The "I did it!" thread.

[Learnincurve]

We have a newbie progress thread for physical progress on the bike but we don't seem to have a thread for other stuff. Other stuff being changing a tyre, upgrading a component, fixing a flat, calibrating brakes and so on and so forth, all on your own. It's daunting and bloody difficult, especially since everything to do with bikes is written in code seemingly designed to exclude newbies and even if you do decipher what something means, then you find out that there are 408 different variations and you have no idea whatsoever what kind yours is.

So anyway today I for the first time ever I changed rim tape, tires, inner tubes and seat, added slime to the tires and calibrated brakes so they now actually work. My £50 (including delivery) hybrid now may not kill me but I will be taking 80% of my toolbox with me first ride.

 

[vickster]

I managed to snap the valve off my tube today, now I have to change it...first time for that

 

[The Mighty Boosh]

I managed to snap the valve off my tube today, now I have to change it...first time for that

that put a smile on my face and I am still laughing (sorry)

I discoverd how the quick release brakes work after 6 months of releasing the brake cable to remove the wheel's

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

that put a smile on my face and I am still laughing (sorry)

I discoverd how the quick release brakes work after 6 months of releasing the brake cable to remove the wheel's

It takes far longer to remember to ''quick tighten'' them afterwards. At 60, I still find myself having an unscheduled panic moment as I have to stop at the first obstacle.

 

[raleighnut]

It takes far longer to remember to ''quick tighten'' them afterwards. At 60, I still find myself having an unscheduled panic moment as I have to stop at the first obstacle.

Bin there

 

[flyingfish]

Last week I changed my first tube. Thanks to buying a 30 quid (yes 30) from the local free paper for the O.H. I have replaced front & rear bearings & calibrated the gears. Oh & changed the saddle. If you want to learn how to do or buy the cheapest bike in the paper

 

[Pat "5mph"]

Great thread @Learnincurve!
One doesn't have to be a newbie to have an "I did it!!" moment: I still go out with the tool box after tampering with the mechanicals ... just in case

 

[Georgem123]

i think i just about managed to sort out my front derailler, the chain was rubbing the outer side of it when on the any gear in the big ring (compact).
a couple of turns of the lower screw seemed to do the trick

 

[Profpointy]

that put a smile on my face and I am still laughing (sorry)

I discoverd how the quick release brakes work after 6 months of releasing the brake cable to remove the wheel's

Did something similar on my Saab (sorry, motorcar alert) and was cursing their ridiculous design where I had to remove the grill and a panel just to get at the headlight bulb. Then cursed even more when after doing all this I discovered the other one had blown as well. Hang on what's this little clip for?

 

[Keith Oates]

Every day is a learning curve about something and if you don't try you will never learn!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Doc333]

The funny one for me was spending ages looking at how I would get the chain back onto the rear cogs, when replacing the back wheel. It was like Krypton factor test. Sod it I'll look on You Tube, ah I see just use the spring on the rear mech ...... easy. No wonder pro's swap back wheels in seconds

 

[Newman8]

I've had a bike for about 40 years & most of that time done basic maintenance.
You always learn new stuff though...

Last year I built a bike (ie. assembled all the component parts). I'd always wanted to do it & was scared it would be harder than it actually turned out to be.

If you get stuck on anything there's usually an answer already on a forum & if not, you get an answer pretty quick. YouTube is brilliant too.

The things I found most baffling were compatibility issues. When I was a kid, everything off one bike always seemed to work with everything off any other bike, but these days you either need the same make, same spacing, same indexing, same diameter, same BCD this, same OLN that, or all of the above!

It can be very confusing, but the only way things become clear is by giving it a go.

 

[ColinJ]

Suggestion: Buy a chain tool (or multi-tool with one included) and practice shortening a length of old chain and repairing it using a 'powerlink'. Carry the tool and a spare powerlink with you on rides.

Broken chains are not something that happen regularly if you maintain your bike properly, but I have fixed 5 or 6 for other riders over a 20 year period. You don't ride far with a broken chain so it is wise to be prepared unless you like long walks with your bike, expensive taxi journeys, or annoying family or friends by calling them out to rescue you!

 

[simon the viking]

It takes far longer to remember to ''quick tighten'' them afterwards. At 60, I still find myself having an unscheduled panic moment as I have to stop at the first obstacle.

Yep....................done that

 

[Learnincurve]

I have successfully turned my bike from a 9 speed to a 21 speed by tightening the adjustment barrel http://www.sheldonbrown.com/derailer-adjustment.html it being this far out may explain quite a few things on my ride today.