Fifty Plus (50+) - Repairing and maintaining your own bike

After several months into biking I realized how much maintenance and repairs are needed on bicycles. I try to ride a minimum of 100 miles each week, and have done that except two weeks since the first of March. I have found that parts wear out, seemingly quickly. I was taking my bike to the LBS. The problems I found with that was the number of times the repairs would take at least a week. This time factor was mixed with some hefty hourly rates, so I bought a basic set of tools along with a bike stand and a bike repair book. So far, this has worked very well. I was wondering if most of you do this, or very few of you do this. For those that do have their own tools, are you glad you did this?

As a child, there was beer, cigars and tools in my parents home for me to sneak and do whatever. Didn't really care for the beer, cigars made me sick, that left the tools. At one time I've pretty much taken apart everything. After working on my own cars, a bike is a breeze. And I can do it in the family room in front of the TV. And now I even like the beer.

I just assembled my bike stand tonight! Got a list of things to do...

You're right. There's a lot of satisfaction and big monetary savings in repairing
you own bike. I've been doing most of my own repairs for most of my life.
It started out as self repair jobs out of necessity....teen with no dough with a bike
that won't go. Then it kinda turned into a labor of love. Bikes are simple yet
fascinating pieces of machinery. I will occasionally use an LBS just to stay current as to
where the good Wrenches are, as sometimes I'm just too busy to do my own work.
Other times, with newer equipment, I am just in over my head. Of course, with the
right book and enought time.....I'm confident I can learn even the newer gadgets (rapid
fire shifting etc.).

Here's a cool mainenance schedule...

http://wojcyclery.com/page.cfm?pageID=152

It starts with making a few adjustments, repairs and replacements to save a few bucks and some time. Before you know it you'll be building bikes from bare frames and a pile of parts, reconfiguring bikes for different types of riding and restoring old bikes to good working order. Not that there's anything wrong with that. :)

I do everything except wheelbuilding. It's not that hard, it just takes common sense and some slight mechanical understanding. The investment in tools will pay for itself quickly.

I maintain all my bikes. I take them all to the LBS each and every time they need maintenance. :D

I have always done my own mechanical work on everything. Whenever a significant change in design comes along, I find a good manual and use it heavily. I especially enjoy making or improvising special tools rather than buying them, whenever possible. Often the person who does his own work can do it better because he is the one who actually uses the piece of equipment and thoroughly knows the symptoms of the problem. Sometimes he can make things work better than new. I have had machines arrive from the factory with parts installed backwards or not properly adjusted.

I have always done my own mechanical work on everything. Whenever a significant change in design comes along, I find a good manual and use it heavily. I especially enjoy making or improvising special tools rather than buying them, whenever possible. Often the person who does his own work can do it better because he is the one who actually uses the piece of equipment and thoroughly knows the symptoms of the problem. Sometimes he can make things work better than new. I have had machines arrive from the factory with parts installed backwards or not properly adjusted.
Well said and I concur. The new bikes I've brought home from LBS's were never quite set up to my standards. I'm not knocking the LBS guys, it's just that I'm a bit more fussy than the average bear. I've got to "tweak" things so it feels right.:rolleyes:

I do all of my own maintenance. A good stand and a basic set of tools will get you started. As you progress into more in-depth work, you will have to add some tools... next thing you know, you need a larger toolbox. I take a good deal of pleasure in the fact that I know what is going on in the inner workings of the brakes, dérailleurs, hubs and bottom bracket. Once you get to know how a dérailleur works, it is easier to adjust it quickly. If a headset needs adjustment, I can take care of it in a couple of minutes, as opposed to leaving it at the shop for a week or ignoring it because the shop will take too long and thus turn a simple adjustment problem into a headset replacement at the end of the season.

I would suggest that you buy good quality tools... they will last a lifetime and are so much easier to use than a cheap imitation, which isn't really so cheap after you buy two or three of them. A good book will be helpful but I use on line resources more often when I need some guidance. The two I use most often are:

Sheldon Brown (http://www.sheldonbrown.com/harris/#articles)

Park Tool Repair Help (http://www.parktool.com/repair/)

In addition to these two, if I need specific info for a certain make/model of a component, I can often download tech manuals from the manufacturers web site. This has saved my butt on a number of occasions.

I have been very satisfied with doing my own work. It is nice to know that it has been done the way I want it done. I am not at all worried that it takes me a little more time than a shop would spend on a job.

Of the five bikes in my signature, only the newest (RANS F5) was bought as a complete, new bike. The rest were built up from bare frames in my living room.

Luckily I am a trained mechanic from the Forces but that was getting on for 40 years ago. I worked as a 2 stroke engine mechanic and had my own business in France within Karting. I work within the motor trade but in the parts supply side so mechanical knowledge is still required. So I am mechanically minded- But I was maintaining and repairing my bikes from the age of my dad telling me not to use a hammer to take that part off with.(Dad was a mechanic aswell)

So I do all my own maintenance on the bikes- but as I have got older- I am more inclined to put the bikes into the shop for major work- But I don't so the spare bike might get used for a couple of weeks. The only part I don't do is major work on the wheels. Retrue yes but whenever wheels start getting loose spokes- or rebuild- The shop gets the business.

If you are like me, you have to take something apart and put it back together to understand how it works, how it is different from similar things and how it should be adjusted to work well. Bicycles are interesting in that many people ride but far fewer actually work on all elements of the bike. There seem to be more 50+ members with hands on experience on the bicycles but this may be a generational thing as the same rule seems to apply to the working world (fewer and fewer competent young folks with hands on ability).

At any rate, there are basic repair tasks that everyone should learn.....cleaning chains, adjusting brakes, fixing flats and checking for loose parts.

Beyond that it's nice to be able to change a part for something that suits your particular tastes.

If you get hooked then ultimately you will build a bike.

If you are like me, you have to take something apart and put it back together to understand how it works, how it is different from similar things and how it should be adjusted to work well. Bicycles are interesting in that many people ride but far fewer actually work on all elements of the bike. There seem to be more 50+ members with hands on experience on the bicycles but this may be a generational thing as the same rule seems to apply to the working world (fewer and fewer competent young folks with hands on ability).

At any rate, there are basic repair tasks that everyone should learn.....cleaning chains, adjusting brakes, fixing flats and checking for loose parts.

Beyond that it's nice to be able to change a part for something that suits your particular tastes.

If you get hooked then ultimately you will build a bike.

After only a few repairs and parts replacement I understand how a person could get "hooked" and will want to build their own. My brother already does his own rebuilds and he enjoys the mechanics about as much as the riding, except the mechanic work does not keep him in shape. I am very happy with getting into the mechanic end of this sport and I did buy Park tools to start, which was advice from my brother.

One of the problems of doing your own maintenance is the amount of work you do on the bike. On the mountain bikes- I strip the bikes down to a bare frame each year. On stripping I check all parts for wear and clean them. It is surprising how many parts are still in servicable condition on that strip down and are not replaced. Problem is that a bit of wear now will cause a problem later on when it fails so do you replace it now- Or Wait till it causes a problem and has to be replaced.

Did this with the Tandem earlier in the year and Chainrings were worn just a bit. I replaced the small ring and the chain and went for a gentle settling in ride. Checked the bike again for loose bolts or misaligned parts and we went for a Testing ride in anger. Could not use the middle ring with power so did a 35 mile offroad in big ring or granny. Back home and got it replaced. Next ride and we could only use the Lower gears on the cassette. The rear cassette was worn so another 35 in the wrong gears and lots of crosschaining. Back home and I thought about the crossover rings- Never caused a problem but after the other Ring problems- I changed them and put a new Chain on that bit.

So 3 weeks after a major rebuild- we went and did a long ride. Got home checked the bike and I had not tightened all the chainring bolts and lost a couple- It was a miracle that we had survived the ride.

So if you are doing your own maintenance- be prepared fto spend a bit of time waiting for parts to come in and for the bike to be offroad between visits to the LBS. Oh And get a bigger wallet- I may only want a $30 chainring so why do I buy yet another pair of gloves and 4 tubes to add to the 6 tubes already in the shed and the 4 pairs of gloves I already have.

I tend to do most of my own repairs since the nearest LBS is 1 1/2 hours away. They do an okay job, but nothing like what I want - and it tends to be inconsistant. I prefer to do it myself.

Besides, how else can I justify tools? ;)

On tour I have to do repairs myself most of the time, there are some repairs that need specialist equipment, like brazing frames ( never had it happen yet touch wood)

Over the years I have researched to find a low maintainance bike.

Fortunately this has meant I have only had to change oil in my Rohloff hub, brake blocks, and chain for the last 2 years.

But having the ability to do other stuff makes touring a much more pleasurable experience, and I have helped others on the road,

Seems like most of us here have tinkered with mechanical stuff and have learnt over the years how to make and mend.

george

I do all my own work except wheel building, headset, and BB.

Even with the so called "free" work that was included on my wifes new trek, I found the hassles of bringing in the bike not worth it.

I have found in working with teens that fewer and fewer of them are getting the "hands-on" kind of experience that we had. Simple basic mechanical repair is being replaced by the ability to set up xbox video games.

I'm not a high-level mechanic, but after I got hooked a few years ago, I decided that I wanted to have a deeper understanding of how everything worked, so I took a couple of the Park Tools classes, and then built a bike up from parts because I figured that I'd only understand my "dream" bike if I could experiment and try different stuff. I started out thinking that I would get a rusty frame from the Goodwill store, but I ended up buying a carbon fiber frame on ebay, than a full Ultegra gruppo from my LBS. I am really happy that I did.

I still refer to the Park Tools site or a book on occasion, but when something is wrong, I have an idea of what it is. It also gives me something to do when there's ice and snow on the roads <sniff>; I'm working on building up a fixie when I get the time.

I'm a little more constricted about whether to work on my wife's bike or not. Last year, I put the rear wheel back on a little crooked which caused it to rub against the brakes - she was not happy:eek:

Tried to adjust my Campy der's - forgetabowdit!

The high level of maintenance and general delicacy of road bikes baffles me. Essentially a late 19th design executed in high-tech (or probably just medium-tech) materials, with better design.

I've not been particularly happy with the set up work done by others, especially the young and somewhat arrogant. On the bikes I've bought from the last few years from shops I've seen too many silly things done. Poor detailing. Antiseize. Bevel the ends of cut casing against a wheel. Adjust casing length for smooth run. Get the wheels really true. Adjust things properly. For example, line up the front derailleur carefully instead of bending the cage. Sloppy work.

So I've gone back to doing everything. I haven't gone as far as making a frame, although I've done plenty of that in steel. But when I get something new I tear it down and go through it all. Isn't much trouble.

The maintenance is what kills me. The amount we ride, I'm cleaning the chains every couple of weeks. That's like having to change the oil in a car every couple of weeks! Silly given the low-maintenance technology we've built into most things. I've got a separate building (small) set up as a mini-shop and all the stuff is there. But still a pain.

Why should I pay for someone else to screw it up? I can do that myself!

I really recommend Bicycling Magazine's book on Bike repair and maintenance.

I have been a mechanic by trade, for over forty years, motorcycle, cars, heavey truck, etc. I have the tools and the skills to maintain virtually anything, but I try to support my LBS as much as possible. I'm older now with six grandchildren, and letting the LBS maintain my bike gives me more time for the important things in life, like riding with my grandchildren. It is also nice when I need a part or accessory, to let LBS chase it down for me. The $2 or so more I pay, is well worth it to me in time saved.

For those of you who still enjoy puttering with your bike, do it, everyone needs a diversion or two.

John

As a child, there was beer, cigars and tools in my parents home for me to sneak and do whatever. Didn't really care for the beer, cigars made me sick, that left the tools. At one time I've pretty much taken apart everything. After working on my own cars, a bike is a breeze. And I can do it in the family room in front of the TV. And now I even like the beer.

:roflmao::roflmao::roflmao:

If you are like me, you have to take something apart and put it back together to understand how it works, how it is different from similar things and how it should be adjusted to work well. Bicycles are interesting in that many people ride but far fewer actually work on all elements of the bike. There seem to be more 50+ members with hands on experience on the bicycles but this may be a generational thing as the same rule seems to apply to the working world (fewer and fewer competent young folks with hands on ability).

At any rate, there are basic repair tasks that everyone should learn.....cleaning chains, adjusting brakes, fixing flats and checking for loose parts.

Beyond that it's nice to be able to change a part for something that suits your particular tastes.

If you get hooked then ultimately you will build a bike.

+1.
I have now built 4 bikes in the last 4 years (3 road + 1 MTB) and taught and helped my 14 yo son build 2 MTBs. He can now adjust and fix almost anything and he is helping his friends taking care of their bikes.
Bike maintenance is not difficult and the tools needed are quite simple and cheap to get ($35 tool kit from Performance/Nashbar and a basic workstand). Yet it is invaluable if you ride a lot, not only in money saved but mainly to get you out of a jam if something goes wrong far away from home.
Knowing how wheels are built and how to true them got me out of trouble when I broke a spoke 20 miles short of the end of a century couple years ago. The wheel became so out of true that it rubbed some carbon off a seatstay, I pulled my spoke key, released tension on a couple of spokes and could finish the ride although on a very wobbly wheel.

My primary hobby/passion is restoring antique (British) motorcycles. I have a small machine shop (lathe, milling machine, drill press, welders, etc) to fabricate pieces and parts as required. I perform all bicycle maintenance/improvement including wheelbuilding.
The significant requisite is to acquire/use the best high quality tools. Cheap/crappy tools will end up costing more in long run due to damaged/distorted parts and inabilty to complete the task satisfactorily.
Parts aquisition is becomming a challenge...even for relatively late model, ie 6500 series Ultegra, components.
You cannot pay someone enough to CARE as much you.

I also ride about 100 miles per week. Other than adding air, lubricating the chain and other areas, and adjusting the brakes and shifters, I have not done any maintenance in 2000 miles. There is very little if any chain stretch, the breaks pads and tires are good. What exactly are you all maintaining? Am I missing the boat?

I'd love to know how to do my own bike maintenance, but coming up to speed with the necessary knowledge and experience is another thing. I suppose I just need to dig in somewhere and get my hands greasy, have a good tool set and a good book handy, and just do it.

In addition to the Bicycling Magazine book of bike maintenance, is there another tried and true book you rely on? One of the local LBS teaches the Park Tool course, and I'm considering that too.

Park Tools has mini tech classes on their website.

I am mechanically adept but I was still amazed at how fast I picked up on bike maintenance once I had bought a fairly nice set of tools. I've put the money saved on labor into tools and upgraded parts. So the bike has been much improved, which is real nice. The thing I like most about DIY is that the bike is always in perfect tune, clean and well lubed. Once you get the hang of fine tuning a rear derailleur, you are home free. bk

Several have mentioned that they do everything but wheel building. That is not too difficult either, as long as you have a truing stand. Sheldon has good instructions.

Leland Yee
New Hampshire

What I'm liking about it is that I'm not "afraid" to ride a bike that is acting weird. I've been having crank bolt issues with a bike, and I was afraid of being 10 miles from home and having to ride back something which shouldn't be used. Now, I just throw my tools in the pannier and I know I'll probably at least be able to get home without riding something that's weak.

I'd love to know how to do my own bike maintenance, but coming up to speed with the necessary knowledge and experience is another thing. I suppose I just need to dig in somewhere and get my hands greasy, have a good tool set and a good book handy, and just do it.

In addition to the Bicycling Magazine book of bike maintenance, is there another tried and true book you rely on? One of the local LBS teaches the Park Tool course, and I'm considering that too.

I like the Park "Big Blue Book of Bicycle Repair".....mainly for the handy tool compatiblity and torque charts.

Been doing most of my own repairs since high school - back in the days when the gasoline intended for the outboard motor was considered a wonderful degreaser and paint brush cleaner. I've been using my Glenn's Complete Bicycle Manual since ~1976, only recently upgraded to Zinn's because I acquired a "modern" bike. Darn those brifters...


As a child, there was beer, cigars and tools in my parents home for me to sneak and do whatever. Didn't really care for the beer, cigars made me sick, that left the tools. At one time I've pretty much taken apart everything. After working on my own cars, a bike is a breeze. And I can do it in the family room in front of the TV. And now I even like the beer.

+1 on the beer :D Substitute Players Navy Cut roll-your-own cigarettes for the cigars and you've got my childhood. As long as we didn't use the tin snips as cable cutters, my dad was pretty cool about our projects.

Several have mentioned that they do everything but wheel building. That is not too difficult either, as long as you have a truing stand. Sheldon has good instructions.

Leland Yee
New Hampshire

I'm going to find out soon. I got a great deal on a built front wheel - 32 hole Dura Ace hub, Open Pro silver rim and DT db spokes for under $50. I also have an Ultegra 32 hole rear hub in my box at home. I'm going to buy a matching rim and spokes and build a rear wheel. One of the wrenches at my LBS wants to help me build it so he can learn how. So I can use his truing stand. I've been wanting to try this for years.

Those of you planning to start working on your own bikes need to know about the best online resources to find how to do most anything that comes up.

Park Tools Repair Help (http://www.parktool.com/repair/)

Sheldon Brown's Repair Articles (http://sheldonbrown.com/repair/index.html)

Bike Forums Bicycle Mechanics Forum (http://www.bikeforums.net/forumdisplay.php?f=10)

I have always done my own bicycle work, including wheel builds and bearing overhauls. I visit a local bike shop only for parts or when I lack an expensive specialty tool, such as a bottom bracket thread chaser or a super-heavy-duty fixed cup remover. I also do my own home repair/improvement work, short of re-roofing, pouring a concrete slab, or framing a room addition, all of which I did contract out. I do my own maintenance and light repair work on the cars, deferring to the pros for operations which require a lift and/or specialty tools -- unfortunately, that now includes automatic transmission fluild changes because some genius at ZF decided to do away with dipsticks, while claiming that the fluid was "lifetime." (Whose lifetime?)

I'd love to know how to do my own bike maintenance, but coming up to speed with the necessary knowledge and experience is another thing. I suppose I just need to dig in somewhere and get my hands greasy, have a good tool set and a good book handy, and just do it.

In addition to the Bicycling Magazine book of bike maintenance, is there another tried and true book you rely on? One of the local LBS teaches the Park Tool course, and I'm considering that too.

Try www.parktool.com and in the upper right click on repair. Since Park sells the tools they are more than happy to teach you how to use them. Repay them by buying................wait for it................Park Tools.
I would gladly be a Park Tools Shill.......................:D

I'm going to find out soon. I got a great deal on a built front wheel - 32 hole Dura Ace hub, Open Pro silver rim and DT db spokes for under $50. I also have an Ultegra 32 hole rear hub in my box at home. I'm going to buy a matching rim and spokes and build a rear wheel. One of the wrenches at my LBS wants to help me build it so he can learn how. So I can use his truing stand. I've been wanting to try this for years.

You will enjoy wheelbuilding. You can work around not having a dishing gauge and tensionometer, but they are significant assetts to the finished wheel. I lace my wheels per Gerd Schraner's "The Art of of Wheelbuilding" book with great success/satisfaction.
About 3 years ago, I assembled a pair of wheels with Ultegra hubs, DT db spokes and Open Pro rims. They are EXCELLENT wheels but the OP rims are a bit "touchy" or sensative in the truing/tensioning stage......patience. FWIW...I used the DT Swiss spoke length calculator and the "calculated" spoke lengths were about 1mm too long......for the Open Pro actual ERD.

I also ride about 100 miles per week. Other than adding air, lubricating the chain and other areas, and adjusting the brakes and shifters, I have not done any maintenance in 2000 miles. There is very little if any chain stretch, the breaks pads and tires are good. What exactly are you all maintaining? Am I missing the boat?

I will try to list what I have done to this bike since buying it about 7 weeks ago. First, I changed the wheels, mostly because I believed the wheels I had on my previous road bike would be better than the new ones. I changed the wheels and tires, which meant changing the cassette also. Then the stem was too long, so I replaced it with one I had. After a few climbs I found I needed diffent gears, so I had to order a new cassette and install it. Then the tires needed to be replaced. I ride at a weight just under 240 pounds. I cannot get 2000 miles out of a set of tires. Then the back wheel hub flange broke. It was under warranty. I had to change the tires and install the cassette again. The bolt for the FSA crankset has started backing out, so I am dealing with that. Of course the standard cleaning and adjusting is also involved.

The "usual suspects" (Park Tool manual, Lennard Zinn's books) are excellent manuals (I have Zinn & the Art of Road Bike Maintenance), but for the beginner or "casual" mechanic I suggest a little book I picked up at Barnes & Noble one day: DK Bicycle Repair Manual by Chris Sidwells, Dorling Kindersley (DK) Publishing. It's glossy and may seem superficial but it's clear and covers the basics of all kinds of bikes - from adjusting derailleurs to maintaining the shocks on mountain bikes, to the coaster brake on your grandkid's bike.

It might be all you need (plus tools) for most routine maintenance and adjustments.

I also ride about 100 miles per week. Other than adding air, lubricating the chain and other areas, and adjusting the brakes and shifters, I have not done any maintenance in 2000 miles. There is very little if any chain stretch, the breaks pads and tires are good. What exactly are you all maintaining? Am I missing the boat?

Brake adjustment & pad dressing, wheel true, chain, general cleaning, derailleur tweeking (rare to require), pulley lube, check fasteners. Longer intervals (very long now) - bearings.

Example from brakes: The DA brakes I'm using have a nice fine adjuster. I end up hitting these a couple of times a week. No idea why they end up just slightly out of adjustment, but they do.

I suspect two influences on the apparent level of effort required. First, some people like things tuned in very nicely. I'm one of them. I want both the pads to hit at the same time. The chain to feel silky if I move it by hand. Wheels to be absolutely true. No creaks, squeeks, or anything at all out of whack. Second, some people are more busy than others. I run a business and have a house with associated property to tend to. Anything that adds to that load looms fairly large. Not much time, but it is still time. I can build up a bike from a frame quickly, but it is still time away from my family.

Certainly having tools helps. I've got a full Campy tool kit, adjustable reamers, bank of solvents and lubricants, etc. The right tools really help. I only rarely use some of them, but they're available when I need them. Unfortunately some are quite obsolete. I couldn't begin to count how many bikes I've built up.

I've got four road bikes each of which see over 1000 miles per year. I've only run into two problems that I couldn't resolve and that required the help of the LBS. One good thing about having more than one road bike, if you're caring for them yourself, is you don't feel rushed to complete a repair so you can "ride tomorrow." I find that I can walk away from anything that frustrates me or for which I'm unsure of how to proceed. Then I take a day or two to figure it out, while riding one of the other bikes.

Yup, sames as Blues Dawg I started with a few tools, made a few adjustments then a few more, then regreased a few hubs followed by a bottom bracket and so on. Now I've flipped a bunch of bikes to pay for the tools and bike stand. I've just about completed my first frame up build. I have a truing stand and I'll true wheels, but after building one wheel I've decided it's less of a hassle to buy off ebay or new.

Recommendation: When I initially decided to work on my own bikes, someone on bike forums, I can't rememeber who, recommended buying a beater at a garage sale stripping it and putting it back together. So I picked up a $5 Magna, stripped it to learn what the parts looked like, then discarded it. I followed that exercise with a yard sale Trek 800 MTB for $25, stripped it down, lubed what needed to be lubed, replaced the chain and cassette and gave it to my son for college. Along the way I've replaced cables bottom brackets (cartridge and non-cartridge), shifters etc. on numerous bikes I've flipped. It's been a blast. Where I used to be afraid to touch a rear derailer, now I'll change one out just to see if another provides better shifting.

After several months into biking I realized how much maintenance and repairs are needed on bicycles. I try to ride a minimum of 100 miles each week, and have done that except two weeks since the first of March. I have found that parts wear out, seemingly quickly. I was taking my bike to the LBS. The problems I found with that was the number of times the repairs would take at least a week. This time factor was mixed with some hefty hourly rates, so I bought a basic set of tools along with a bike stand and a bike repair book. So far, this has worked very well. I was wondering if most of you do this, or very few of you do this. For those that do have their own tools, are you glad you did this?

This is buried so deep nobody's ever going to read it, but if you're wearing out parts quickly, you may be doing something wrong. I built up my Atlantis (bought the frame, fork and wheels, everything else is out of the garage) almost four years ago, ride from 0 to 200 mpw with an average of about 70, and the only thing I've replaced is one spoke and a pair of tires I cut on a rocky trail. I'm about due for a new chain, but everything else seems to be working--I haven't even repacked the headset or hubs.
FWIW, I do all my own maintenance and repairs except wheelbuilding. I can replace a spoke, and I'm OK at truing the wheel afterward, but building from scratch intimidates me.

I've done all my own maintenance, but my current apartment is tiny and had beige carpets so it's not very bike repair friendly. So I find myself going to the LBS.

That's why everyone should have a spare bike.

For the newbies, or those who prefer to see it done, rather than read about it, I've had good luck with some of the DVD's available from www.probikekit.com (http://www.probikekit.com/display.php?cat=DVD%20Guides).

I have their DVD's for brakes, gears, headsets, and handlebar taping. At less than $7 US each, they're a bargain...the material is presented well, and the camera angles really helped me to figure out what's what on the bike (much more so than some of the cryptic drawings in the various books I have).

You could say I work on my bikes a bit. My 1984 Nimbus the day I brought it home last October:

http://www.spinnerbaker.com/bud/images/nimbus1.jpg

The same bike yesterday:

http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x5/Bud_Bent/Nimbus/tailsock1.jpg

I have more than a dozen bikes I've rebuilt, restored, or repaired. I've had to start giving them away to make more room for the next projects. Road, Mtb, SingleSpeed, Bents, Tandems, ... I think I spend more time working on them than riding them.

Hey Bud Bent. Are you my long lost twin?