Just curious what the self-assumed level of expertise is.
I’m not a pro bike wrench by any means but do pretty much everything I can myself. I actually like the wrenching part almost as much as the riding. My co-workers ask me shit about their bikes all the time.
I have fixed a couple bikes that they left here at work because something was messed up that was easy to take care of and then they come back to magically ‘all better’ bikes. The only thing that limits what I do or will attempt to do is the lack of a specific tool or space. My lbs is really helpful and if it’s something I’m not sure of I have them give it a quick check over after. FWIW.
i definitely dont know as much as i could, so i ask for parts if they’ll fit and stuff like that, but i’m the “bike guy” in my dorm
i learn shit as soon as i’ve done it. so the more shit people help me with, the more self sustained i am.
it also helps having a bike shop where you work.
I wish I knew more and I am constantly learning new things.
Yesterday I put the new front suspention on my buddie’s mtb.
^Glad to see you took my sig advice.
Ps. It suits you well.
let me change my damn vote. Also there is a big diff between FG maintenance and regular maintenance.
It’s the difference between maintenance and no maintenance.
Fixed gear maintenance being alot easier generally.
Less stuff to mess with.
One has more zen.
I do all my own stuff.
I’ve never installed or removed a headset - hasn’t come up. I’d feel confident doing anything except maybe chasing/facing since I don’t have the tools. I feel like my work could improve to a certain extent as I’m completely self taught + sheldon + parktool.com/repair, but I get the job done as it is. I’ve built up or maintained a dozen+ bikes for myself and friends/family.
i dont know shit about bottom brackets or headsets
but i can work a mean allen wrench, and that seems to cover 90% of what i have to do
I can do most major stuff and assemble most bikes (though I know nothing about suspension). My only real lack of knowledge is matching up gearing systems if replacing just a single part and brake systems
whodathunkit, i’m weak in the areas of brakes and gearing…
[quote=“Straws”]I can do most major stuff and assemble most bikes (though I know nothing about suspension). My only real lack of knowledge is matching up gearing systems if replacing just a single part and brake systems
whodathunkit, i’m weak in the areas of brakes and gearing…[/quote]
buy an old six speed.
tear it apart and rebuild, and you will have the basics of gears down solid, then work your way up to indexed/brifters/pull ratios etc.
I can do everything on my own bike. The difference between me and a pro mechanic is, they are a lot faster and more importantly, they can do everything on a huge variety of bikes. Helping out friends at the local co-op, I’m continually thrown for a loop by all the different ways bike parts have been engineered, and it usually takes a while to figure out what to do.
Headsets are not that scary people.
Threaded ones at least.
I have yet to fuck with threadless.
[quote=“frankstoneline”][quote=“Straws”]I can do most major stuff and assemble most bikes (though I know nothing about suspension). My only real lack of knowledge is matching up gearing systems if replacing just a single part and brake systems
whodathunkit, i’m weak in the areas of brakes and gearing…[/quote]
buy an old six speed.
tear it apart and rebuild, and you will have the basics of gears down solid, then work your way up to indexed/brifters/pull ratios etc.[/quote]
yeah but even hearing about pull ratios and I’m like “fuck that”
[quote=“Straws”][quote=“frankstoneline”][quote=“Straws”]I can do most major stuff and assemble most bikes (though I know nothing about suspension). My only real lack of knowledge is matching up gearing systems if replacing just a single part and brake systems
whodathunkit, i’m weak in the areas of brakes and gearing…[/quote]
buy an old six speed.
tear it apart and rebuild, and you will have the basics of gears down solid, then work your way up to indexed/brifters/pull ratios etc.[/quote]
yeah but even hearing about pull ratios and I’m like “fuck that”[/quote]
awe, you just need somebody to work you through it buddy.
i can do just about everything FG myself, and started BB’s and headsets just a few months ago. gearing maintenance and adjustment i can do, but i’ve never done anything more complex than that (replacing parts and such like straws said). i’ve never done suspension, which i need to learn, and i’ve never built a wheel, which i really need to learn. i spent a lot of money this last summer on tools, though, and so far i have used every single one multiple times - i haven’t regretted spending a single cent on tools.
[quote=“FarAwayBoy”]Headsets are not that scary people.
Threaded ones at least.
I have yet to fuck with threadless.[/quote]
Threadless isn’t scary either. You just put it together the way it fits and amazingly it works.