Bike Repair and Maintenance Resources
So after a bit of encouragement from my local ENers I'm aiming to do more of my own bike maintenance and repairs this year. I have used a couple of good resources before (Zinn bike books, Park Tool website) but wanted to see if anyone else had recommendations for good resources on bike stuff. (Think I'll also stick a post in the wiki too, as I imagine this could be helpful for everyone).
0
Comments
We should really collect a set of these and put them in the Wiki.
In addition to the sites you mention, I also like:
http://bicycletutor.com/
and don't laugh, but Terry has some great how-to videos too
http://community.terrybicycles.com/...e588db5152
@Carly I wonder if we got some people together we could get a hands on class. Always better to actually do it on your bike with someone watching.
@ Steve, I would totally be up for that.
@ Nemo, I have actually watched some of those Terry videos! I will spare you all some of the 'trial and error' things I have discovered!
Check with your LBS many times they will have bike maintenance classes. If you have an REI in your area they have a basic and a little more advanced class each month. THe basic is usually free, the more advanced I believe is around 50.00.
http://sheldonbrown.com/
A lot of it is way over my head, but anything you ever wanted to know about exactly how a bike works, he explains. Ever wonder what the speed difference is between 90 rpms using a compact crank and an 11 tooth cog as opposed to a regular crank and a 12 tooth cog? He can tell you.
Youtube has some pretty good videos uploaded, depending on what you want to do. Also, whenever I take my bike into the LBS, I try to ask questions about what they are doing to the bike and how. Most of the time, they are happy to answer.
Finally, I have been to the REI basic bike mainteance course. At the one in Redondo Beach, they explained how to oil your chain, remove the front and back wheels, and change a flat.
Of course, Sheldon died a few years ago, and it was a great loss to the online cycling community. I first came across him back in the mid-nineties when i was spending a lot of time with an on line tandem email forum. The man was the definition of a hippie - he wanted to share his knowledge with everyone, and felt it should be free.
I learned my bicycle maintenance the hard way: taking my family on a cross country trip in 1997 with 5 bikes, and one mechanic - me. I did take a 6 week course beforehand at the local bike shop and learned wheel truing, changing out chain-rings and cassettes, adjusting cables, etc. I'll never forget the glee the instructor had as fully 1/3rd of us made his favorite newbie mistake: when removing and replacing the cranks, we had them at 90/270 degrees to each other instead of 180, and didn't even notice after he pointed out "You might wanrt to look more carefully at what you've done there?"
Other than that I've been able to figure out most stuff on my own.
YouTube is a great resource as well as there are soooo many how to adjust X, Y, Z videos out there that show you if reading the instructures isn't your thing.