Is it worth doing your maintenance?

[ianrauk]

I'm in the same camp as @fossyant . No one but me touches my bikes.
Over the years I have learnt all facets of road bike maintenance and building.

The only thing I use my LBS for are spoke replacements, wheel truing and cutting a steerer tube.

 

[Profpointy]

can't help thinking that paying the shop to do some of the easier jobs is akin to paying some one to do the washing up - by the time you've carted a bowl of dirty crockery to the washing-up-wallah's shop you might as well just learn how to do the dishes even if he only charges a quid.

Fair enough for a tricky or bigger job, but not some of the silly little jobs surely

 

[John the Monkey]

Yes.

If you like doing it.

 

[MickeyBlueEyes]

Same as others, I'm my own mechanic. If something crops up that I'm unsure of how to do I'll learn and then do it. Bikes are pretty simple mechanical beasts really and I find a pleasure to work on. All part of this bootiful hobby

 

[John the Monkey]

One day, when I have lots of time, I'll teach myself how to true wheels, and read all the helpful info on here and elsewhere about it. Maybe even learn to build them.

Until that day, that's one problem that I always take to the shop.

A thread diversion, but on wheel building, I can't recommend Roger Musson's eBook highly enough - it demystifies the building process (and it is a process, not alchemy, or wizardry performed by bearded bike whisperers in sanctified sheds). If you've some mechanical aptitude, I think you'd be surprised at how easy it is to put together a serviceable 32 or 36 spoke 3x wheel.

 

[Gravity Aided]

I also like Jobst Brandts' Book, The Bicycle Wheel. Very clear, very well explained.

 

[400bhp]

A thread diversion, but on wheel building, I can't recommend Roger Musson's eBook highly enough - it demystifies the building process (and it is a process, not alchemy, or wizardry performed by bearded bike whisperers in sanctified sheds). If you've some mechanical aptitude, I think you'd be surprised at how easy it is to put together a serviceable 32 or 36 spoke 3x wheel.

Oh, I'm sure it is. But I need to read the blinking book beforehand. More faff.

 

[Dogtrousers]

A thread diversion, but on wheel building, I can't recommend Roger Musson's eBook highly enough - it demystifies the building process (and it is a process, not alchemy, or wizardry performed by bearded bike whisperers in sanctified sheds). If you've some mechanical aptitude, I think you'd be surprised at how easy it is to put together a serviceable 32 or 36 spoke 3x wheel.

Please don't tempt me. I have more than enough ways to waste my precious free time as it is!

 

[John the Monkey]

I also like Jobst Brandts' Book, The Bicycle Wheel. Very clear, very well explained.

I found it really interesting once I'd built a couple of wheels - a bit like Gerd Schraner's book (The Art of Wheelbuilding). I still follow Roger Musson's book step by step during a build though.

 

[Vapin' Joe]

I found it really interesting once I'd built a couple of wheels - a bit like Gerd Schraner's book (The Art of Wheelbuilding). I still follow Roger Musson's book step by step during a build though.

I've got Musson's book and it is well worth buying.

I built my first pair of wheels (Sprints) after reading a "How To" article in the December 1991 edition of the American magazine Bicycling (Which I still have). While I wouldn't claim they were a match for anything Harry Rowlands or Pete Matthews could knock up I raced on them for the whole of my last competitive season and they held together.

I will say this about the Yanks, from stuff I've read in their cycling and motorcycling mags over the years they have a very "You can do this too" attitude to any form of spannering or engineering and explain the processes in a very easy to understand and confidence inspiring manner. The Brit attitude is often "Here's how to do it if you must, but..."

 

[Hugh Manatee]

I have derived a fair amount of satisfaction, not to mention a little pleasure over the years building and maintaining the fleet. Most of my stuff is pretty old so is probably easier to work on but I would say it is well worth learning the basics such as adjusting gears, brakes and bearings.

 

[I like Skol]

The only thing I use my LBS for are spoke replacements, wheel truing and cutting a steerer tube.

Lightweight!

 

[ianrauk]

Lightweight!

Oh yes!

 

[xzenonuk]

i had to learn about bikes quickly as i thought id get a muddy fox bso from argos for 200 quid, as my 28 year old ridgeback 602ex was a bit shabby looking, big mistake, as i soon found out how to set up gears and had to keep fiddling with the crap ones, then within 2 months the bottom bracket was knackered so i had to replace that, and constant tweaking and adjusting the stupid cable disc breaks among other things,

on the flip side i got a full refund, 3 months later and 367 miles on it and i learned a lot about how a bike works and goes together, as my time was spent fixing the stupid thing instead of riding it half the time, then put the refund money towards a btwin rock rider 540 which is going sweet with minor gear adjustments, plus i upgraded the front derailuer my self and it works

i missed out on my bikes 3 month check up as i check it over my self pretty often and try and keep gears brakes adjusted properly, bolts secure etc plus i like learning how to maintain things diy style

 

[Smurfy]

Buy the tool once, use many times.