Southern California - Bike maintenance classes in SoCal

Hi All, I'm still a relative newbie but Hubby and I are taking longer rides every week. Yesterday we rode 18 miles, and we plan to go further every week.

The further we go, the more I want to know how to do important bike maintenance, especially what to do in case of a flat tire. :eek:

Can anyone recommend an LBS or other source for good, hands-on bike maintenance instructions? I live near the Pomona Fairgrounds.

Thanks,
Jen

not sure where Pomona fairgrounds is(maybe close to sfv?). I'll be glad to show you how to fix a flat tire if you are relatively close. Join a local club, I think someone there would be willing to help you out also.

I'm not too great on other maintenance, I'm actually looking for a wrenching class during the summer myself to get more knowledge.

Is there an REI store nearby? They will have basic bike maintenance classes in the evenings.

Pomona fairgrounds is near I-10 and Hwy 57. Close to Covina (east end of SG Valley)

ovoleg: Thanks, but I'm quite a bit inland from you. Close to the San Bernardino county border (Glendora, San Dimas, Claremont, La Verne, Upland area...).

SoCalSlowGuy: Great! I'll look into the classes at REI.

I believe Helen's in Arcadia offers a class which includes multiple sessions if I'm not mistaken.

The best choice for a class would be the REI in Rancho Cucamonga.. Best LBS in your area Coates Cyclery in Pomona at the Corner of Foothill / Towne Ave..

Jen do you have a good floor pump with a gauge on it?

Keeping tires infated properly helps prevent flats. Also check after each ride for small bits of glass that may be working their way into the tube portion...

Even if you don't know how to fix a flat yet, make sure to carry spare tubes, quik stik or levers and a pump when you ride. At least that way it will enable a good samaritan-type to help you more easily...

And lastly...I taught myself how to fix a flat by referring to a book and online instruction...

http://www.kenkifer.com/bikepages/skills/fixflat.htm

http://mountainbike.about.com/od/flattirerepair/ss/Fix_Flat_2.htm

You will find even more online sites if you search "how to fix a flat"...

Parktool website has one of the best do-it-yourself sections with lots of pictures to guide you. Just place the cursor over the area on the bike and it will show you everything you need to know

http://www.parktool.com/repair/

Is there an REI store nearby? They will have basic bike maintenance classes in the evenings.

+1

The best choice for a class would be the REI in Rancho Cucamonga.. Best LBS in your area Coates Cyclery in Pomona at the Corner of Foothill / Towne Ave..

The best LBS? What kind of discounts is Cory giving you? I will say that one of the Coates mechanics, Jack, is top notch.

Has anyone here taken the advanced class at REI? How was it? What did it cover?

I've only taken the free basic one myself...

Thanks everyone.

Alice: Yes, we have a good floor pump, and I have a small one on my bike along with a spare tube, a lever, and a little set of tools. I need to check my tires for glass since I saw quite a bit of tiny glass pieces on our ride yesterday. I'm amazed how much of it lies along the shoulder of the road. It's impossible to avoid all of it without constantly swerving and leaning to and fro... I must have looked like an idiot to some of the elite riders that passed me.:o

Thanks to everyone for the links and advice -- I much appreciate it!

Jen

Has anyone here taken the advanced class at REI? How was it? What did it cover?

I've only taken the free basic one myself...
I did not like it. But my experience may have been a unique one. The mechanic who taught it took my chain and cassette off and then replaced both incorrectly. I took it to my bike shop to fix what he did. I also found that he tried to cover too much in the time we were there (3 hours, if I recall). There were too many people in the class too, so it took awhile for him to walk around and offer help. However, REI did give me my money back, so I don't want to completely naysay them...just my experience.

I basically borrowed a library book that showed how to overhaul your bike ... but then again, that was 20 years ago.

I basically borrowed a library book that showed how to overhaul your bike ... but then again, that was 20 years ago.

I'm the kind of person who can learn at home from a book, too. Some people might have a more difficult time learning that way and need a different approach.

Also I love old bikes so I've had lots of hands-on practice replacing tires, tape and tubes on all my bikes.

As for flats on the road I've been lucky it's been a couple years...(knocks on wood)

The last flat I got was a pinch flat for neglecting to check the air in my tires. The one before that was from a goathead! GOATHEAD!!!! Gotta hate 'em! :)

Has anyone here taken the advanced class at REI? How was it? What did it cover?

I've only taken the free basic one myself...

I did take the REI advanced class, and it was a waste of money and time. The mechanic who taught it was not the mastertech at the store, and I was under the impression that the class was going to be taught by the mastertech, whose work I was familiar and satisfied with in past dealings. In fact, I had asked him before signing up, if he was going to be teaching the class, and while he did not say outright that he'll teach the class, he very strongly gave me the impression that he'll teach it, hence my signing up.

My view is that the classes are only as good as the instructor.

It was a waste of my money, and I did not have the guts to ask for my money back. I should have demanded a refund.

Regards,

So whatever happened to our maintenance party thread??..:p :D

My view is that the classes are only as good as the instructor.

It was a waste of my money, and I did not have the guts to ask for my money back. I should have demanded a refund.

Regards,

Luc, what store did you take the class at? The REI in Altadena did give me my money back and for that they still get my business on other items (I am a member). If it wasn't that long ago, you could bring it up to them and still ask for a refund. You just might get one. :)

So whatever happened to our maintenance party thread??..:p :D
You mean the thread that turned into the orgy/hoedown/kissing-shaving-dunking-licking booth party thread? Hmmmm...I just don't know. :rolleyes: :p

So whatever happened to our maintenance party thread??..:p :D

Who has the most tools?

They win...;)

Here are two PDF downloads for you. They cover more about bicycles than you probably are ready for right now, but both cover flats and changing tires. Practice changing a tube at home before need to do it far far away. No cheating, use only what you would have carried. This way you will know what works and what does not.

You should be able to double click these links and the PDF will start to download. (I hope. I never setup a download on the BF before.) They are best if printed out in color.

(Edit) Looks like you will have to select SAVE AS after it opens.

Fix Anything PDF (ftp://ftp.capnet.ucla.edu/public/FiixAnything.pdf)

250 Tips (ftp://ftp.capnet.ucla.edu/public/250_tips.pdf)

So whatever happened to our maintenance party thread??..:p :D

I believe it was a great idea that went south because people were just messing around hijacking the thread.

I think that ME should revive it. I can't imagine there's anyone out there that can't learn something.

Luc, what store did you take the class at? The REI in Altadena did give me my money back and for that they still get my business on other items (I am a member). If it wasn't that long ago, you could bring it up to them and still ask for a refund. You just might get one. :)

I took the class at the Santa Ana REI store. I have been an REI member for at least fifteen years, and the whole REI experience has been great for me. I think the advanced bicycle maintenance class has been the only product/service I ever purchased from them that has made me unhappy or less satisfied than I envisioned.

I am sure I can get a refund if I pursue it with REI, I just can not help but think that the mechanic who taught the class might get a bad review/feedback from his bosses and other REI bigshots.

And I won't like that.

I mean, the guy is not a terrible mechanic or person, he was just a really bad teacher, who gave the impression that he's been asked to pull duty on that particular day, when he'll rather be somewhere else.

For what it's worth, these kind of classes are best taught by people who have passion for bikes and likes people. The teacher has to really know bikes, and then his passion for bikes has to come through in his/her presentation.

Thanks for listening to my rant.

Regards,

I believe it was a great idea that went south because people were just messing around hijacking the thread.

I think that ME should revive it. I can't imagine there's anyone out there that can't learn something.
ME doesn't think SHE should revive it! :rolleyes: ME already knows that the idea went to hell in a hand basket. :p

Thanks everyone! I'm still planning to take the beginner, free class at REI, and I will check out the links and books you all recommended.

Tell me about your membership at REI -- what are the advantages? Do you need to buy a lot of stuff to get your money's worth?

Jen

Jen, do a forum ride with us. There are seeral people that would be more than happy to show you a few things!:D

Do you ride around Bonelli Park? Raging Waters. That's a great training loop.

Lot of maintenance info here BF Bicycle Mechanics sticky by Sheldon Brown (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=253025)

I learned how to build my mtb wheels from Sheldon Brown's site.

There is always The Bicycle Kitchen (http://www.bicyclekitchen.com/) in Los Angeles
The Bikerowave (http://www.bikerowave.org/) in Santa Monica
and The Bike Oven (http://www.bike-oven.5u.com/index.html) in Highland Park

All of these places will guide you through working on your bike.
Personally, I have spent the most time the Bicycle Kitchen. It's great and there are some amazing "cooks" there to help people get their bikes going. Its not uncommon for people to learn how to build an entire bike from scratch including building the wheels!

One of the advantages to the Bikcycle Kitchen for big projects is the Bike Shop Orange 20 (http://www.orange20bikes.com/) right across the street and after you finish up with your bike you can celebrate with some of Scoops (http://www.yelp.com/biz/aaEWX-LNLcbkiOvD_yxOIg) amazing ice cream and frozen treats.

If you go to the kitchen on a warm sunny weekend day: call ahead, make an appointment, and show up early, and you will be assured to get a bike stand. the BK is so great it is not uncommon to wander in mid day to a full shop and a waiting list.

On the other hand, the first time I went to the Bike Oven the guy (Joseph) made us a Chocolate Cake, and Hot Chocolate, helped us with our bikes , then balked when I tried to shove $5 into the Oven's modest donation box.

Both the Kitchen and the Oven have special days that ladies can go, work, socialize, and get help from fellow cyclistias.

I haven't been to Bicrowave but I have heard excellent things.

Jen, do a forum ride with us. There are seeral people that would be more than happy to show you a few things!:D

Do you ride around Bonelli Park? Raging Waters. That's a great training loop.

Thanks Mr. Beanz, that sounds like a lot of fun. We rode to Puddingstone Lake two weekends ago. We are just getting back into cycling, having just purchased our bikes a few months ago after more than a couple of decades of not riding at all, so we are trying to get our legs in shape gradually and add just a few additional miles every weekend, while also riding shorter distances a few weekdays. We rode 18 miles last weekend, and plan to do at least 20 this weekend. As I said, we're going at this gradually and I've read many warnings here to start slow, so I'm heeding those warnings, though I really want to keep going all day. Anyway on that day we rode to Puddingstone and then back home, we didn't ride around the lake. We ride hybrids (both of us have upper-extremity artificial joints that require a more upright position) and the only trail we saw that led to the perimeter of the lake appeared to be for mountain bikes. We didn't see another trail around the lake, so we headed home... which was a good thing because we didn't need any more mileage that day. All that to say.............. what is the ride around Bonelli park like? How many miles, and what kind of riding do we need to be able to handle to do that ride? We would go straight there from La Verne, and the trip back would be uphill. We can do some hills.... all the way up Wheeler and around the foothills.... up the hill toward Thompson Trail, and we're getting stronger every week. I just don't want to commit to a group ride and then discover it's too hard for us at this early stage.

mtblurkr and trickmilla -- thanks for the links. The Bicycle Kitchen sounds like Disneyland! I'll be sure to check 'em all out.

Thanks a bunch,
Jen

Does anyone know anything about the Park Tool Maintenance Class at Pasadena Cyclery? It sounds like a comprensive class (for $85.00, which includes a copy of the Park Tool School manual). I live much closer to this store than to the ones in L.A.

Free Beginner Maintenance Class in Santa Monica
Wednesday, June 27

DO YOU KNOW HOW TO FIX YOUR BIKE WHEN YOU BREAK DOWN... FAR FROM HOME???
Join us for a night of grease and learn how to keep your bike running smoothly, make the critical repairs when you're out on a ride and improve performance and extend the life of your bicycle. Designed for the beginner cyclist, this interactive workshop will feature routine basic maintenance.

YOU'LL LEARN:
How to change your tire
How and when to clean your chain *
How to adjust your cables & brake

***Bring a tire iron & a front wheel!!***
WHEN: Wednesday, June 27. 7:00 PM
WHERE: Phase IV. 1544 20th St. Santa Monica, CA. We're in the alley between 19th & 20th, off Colorado. Street parking available.
RSVP: Email us at info@phase-iv.net or call 310-582-8212