadly, many haven't, it may SEEM a tad complicated but ten mins with a pot of tea watching how the bits move should answer most questions.
Thing is you aint designing a bike you're just fixing it, so if a cable inner snaps for example, it doesn't vanish, it's there for comparison. Just buy a matching cable and slide it into place. If you change something on the front brake and it no longer works - well - compare it with the rear brake !
No offence intended to anyone here but I suspect many would be riders are made unsure by more experienced types [who should know better] waffling on about the benefits of carbon forks,gas suspension campag vs shimano gears etc, which is fine in it's place but a bit pointless to many people who just want a carefree / fun method of transport.
Maybe a campain on "how simple is the bicycle" might dispel a few fears, it's NOT a car, it DOESN'T need a computer diagnostic, and YES IT CAN be fixed at home.
Most people can't ask "dad" anymore ['cos he doesn't know either] we just need to lose this growing myth of complication.
PS Sorry for the rant

 

[junglegusset]

I can fix most things on my bike but suspension forks are a bit of a mystery to me, and I have always had a phobia of taking hubs to bits. As you say though, rocket science it ain't.

 

[Cyclist33]

Still and all, I just end up scratching my head! For instance, Shop Bloke sorted out my brakes and indexed a couple of off gears the other day - even though I watched him do it, I can't replicate what he did. And he wasn't using a stand or owt, just holding the bike upright ;-p

 

[raindog]

Not sure who this is aimed at. I think alot of people on here, myself included, do all their own maintenance.

 

[spacecat]

I agree entirely with th op on this. I think the reason for this is because we don't have to fix them, our society has too much in a broader sense.

A lot of people had to learn to do things, not just bike related, because it was necessary. If we didn't fix things ourselves and didn't know a mate then we were knackered and the thing would stay broke!

There's also the belief now that if we don't have a certificate for something then the law would assume that we're not a 'competent person'.

If we say we can't then we never learn!

Rant over, not aimed at anyone on here, most on here will ask and learn. I see it day in day out in the construction industry, people simply believing that they can't.

 

[snorri]

We have differing aptitudes and talents, to some people mechanical devices are incomprehensible, others baulk at tackling electrical problems. Just accept we are all different and use your skills to help others where you can in the hope that you can call on their expertise when you are having difficulty dealing with some aspects of life for which you lack knowledge or skills.

 

[Andrew_Culture]

We have differing aptitudes and talents, to some people mechanical devices are incomprehensible, others baulk at tackling electrical problems. Just accept we are all different and use your skills to help others where you can in the hope that you can call on their expertise when you are having difficulty dealing with some aspects of life for which you lack knowledge or skills.

This

 

[spacecat]

Aptitudes and talents are largely belief related, in that our life story or life script tells us that we can't do something or are not good at it.

I know, or believe that I'm not creative or artistic. So I've failed before I start. The reason for this being it was reinforced as a child that I could fix anything, but, was no good at art etc.

I don't blame anyone for not being good at something, but I think the reasons for this are learned behavior.

Still, doesn't help with the creative block I have lol

 

[Andrew_Culture]

I think it comes down to personality - I was told at school that my creativity was weak, and yet I've been a busy musician most of my adult life and write novels!

 

[spacecat]

I think it comes down to personality - I was told at school that my creativity was weak, and yet I've been a busy musician most of my adult life and write novels!

Fantastic

 

[Andrew_Culture]

Fantastic

It can make trading skills tricky though - 'you fix my sink and I'll write you a witty shirt story' doesn't seem to cut it. But then that's one of the reasons I brew beer, it's a more welcome trade than words

 

[Accy cyclist]

Maybe the price of some bikes puts people of even thinking about doing their own repairs. If i had a second hand 500 quid bike then i'd be prepared to have a go, thinking that there's nothing to lose. However, if i had a 7 grand Pinarello "dream machine"then even the thought of pumping up the tyres or highering the seat would have me worried!

 

[smokeysmoo]

The bicycle is a fundamentally very simple piece of equipment, there you go myth dispelled.

If you're confident in having a go, then have a go, if not and you can afford to pay to have it fixed then do that. If you do want to have a go remember YouTube and CC are your friends.

It doesn't matter if a bike is £100 or £10000, they all work in basically the same way. The rear dérailleur for example hasn't really changed in method of operation since it's inception in the early 20th century.

Ride safe

 

[Sandra6]

Erm, because I'm a girl?? No seriously, I struggle to so much as put air in my tyres.
I have a team of willing and (contrary to opinion on here ) skilled mechanics at my disposal which has made me less inclined to even try, but I know I should pay more attention.
If someone else does it then it goes wrong it's not my fault either.

 

[Dragonwight]

I think you need to be willing to learn and have an incentive to do it. If your LBS is so cheap that buying tools is more expensive before you have even started what incentive do people have to even bother. In addition alot of people lack even the most basic of mechanical knowledge if you dont realise your pedals have left & right hand threads there is a good chance your going to struggle getting them off and give up for example. The fear of breaking it as well is always present with a car you can take a lump hammer and some WD40 to it with a modern bike if you hit it with a chocolate hammer it would fall apart.