DIY Bike Maintenance

[NW Girl]

Best resources and tools for learning to do your own bike maintenance….especially for someone not especially handy?  It's definitely one of my goals this year….and will save us a lot of money in the future! Thanks!
 

[Jack]

Youtube, Park Tool's website, and bikeforums.net (and of course, this forum) for learning resources.

For tools, an allen wrench set and/or a crescent wrench or a socket set will go a long way. IMO, try to avoid buying specialized "bike tools" until you actually need a specific tool for a specific job. Park Tool has a good reputation, but I suspect whatever cheap stuff you find on Amazon, Nashbar.com or wherever would be fine unless you're opening a shop. Buying specialized tools from places that have brick-and-mortar stores like PerformanceBike and REI can also be a good idea, so you can more easily return them if you get the wrong thing (since many tools are made to work on a particular proprietary brand or type of part).

Atlanta has a bicycle co-op where (for a small donation) you can use their tools to work on the bike yourself, and they'll help you and teach you. If your area has a similar thing, that would be ideal.

[ROY2007]

I'll add RJ the Bike Guy's YouTube channel as well.

[nereo]

For when you want to get into the nitty-gritty and philisophical reasons behind every bike component and configuration possible (plus a lot of great advice about bike maintenance)

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/

[Jack]

For when you want to get into the nitty-gritty and philisophical reasons behind every bike component and configuration possible (plus a lot of great advice about bike maintenance)

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/

Oh shit, how'd I forget that? That's the best resource of all!

[Syonyk]

YouTube will have endless videos on how to do anything you'd ever possibly want to do on your bike as well.

But, basically, dive in and start working on it.

When you discover you need a specific tool (freewheel tool, headset tool, bottom bearing tool, chain splitter, etc), buy it and enjoy.

[big_slacker]

Get yourself one of these:

http://www.amazon.com/Conquer-Bicycle-Repair-Tool-Kit/dp/B00NMKVFOA/ref=sr_1_3?s=outdoor-recreation&ie=UTF8&qid=1453695693&sr=1-3&refinements=p_89%3AConquer

Most of what you'll need. And then buy any specialized tools when you have to do that job.

A cheap bike stand/clamp is very much a nice to have but not needed. I should own one but I don't, and have built several bikes from the frame up.

Youtube vids like everyone else says. I'd say the 4 most common are:

Change a flat
Tune brakes
Tune shifting
Replace chain

You'll go far with just that.

[GuitarStv]

Get yourself one of these:

http://www.amazon.com/Conquer-Bicycle-Repair-Tool-Kit/dp/B00NMKVFOA/ref=sr_1_3?s=outdoor-recreation&ie=UTF8&qid=1453695693&sr=1-3&refinements=p_89%3AConquer

Most of what you'll need. And then buy any specialized tools when you have to do that job.

A cheap bike stand/clamp is very much a nice to have but not needed. I should own one but I don't, and have built several bikes from the frame up.

Youtube vids like everyone else says. I'd say the 4 most common are:

Change a flat
Tune brakes
Tune shifting
Replace chain

You'll go far with just that.

You can build a half-assed stand out of some 2x4 scraps and a rope.

[Jack]

A cheap bike stand/clamp is very much a nice to have but not needed. I should own one but I don't, and have built several bikes from the frame up.

You can build a half-assed stand out of some 2x4 scraps and a rope.

I recently bought a (used) Pedro's work stand. I certainly wouldn't call it "frugal," but IMO it's worth it if it stops you from paying a shop for repairs (or worse, driving).

Another option, if you have a suitable permanent mounting point, would be to buy only the clamp part of a work stand -- it would probably be much more stable than a cheap free-standing one.

I agree that work stands are not strictly necessary, though. I also rebuilt a bike without having one.

[big_slacker]

You can build a half-assed stand out of some 2x4 scraps and a rope.

I've used a number of half assed solutions when building or maintaining my bikes. :D

Almost every time a stand was wanted I just hung the bike by the seat with the rear wheel off the ground so I could tune shifting.

Used a threaded barbell to press in headsets and bottom bracket shells.

PVC pipe and a rubber mallet to seat crown race.

Old stem (as a guide for a straight cut) and a hacksaw to cut steer tubes.

So many redneck solutions for expensive bike specialty tools.

[GuitarStv]

I've used a PVC pipe a mallet for a crown race, but really like the idea of an old stem and hacksaw for cutting steer tubes.  Thanks!