learning bike repair/maintenance - where to start?

[tofuchampion]

I've been bike commuting for over 2 years (quite by accident - totalled my car, started biking bc I was broke and couldn't afford to replace it, and just never stopped), but I have somehow managed to avoid doing any sort of repairs or maintenance.  My LBS does my annual tuneups and I've also gone there for things like replacing brake cables.  My husband was a bike technician at Dick's for a while and he does things like replace my tubes & tires.  I have done very basic things like wrapping handlebars and attaching a headlight.  The most complicated thing I've done was put on a rack & panniers.

Anyway, I figure it's time to learn how to do more.  I hate being dependent on other people, and I hate paying for basic maintenance.  TBH, I don't want to go to my husband for advice, because his knowledge is based on his old job and there was a lot of bullshit (such as, he keeps telling me I need to replace my tubes once a month, which is ridiculous based on everything The Google and my fave LBS tells me, and is likely what Dick's told their customers in order to sell more crap). 

I just bought new tubes (genuinely needed; my old ones weren't holding air) and my first project is to install them, hopefully before work tomorrow night.  I also am having an issue with my rear brake - it's tight and sometimes makes a weird noise like it's dragging on the tire; I think the bike shop messed something up when they did it last summer.  I want to repaint it at some point; I have a lot of chipping and whatnot (it's an old bike, 1972 Schwinn Varsity), but I know that's a pretty major project to take on, and can wait.  Tuneups, from what I've read, can be DIY.

I know YouTube is a good source of how-to; what specific channels would y'all recommend?  What are the basic tools I should start with?  I have tire levers and a multi-tool, and we have some non-bike-specific stuff like wrenches & pliers.  What are good books or websites on bike maintenance? 

What basic maintenance should I be doing?  Stuff like cleaning & lubing the chain - how often does that need to be done?  How often to tune up?  I really love my bike and want to make her last as long as possible, but without spending a ton of money or outsourcing everything.  I also want to have the confidence that if something happens on a longer ride, I can handle it.  Along those lines, what should I have in an emergency repair kit?

Any and all wisdom/advice/recommendations are very much appreciated! 

[wizlem]

Sheldon Brown http://www.sheldonbrown.com/articles.html. Everything you might want to know is probably there.

Just buy tools as you need them. Most things on bikes are metric as far as basic nuts and bolts go.

Unless something is wrong you don't need to do anything. Only routine things are pumping the tires and oiling the chain. I'm lazy so I only pump my tires when they seem low and oil my chain when it gets a little squeeky. Bearings need some maintenance but they can usually last a couple years without regreasing.

I always carry a bike pump, tubes, multitool, patch kit and a dollar bill. If you somehow slice your tire, you can place the dollar inside the tire to keep the tube from blowing out the slice.

[jmusic]

As Wiz mentioned, Sheldon Brown is a great resource, and I'll also add that there's plenty of instruction on Youtube.  Park Tool has a Youtube channel that covers quite a bit of stuff. 

Also, get a work stand, it makes working on your bike SOOOO much easier.

[Rage]

I would recommend buying a toolkit so you have everything you'll ever need.  Buying tools as you go costs more, and it's very satisfying to pull out your bicycle toolkit and have everything you need right there in front of you.  I have this kit from nashbar:

http://www.nashbar.com/bikes/Product_10053_10052_524452_-1___

if that link doesn't work, it's the Nashbar Essential Tool Kit.  It's $50.  I think the $150 one is basically the same but with nicer handles.  (though ball-end allen wrenches can be super-handy some times)

I've had it for about 10 years and used every tool in it at some point.  (And mine is an older version, with a few relic tools that are missing from this version)

I also have a bike stand (~$150) and a truing stand (~$50?).  Eventually you'll get to a point where you're like, yep, I need those, but you can get by without them for a long time. 

I only replace tubes when they don't hold air (but always carry a spare), and for emergencies I pack a multi-tool, patch kit, and tiny pump.

And remember to clean your chain before you lube it.  I do that maybe twice a year on my commuter (short commute), and every 3 or 4 rides on my mountain bike. 

Zinn and the Art of Mountain/Road Bike Maintenance is a great book to have to read about various things like tuning.  It can be a pain in the ass because it talks about the 10 billion types of everything  you can have (disc brakes, hydraulic disc brakes, mechanical disc brakes, V-brakes), but it's still helpful.

I don't have a favorite youtube channel, I just google everything.

In terms of wisdom and advice - if something is really stuck, don't push really hard without noting where you're going to end up if it suddenly gives.  it's very easy to really mess up your knuckles.  Bike maintenance is very difficult in my opinion.  I'm sure a lot of people will disagree with me, but I do just about everything, I repair a lot of stuff on my car that most people wouldn't, I repair most of the stuff in my house, I'm an engineer in RL, and I think bike maintenance is extremely challenging.  But that doesn't mean you should pay someone else to do it, it just means you should be super proud of yourself any time your bike is in better condition after you work on it than when you started.

[Cromacster]

Sheldon Brown is a good resource, as said above.

I learned how to do most of the maintenance when I purchased my first bike.  I bought it on ebay and it showed up in a box, so I had to put it together.  Doing that lets you essentially learn how to do any sort of maintenance to your bike.

[Thegoblinchief]

I don't have a favorite YouTube channel but I have searched around when I felt like I needed a more visual walk through. Otherwise, Sheldon Brown is a good resource for overall knowledge building.

Truing wheels is something I still outsource, but I've been able to fix/maintain everything else.

[Rage]

Truing a wheel is super easy if you have V-brakes, then your frame and brakes act as a truing stand.  Here's a video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=svMMaGMsIMw

I saw a bike shop once where they had taken an old fork with v-brakes and had it set up in a corner as a truing stand.  When I retire I'm going to do that, because it looked so bad-ass and half-ass at the same time.

[tofuchampion]

Wow.  Lots of good advice here, thanks!

I will definitely check out Sheldon Brown, and Rage, I'll see if the library has that book. 

I am so clueless, I don't even know what half the terminology in this thread means.  I've never heard of truing a wheel; no idea what that refers to.  I don't know the names of all the bike parts.  Etc.

[Rage]

I used to go mountain biking with a group of friends every Thursday after work, and I learned all this terminology as I broke stuff.  "Dude, your wheel looks crazy untrue".  "Dude, it looks like your headset is loose."  "Dude, you need to check that chain for stretch, doesn't look good dude."

I'm not sure how else you'd learn this stuff, besides getting a summer job as a bike mechanic in a resort town like Telluride or Vail.  I'm sure there are videos on how to tune up your bike, or how to check it over to make sure it's ready to ride - that's how you'll realize things need fixin' and start the learnin'.

[La Bibliotecaria Feroz]

I'm just chiming in here because I was about to post the same question! My chain seems noisier than usual so I figure I need some kind of maintenance.

[Thegoblinchief]

I'm just chiming in here because I was about to post the same question! My chain seems noisier than usual so I figure I need some kind of maintenance.

Probably needs to be lubricated. Technically you're supposed to degrease it and then relube. I am usually lazy. I apply excess lube, run the chain around a few times to work it in, then wipe the dirt and lube off with a rag.

Best two lubes are Triflow or Boeshield T-9. Typically much cheaper online than in a store.

[FreeWheel]

OP, I've been a bicycle rebuilder since childhood. 40+ year old Chicago built Schwinns like yours are extremely sturdy bikes, and well worth maintaining properly. Unless it has been done recently, all 4 of your bearing sets (crank, headset, and both wheels) should be re greased and adjusted. The original grease is long gone. This will require a few special tools and some knowledge.

The best way to learn is find a knowledgable person willing to show you. Hands on training is best.

Ask people you know, maybe even join a bicycle club, and you may be able to find a bike savvy person like myself willing to teach you the skills needed. Any mustachian's in Chicagoland can PM me if interested in same. 

[GuitarStv]

Best two lubes are Triflow or Boeshield T-9.

I'm quite fond of White Lightning's Wet Ride lube myself.  :P

Not to open up a religious war here, but I strongly suspect that the best bike chain lube depends on the conditions ridden in.  The best lube for Toronto in the dead of winter is probably not the best lube for Las Vegas in the summer.  The best lube for someone who bikes when it's warm and sunny out is not going to be the best lube for someone who is a daily commuter rain or shine.

[zinnie]

I am no expert but I just watched a lot of YouTube while looking at my bike and following along. It only took a couple of weekends to understand most of it. Then I took parts of it apart and put them back together. A lot of changing gears and tightening/loosening things and just watching what everything did. Hands on was key for me; I feel like reading a book would have been too abstract.

I don't know that you need to memorize timelines about when things need to be done--just know what it looks/feels like when it is working best and check for rust and wear every so often and you should be set. When the chain looks gunky or the brake pads are worn down, you'll notice!

All I have is a multi-tool that has spoke wrenches, and more allen wrenches at home, as using the tiny tool gets old after a while. I have never needed a bike stand or truing stand--just turning the bike upside down has worked fine for me.

[NoraLenderbee]

You can definitely learn on your own. Sheldon Brown's web site is terrific. If you like to learn from books, I recommend Anybody's Bike Book by Tom Cuthbertson. Look for the most recent edition. He covers all the basics with a wonderful sense of humor. Pick one task or thing to fix---for example, your rear brake. Read up on it, figure it out in your mind, and then just buy the one or two tools you need for it (if any).  I taught myself to do all my own bike work this way in the days before YouTube.

For on-the-road needs, you should have at least:
tire levers
spare tube
pump or some other device to inflate the tube
Allen keys, wrenches or a adjustable wrench that will fit important fasteners on your bike, like the seat tube clamp, the stem bolt, and (if you have bolt-on wheels) the wheels.


Change the tubes every month? ROFL!

[zoltani]

Park tool website is a great resource:

http://www.parktool.com/blog/repair-help

[Reddleman]

Also check if there are any community bike associations- generally non-profits, that support biking.  I got my start in bike repair and maintenance at one.  They generally have free classes and a pretty supportive DIY culture.

I started with a class there, built my first commuter, and volunteered for years. 

[hyla]

A few 70s schwinn specific notes, since I fixed up one of those as my commuter a couple of years ago too...

Although most modern bikes have metric bolts, 70s schwinns have US sized bolts.  Also, varsity's (and suburbans, breezes, collegiates etc.) have bizarre, schwinn specific rim (597 mm) and tire sizes.  http://sheldonbrown.com/chicago-schwinns.html


If you want to attach a modern rack to carry stuff, you can get p-clamps at the hardware store to clamp around the seatstays since schwinns don't have eyelets there to attach a rack. 

They are great sturdy bikes, but the brakes on them are pretty bad.  I'd suggest just replacing them with new ones.  I put a new front brake on mine and it is SO MUCH BETTER.  Also, maybe a bit more involved than you are looking for, but the original steel rims are lousy for braking in the rain, I built new wheels with aluminum rims for mine (mine now has 590mm rims, which is close enough to 597mm to fit in the frame, and has more rim and tire options). 

[NinetyFour]

Posting here to follow thread.

[tofuchampion]

A few 70s schwinn specific notes, since I fixed up one of those as my commuter a couple of years ago too...

Although most modern bikes have metric bolts, 70s schwinns have US sized bolts.  Also, varsity's (and suburbans, breezes, collegiates etc.) have bizarre, schwinn specific rim (597 mm) and tire sizes.  http://sheldonbrown.com/chicago-schwinns.html


If you want to attach a modern rack to carry stuff, you can get p-clamps at the hardware store to clamp around the seatstays since schwinns don't have eyelets there to attach a rack. 

They are great sturdy bikes, but the brakes on them are pretty bad.  I'd suggest just replacing them with new ones.  I put a new front brake on mine and it is SO MUCH BETTER.  Also, maybe a bit more involved than you are looking for, but the original steel rims are lousy for braking in the rain, I built new wheels with aluminum rims for mine (mine now has 590mm rims, which is close enough to 597mm to fit in the frame, and has more rim and tire options).

I've already put a rack on, and yes, I got p-clamps. 

Agreed about the brakes.  I have new ones that were put on last summer, but braking in the rain still sucks.  I thought I might need new/more grippy tires, but I guess I should look into replacing the rims at some point instead.

I won't be doing a ton of riding in the immediate future - I'm expecting a baby in less than a month, and after maternity leave, I'll only be going back to work one night a week, cutting my commuting by 3/4.  I doubt I'll have the time or stamina for long cycling club rides, either.  BUT, I do plan to get an indoor trainer, so I can ride while baby sleeps or whatever, and I'm hoping that after the first couple of months, when we have a routine established, I might have time for more tinkering.  I'd love to paint it this winter, but I don't have a garage, and NC winters tend to be rainy, so doing it on the patio might not be an option.  We'll see.

Still haven't replaced the tubes, but I have 2 nights off work after tonight, and I WILL get it done.

[Rage]

I do plan to get an indoor trainer, so I can ride while baby sleeps or whatever

Hah!  You will be lucky if you get to sleep when the baby sleeps.  Lucky indeed.

[tofuchampion]

I do plan to get an indoor trainer, so I can ride while baby sleeps or whatever

Hah!  You will be lucky if you get to sleep when the baby sleeps.  Lucky indeed.

I don't mean in the first few weeks.  Obviously I will be glued to the couch with a baby glued to my chest.  But by the time she's 2, 3, 4 months old, I don't see why I wouldn't be able to find 20-30 minutes here and there.

This isn't my first child; I know what I'm getting myself into.  ;)  Hence wanting to get a trainer, rather than thinking I'll be making it to Spin class or cycling club rides every week.

[La Bibliotecaria Feroz]

You're a better woman than I am. I'm so lazy, I got a work-at-home job just so I would have an excuse to sit on my ass with a cup of coffee during nap time :-). (Now a mostly defunct concept, but we still have Sesame Street time.)

[GuitarStv]

If that bike has steel rims, you want to replace them as soon as possible.  On a wet ride the braking surface works about as well as trying to use your jacket as a parachute to slow down.

[flashpacker]

Places like REI have free bike maintenance classes too.

[tofuchampion]

No REI around here.  There is an LBS that offers maintenance classes, though I'm not sure if they're free.

GuitarStv, I will add rim replacement to my list of Shit To Do With My Bike.  My solution so far has just been to avoid riding in the rain whenever possible, but that feels kind of wimpy.  :)

[SweetTPi]

I would also suggest seeing if there is a local bike co-op, and if they offer help, shop time, etc.  I just joined one here, and am learning how to do my own maintenance by overhauling donated kids bikes.  In fact, with what I've learned so far, I'm planning on taking my own bike in during open shop so I can redo my wheels this weekend.  They have all the tools and expertise I need to do a passable job.

[sleepystaff]

following

[hyla]

Agreed about the brakes.  I have new ones that were put on last summer, but braking in the rain still sucks.  I thought I might need new/more grippy tires, but I guess I should look into replacing the rims at some point instead.

I won't be doing a ton of riding in the immediate future - I'm expecting a baby in less than a month, and after maternity leave, I'll only be going back to work one night a week, cutting my commuting by 3/4.  I doubt I'll have the time or stamina for long cycling club rides, either.  BUT, I do plan to get an indoor trainer, so I can ride while baby sleeps or whatever, and I'm hoping that after the first couple of months, when we have a routine established, I might have time for more tinkering.  I'd love to paint it this winter, but I don't have a garage, and NC winters tend to be rainy, so doing it on the patio might not be an option.  We'll see.

Still haven't replaced the tubes, but I have 2 nights off work after tonight, and I WILL get it done.

Yes, if you've already replaced brakes, I'd suggest aluminum rims.  I bought these rims for mine http://harriscyclery.net/product/sun-36-hole-cr-18-590-mm-26-x-1-3-8-satin-finish-3319.htm.  I built my own wheels, which actually is less intimidating of a project than it sounds, especially if you can go to a nonprofit bike shop or knowledgeable friend for help, but if you don't want to deal with that a bike shop could build you wheels.  If you can't deal with rims immediately, you might try the salmon colored kool-stop brake pads.

[frompa]

I second the building your own wheels suggestion. I did the same a few years ago, around an internal hub generator, which is how I power my front and rear lights.  I was intimidated by this, but asked around for help at my local bike co-op, and found the process highly entertaining... sometimes one must delicately fiddle with this and that, and sometimes one must pound the hell out of the thing with a rubber mallet.  Who knew?  Anyway, I've relied on that lighting system for years, and its performance has been flawless, as has the wheel itself.  In general, the fine thing about bike maintenance is that it's all pretty much right in front of your nose for you to see how it works. (This is less so with the advent of disc brakes and for bikes with suspension.) I hope you enjoy this process. 

[tofuchampion]

Well.  The new tubes are in.  Unfortunately I couldn't ride tonight, because I am really super smart and didn't tighten the nuts on the back wheel enough.  So when I started to pedal, the rear wheel slid out and jammed against... something sticking out from the main frame a little.  So I'll need to take it off and reinstall it.

This stuff isn't hard, I know that.  I am just dumb and/or mechanically challenged.  Let's not get into how long it took me to actually get the rear wheel off...and then back on. 

[NoraLenderbee]

Don't feel bad. You're doing great! It's not hard once you know how--but if you've never done it before and have little mechanical experience, it takes a long time and lots of mistakes. I made the same kind of oh-duh mistakes a lot when I was learning. The great thing is that you tackled it. And now you know how to remove and install the wheel, which you'll never forget how to do.

[tofuchampion]

Thanks, NoraLenderbee.

It's working now.  I got to work last night, anyway.  But there's something off about the front brake; if I use it, it sticks to one side of my tire.  So I can't use it unless I want to listen to a squealing noise.  This mostly sucks because it's my "good" brake; the rear one doesn't really work as well. 

Also, husband said my cassette is loose.  We don't have the tool(s) to fix that (according to him - idk what I'd need), though apparently a LBS should be able to do it pretty cheap.  I think I'd rather buy the tool and fix it myself; I can't imagine it would be too hard.  Then again, I thought replacing tubes would be a simple, straightforward thing, and I clearly was off-base there.

I have less than 3 weeks till I go on maternity leave; I just need it to work till then.  When I go back to work at the end of December/beginning of January, I'll only be there part-time, and scheduled around Mr Tofu's schedule, so I really wouldn't have to bike at all.  I want to.  I will.  But the point is that my immediate priority is to make/keep the bike usable for the next 2 1/2 weeks.

[GuitarStv]

There's something called a 'cassette removal tool' that costs about 10$ and two very skinny wrenches (called cone wrenches) for 10 - 20$ that you need to adjust your hubs and cassette.  They're very handy tools to have, as you can regrease and replace bearings in your wheels (and cassette) with them.  I vote buying them.

For the brake:
http://www.parktool.com/blog/repair-help/linear-pull-brake-service-v-brake-type
http://www.parktool.com/blog/repair-help/cantilever-brake-service
http://www.parktool.com/blog/repair-help/sidepull-brake-service

You have one of those three brakes, just look at the pictures to identify which one, and follow the instructions to adjust them.  This is a pretty straightforward thing that you will find yourself doing often . . . definitely worth learning.  You just need some allen keys and maybe a screwdriver.  The front brake is much better at stopping you than the rear brake, you want to get that functioning ASAP.

[tofuchampion]

How do I know what size cassette removal tool I need? 

[GuitarStv]

You can take the rear wheel off and ask at the bike shop, or (as usual) Park tools will tell you all about it:  http://www.parktool.com/blog/repair-help/cassette-and-freewheel-removal

[rocksinmyhead]

Just wanted to follow along this thread as well. I'm a fellow bike repair/maintenance newbie. So far all I've figured out how to do is patch a tube, replace a tube, and put on rim tape... but the feeling of accomplishment for all of those was pretty amazing!! (oh, and I learned how to adjust my brakes, I have the same problem you had every time I take off my wheels pretty much.) Next up: cleaning and lubing the chain!

[tofuchampion]

Just wanted to follow along this thread as well. I'm a fellow bike repair/maintenance newbie. So far all I've figured out how to do is patch a tube, replace a tube, and put on rim tape... but the feeling of accomplishment for all of those was pretty amazing!! (oh, and I learned how to adjust my brakes, I have the same problem you had every time I take off my wheels pretty much.) Next up: cleaning and lubing the chain!

Cleaning & lubing the chain is easy!  You don't even need to take it off... at least I hope not, because I didn't.  I had some cleaner & lube, so I did it while I had the back wheel off.  It's kind of fun to get all the layers of grime off.

Congrats on your achievements so far, and good luck!

[NoraLenderbee]

Fix the brake first. A loose cassette is not something you need to fix urgently.

rocksinmyhead, congratulations! You now can do the most common 90% of all maintenance on a bike. :)

[Less]

+1 for Triflow lube, and also worth learning is how to tune derailleurs. Quite easy and will make riding much more pleasant. I hate the sound of chains squeaking or catching.

I have a spoke replacement that i need to do at the moment and have been putting off.... Truing wheels is satisfying when it's done but it can be fiddly work.