Bicycle Mechanics - Repair you're most proud of

What's the repair you're most proud of? I'm not talking about stuff that would put your bike in the "alt" forum. I'm talking about the repair and maintenance that keeps your bike running or makes it run better.

For me, it was overhauling my hubs. I loved knowing that I had taken apart that "black box," cleaned it, and put them back together correctly.

The only thing I ask is that people don't flame someone who lists a "simple" repair. Every experienced mechanic had to change his or her first tire. And, at the time, it probably felt pretty darned good.

Screwing on my fender when it started to rattle i did it so good it stop rattling...

Actually it's not one repair but a catagory of repairs. And it's pretty simple too.

I've had the opportunity to work on the shifting on a lot of bikes after other mechanics have been frustrated or given up. The first thing that I do is to check the derailleur hanger alignment. In almost every case, that's been the reason for the problem.

Well, there was this really hot chick with a flat tire once...

I'd have to say changing out my own bottom bracket. Not hard to do, but it's nice to know that you can do it yourself. That, and changing out cassettes.

I have given away more tubes to chicks on the trails in Southern California than I've used myself. Best repair? That would have to be rebuilding my wife's Fox shock with no manual. Best overall job? Assembling our tandem from pieces sourced from around the world over 4 months.

The repair im most proud of is when the shop said "its gonna cost 60 bucks at least for a wiper seal change". I said screw that and did it myself without a manual

Got a set of 7-speed RSX shifters to work again, and they still work two years later.

Fixing a broken spoke on day one of a week long mountainbike trip by forming loops in the broken ends and binding it together with wire from the heater control cable of my 1960 Mercedes sedan. Worked like a charm.

Installing my headset with only a hammer.

patching my tube on the side of the road for the first time ever, relativly quickly

Adjusting the rear deraileur for the first time and actually have it shift right without a bike stand...

Replacing 8 inches of seatstay and not having it look like it. Making a killer keychain out of the replaced chunk.

Fixing a huge gash in my tire with a piece of plastic I found on the side of the road.

I'm proud it it because it held all the way from Hemet over the mountains into Palm Desert.

Making a bent fork rideable (so we could finish a tour in the Canadian Rockies) using a piece of 1" tubular nylon webbing and a heavy wooden picnic table in the campground.

everytime I learn something new.
I went from making everything worse when i tried to "fix" things, to overhauling hubs and headsets, to installing BBs and cranks to finally building up my fixie.

I've still got to learn how to build wheels though.

Fishing a like new three speed out of the trash, finding a decent hi-ten mtb in a parking lot, spending a few hours and coming up with the ultimate city bike. Everything fit and worked smooth as silk.....A Frankenstein masterpiece. :D


sold bike to friend for $20. It got stolen in 2 days because he didn't believe me when I told him they'll steal any bike in NYC that isn't locked properly. :(

sold him another bike the next day for $50 (cheap chromed mtb frame with BMX cruiser parts!!) :p That one creaked a bit here and there.....

my best was when i had unsealed wheels and i was cleaning them out and had to put each individual ball bearing back in the race then put the races back into the hub, then true the wheel.

Took an old road bike stripped everything off the frame. Sanded it to bare metal grinded the frame smooth no hangers anywere. Painted it redished a 5 speed back wheel chain rides stait as an arrow. New cartrage bb new barrings top and bottom in the steerer. I never had a clue how to do it till I till I found this site. Thanks.

I recently built up an Orbea for my wife. The build was fun (aren't they always!) but what I'm most proud of was the way I hid all the parts around our condo as I aquired them until build day. The bike was a surprise; I had the frame in my closet behing the clothes, the wheels under the bed in the guest room... you get the idea.

My wife is one of those women who always knows when I'm "up to something" so pulling this one off was a real coup. Bike came out nice, too!

Not a repair job..... but my very first wheelset I built, still holding up strong after ten plus years.

Fixed a rapid fire shifter that quite working because a bolt loosened up. Took a while to figure out how all the springs were supposed to be attached.

Took an old road bike stripped everything off the frame. Sanded it to bare metal grinded the frame smooth no hangers anywere. Painted it redished a 5 speed back wheel chain rides stait as an arrow. New cartrage bb new barrings top and bottom in the steerer. I never had a clue how to do it till I till I found this site. Thanks. Very nice. :beer:

I'm riding a bike that was headed for the dumpster because of an ovalized headtube. I'm proud that my shims are working out so well. I've put it through quite a lot of heavy jarring stuff and it's still tight and buttery smooth. Yay me.

Screwing on my fender when it started to rattle i did it so good it stop rattling...
My fender stay was rattling against my rack stay. Solution? Zip tie the two together. That was my first real non-book improvised repair.

While not technically a repair, my first wheel build was probably my proudest moment. Even after the 500 or so that followed, I still remember that first wheel.

A close second would be the first time as a kid, I successfully tore apart a coaster hub and replaced the brake shoes inside. My friends were awestruck. And frankly, so was I. Rookie luck. Shortly thereafter, I ruined the next three I touched.

Mine was probably when I snapped the rear derailleur hanger off of my AlpineStars mountain bike. I stuck the derailleur in my jersey pocket, got my chain tool out, and shortened the chain, effectively making the bike a single-speed.

Finished the ride (2 more hrs) in single-speed mode.

The odd thing was that I was not that much slower! Go figure.

Installing my headset with only a hammer.
I've done that. I also did one once w/ a big "C" clamp and some washers (it was an aluminum Super Record and I didn't want to use a hammer on that one).

For me, it was overhauling my hubs. I loved knowing that I had taken apart that "black box," cleaned it, and put them back together correctly.

I'm with you there. Did the front a couple weeks ago; finally got the right tool to do the rear last Friday.