People who know the names of various brake pad manufacturers.

[dawesome]

You, my friend, are a POB (person on a bike) ! You should also be given a life sentance for bike abuse ! Bet the LBS loves you !!

I am happy to report I am a total bike geek ! Oh and the cleaner the faster the bike is. FACT

Ooooh, you snob!

I really can't be bothered, I've just given Freeman's a fiver to fix a snapped gear gable. I would have literally no idea how to do that and would get annoyed and frustrated if I tried. I've done 4000 miles a year for twenty years on the bike, Tourmalet twice, rides through France and Spain. I'm just mechanically inept.

 

[Moodyman]

If you do long distance commuting on busy roads, say 100+ miles every week, you want the bike to be as mechanically sound and efficient as possible. Nowt worst that grinding into a headwind on a cold winter commute and feeling the drag of that squeaky chain or not being able to benefit from that fast downhill because your brakes are not working properly.

 

[fossyant]

Ooooh, you snob!.

I am !

I've even finally done the last barrier in bike maintenance - wheel building. Even bought a jig. Totally rewarding job, takes patience, but when you finish tensioning and taking out the spoke stress, and the wheel is spinning true, you can't beat that for satisfaction.

 

[Boris Bajic]

I swear to God this isn't a dig at anyone, but threads like that leave me baffled. I get new brake pads when the bike's serviced at the lovely Freeman's, Norwich. It simply would not occur to me to ask what brand they were. I admit I am completely knowledge-free about how my bike works, I ride it till the tyres go flat or the chain makes a noise like a chainsaw through concrete, then I get a chap in an overall to sort things out. Salute geeks or argue the toss over whether mechanial numpties aren't proper cyclists here.

It doesn't sound like a dig at anyone, so no worries there. I too live in ignorance of the names of brake-pad manufacturers. I don't even know who makes mine.

Nonetheless, I imagine you'd enjoy your cycling more if you started getting into the gubbins and clicky things that keep the velo working.

You've done fabulously to date - 4k a year for twenty years, including continental tours and no need to reach for a spanner. That's 80,000 miles with only bike-shop services. I take my hat off to you. If I'd catalogued the mishaps and niggly repairs my various machines have suffered over the past 80000 miles, it would be quite a book. Unpickuppably big.

However, there is a certain pleasure even in the simplest things like taking the stretch out of a gear cable or getting your brakes 'just so'. I know no-one who doesn't enjoy sorting bicycles, even my 18-year-old daughter gets quite into it.

There are shitty, dull jobs - like chain lubing and cleaning the bike, but even then you very often find little areas that require attention while you're getting your hands in there and having a look. It feels good to catch a little gremlin of a fault before it turns serious.

A solitary drawback is the rather silly number of specialist tools you need for some jobs... but few cost more than £15 and once you've got them you've got them.

Everything you need to know has been put on Youtube by a saddo in a shed with no idea about lighting and shadow. Have a go. You'll be glad you tried.

I've just remembered who makes my brake blocks! Campagnolo. Is there another reputable manufacturer? I rather doubt it!

 

[gaz]

I don't think i've been in a bike shop which sells the pads I like. I like to know that when I pull the brake leaver, my brakes will work as I expect what ever the conditions.