Southern California - Free Basic Bicycle Maintenance at Santa Monica REI

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Basic Bike Maintenance
1/9/2007 6:30 PM


If you ride a bicycle, then you need this class! The Basic Bicycle Maintenance Class is an informative class that will teach you how to lube a chain, fix a flat tire in record time, and make other minor adjustments to your bicycle. A great lead-in class to the Comprehensive Bike Maintenance Class.

Tuesday, January 9th at 6:30 PM
Santa Monica


Location: REI Santa Monica
Contact: 310-458-4370
Cost: Free
Registration Required? No.

My experience with REI was terrible. I took a paid maintenance class and demanded my money back. That was my experience and perhaps others had better luck, but I thought I'd share. :o

Thanks for sharing the info Gizem! :)

Go to the bookstore and look for Zinn and the art of Road Bike maintenance.... there is also a mountain bike version out....

GREAT books and a good way to learn how to work on your own bike

My experience with REI was terrible. I took a paid maintenance class and demanded my money back. That was my experience and perhaps others had better luck, but I thought I'd share. :o

Thanks for sharing the info Gizem! :)

Good to know ME...I was considering taking this class. I think I'll just buy a good book instead.

bike maintenance party over beer and pizza, better....:D

I got a portable workstand so any of you locally to me wanna use it to try your hand at maintenance, lemme know....

bike maintenance party over beer and pizza, better....:D
Sure. YOU lead and provide Pizza. I'll BYOB. :D

bike maintenance party over beer and pizza, better....:D

I'll go for the pizza, but will pass on the beer!! not really a drinker!! :D

What a bunch of smartazzes!:mad:

This is where I learned to build my own wheels!...okay, not really!:D

What a bunch of smartazzes!:mad:

This is where I learned to build my own wheels!...okay, not really!:D

I worked as a bike mechanic right out of High School and could do any repair, even minor truing. But wheel building was one thing that I STILL cant do!!! I'd love to learn before I die though....

http://sheldonbrown.com/diy/index.html

If Sheldon doesn't know it, you don't need to know it.

http://sheldonbrown.com/diy/index.html

If Sheldon doesn't know it, you don't need to know it.

Well recently I emailed him a detailed description of an issue I had with my freehub and he had no clue!! hehehe I ended up fixing it myself... :D

Yup, I built my wheels after reading SB's site. Really common sense.

Yup, I built my wheels after reading SB's site. Really common sense.

I respoked a back wheel with the same instructions a while back. I am still looking for someone else to try riding on it. :D :D

Yup, I built my wheels after reading SB's site. Really common sense.


I got both of the Zinn books.... I just need a spare wheel to tear down to build back up.... Also its good to have a spoke tension tool and a dishing tool.... OH did I mention a truing stand? :)

Tension tool is a ballpark thing too. Use it to get close, then loosen and tigheten as required. SO will never be exact. I fiddled with some new bikes at the shop. Got the feel of the tension, then built my wheels. Took them to my friend that is an excellent builder. He checked them with the meter and they were right on. Well most cause you will never get them all exact!

I got a cheap azz true stand for $29. Dish tool for $12,wrench fo $3. The wheels I've built are so much better than those I paid $100 labor only. One fell apart after 20 miles from a high end shop!

Scary thing is that the guy that built my POS wheels now works at a Sport Chalet filling oxygen tanks for scuba divers! Hellify ever go there, if I take up diving!:D

My experience with REI was terrible. I took a paid maintenance class and demanded my money back. That was my experience and perhaps others had better luck, but I thought I'd share. :o That sucks that the REI class wasn't helpful. So, did they give you your money back?

I've never taken a class, but just keep in mind, that any class is only as good as the instructor. So other REIs might be different. That said, I think the best way to learn bike repair is hands-on.

Neccros, I have a set of wheels that aren't useable anymore (the spoke holes are developing cracks) so I'll teach you to tear them down and rebuild on my truing stand if you like. The rims and spokes are going into the trash eventually either way, and you won't be able to damage the hubs. I was taught wheel building by a former Olympic team member and built wheels for racers on the side for a few years. Let me know if you want to set up a time. Heck, we can make a party and call it a wheel building master class with you as the guinee pig if you like.

Neccros, I have a set of wheels that aren't useable anymore (the spoke holes are developing cracks) so I'll teach you to tear them down and rebuild on my truing stand if you like. The rims and spokes are going into the trash eventually either way, and you won't be able to damage the hubs. I was taught wheel building by a former Olympic team member and built wheels for racers on the side for a few years. Let me know if you want to set up a time. Heck, we can make a party and call it a wheel building master class with you as the guinee pig if you like.

That would be great UrbanKnight!!

I've never taken a class, but just keep in mind, that any class is only as good as the instructor. So other REIs might be different. That said, I think the best way to learn bike repair is hands-on.

+1. I'd rather learn from a person than a book. I'll give this class a shot - it's free anyway, got nothing to lose. If it sucks, I can always walk to the B&N on the Promenade and pick up the Zen books :)
See you there if you can make it...

That sucks that the REI class wasn't helpful. So, did they give you your money back?

I've never taken a class, but just keep in mind, that any class is only as good as the instructor. So other REIs might be different. That said, I think the best way to learn bike repair is hands-on.
Hey, James. I did get my money back, and I would agree that it is the instructor and not the establishment. But it turned me off from bike classes. I'd rather do the pizza/beer party and all of us get our hands dirty. :D

"bike maintenance party over beer and pizza, better"

Fixer -- set this up soon, I'm in! I'll volunteer my garage for a location!

I'm settin records with flats (6 in 3 rides), but improving on my tube changing skills. I need to learn more on general maintenance though.

We could even have a blindfold tube changing contest....:p

I've used Shelton Brown's site for wheel builds and its good.

Here are some other helpful maintenance sites:

MikeT's faq .....faq link (http://www.execulink.com/~dtierney/wmc/faq.htm)

Park Tool site is good too....Park Tool Site (http://www.parktool.com/repair/index.asp)

We could even have a blindfold tube changing contest....:p
Sure. I'd love to be blindfolded and handling tubes. And if beer and pizza are involved, I'd call it a date. You guys get to planning! :D