True. I was thinking of the OP who said he has a 1990's bike.
Originally Posted by
Drew Eckhardt
Modern bikes have fewer user serviceable components and need for special wrenches / spanners and those needn't be too expensive if your parts are too cheap or retro
(snip)
On the co-worker with a broken spoke - replacing a spoke should cost about $20-30 at a bike shop. How often do spokes break on a well-built and tensioned, appropriately chosen, and not abused wheel of the standard 36 three-cross type - in my experience, almost never. Granted a spoke wrench costs just $5, but for a DIY'er replacing his first spoke, it will take well longer than it will take to drop the bike at the shop and pick it up. More than 60 minutes for sure.