Has anybody here personally repair his/her bike?

**coolboarder** · 12th December 2012

In 50 years of cycling I've never taken a bike to a mechanic yet, and until recently built all my own bikes as I couldn't afford something off the peg. I wouldn't build a new wheel from scratch but I've re-built a few (on the side of the road more than once)!

**puddings** · 13th December 2012

Originally Posted by Pete Appleby 3

No its not something I would do, nor would I recommend anybody trying it far to complex for a normal person to do, you need a brain the size of a planet for things like wheel building and setting up gears. changing tyres is best done by a professional too, its all to easy to put a tyre on the wrong way round, i could go on but I think my meaning is clear to all.
I think Mike the bike will agree with me

I am currently considering engaging Mike the Bike as my personal mechanic, to follow me everywhere I ride with his trusty hammer so that when I have a puncture he is ready to spring in to action

**oldnick** · 23rd December 2012

Wow, I've got a brain the size of a planet! Must be what's slowing me down, dragging the damn thing around.

I fettle bikes to relax, mechanical stuff has a visible logic to it, you can work out how it functions.

Electronics and computers on the other hand

...

**NathanM26** · 23rd December 2012

There's nothing better than a good bit of tinkering. In my downhill MTB days I could have done most things, but had never gone near wheel bearings / truing wheels / bottom brackets etc. I have stripped down and rebuilt the two road bikes I now own and it was a great learning experience.

The point is, nothing is actually that complicated if you just take your time - which I have found to be true.

It's a good job I do my own work now, as my LBS is pants. I went in on Saturday looking for tubes with removable valve cores and he said they had none. They only had about 6 tubes in the whole shop so I took the biggest one they had which had a 60mm valve. I asked him if he would order some tubes in and he basically said no, that it wasn't something they wanted to stock (what the hell?). Then when I got home I discovered the Conti tube I bought had a removable core!

So I have decided I am never going there again, or giving them any business. Internet for me from now on (which is where 90% of my stuff has come from anyway).

N

**mikekchar** · 23rd December 2012

I love working on my bike. I've been known to take it apart and put it back together even when there is nothing wrong with it. The elegance of the engineering is amazing. Also as a computer programmer, it's very nice to work on something where the parts are *meant* to fit together.

I've never built my own bike yet, though. I really want to do that soon. Will be cruising the internet to build a commuter. Don't say anything, though. I haven't told my long suffering wife yet. She wants to blow all our money on beer and football... Hmm... I really shouldn't complain.

**freester** · 24th December 2012

I think it all depends on time for me.

I've spent some money investing in tools and a stand etc. It's a nice social evening fettling a mate's bike, having a beer and a gas while we are doing it.

That said occasionally I do drop my bike in at my (not so local) bike shop. When I don't have time to do things myself.

I built up my last MTB. The only thing I didn't do was was face the BB and Head shells and move the Headset cups over. I waited while my LBS did it. He didn't charge me for it either (I have a good relationship with the LBS and buy a lot of kit there so they look after me).

I have now bought a headset removal tool and press. I know there are other ways of doing it but I am awful at bodging and find stuff so much easier with the right tool for the job.

I think my investment in tools has probably paid back in time / money / petrol saved going to the bike shop for a fit / repair.

There isn't much I can't do these days. Probably:

- build a wheel (happy to true one though)
- face head / bb tubes.

**phil tregear 2** · 13th January 2013

I know Im not a natural mechanic or engineer. However, fixing bikes is within my grasp and so very useful when you break down at the side of the road. It has also been good to pass down my knowledge to my even more mechanically illiterate son. he is riding from Istanbul to UK this summer and will doubtless need to do some DIY on the bike in this journey.

**VLAD (the Friendly Vamp)** · 13th January 2013

You bunch of COMMIES.
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I keep the country flying and employment levels down and consider the wider aspect of life.
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Thats why I pay my mate at the LBS to look after my lovley steed.
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Also its all under guarantee then as well.