goldfinch

I live in a very large rv resort this winter. I usually ride bike in the morning and some afternoons I fiddle around with our fleet of bikes. Neighbors see me and my spouse brags about how I take care of our bikes. So, people ask for help. I have pumped untold numbers of nearly flat tires. I have helped people change tires. My socket wrench has the number 15 head on it at the ready as most don't even have quick release wheels. When I pump tires I check chains and they all have been bone dry. So I lube them up. I have also done more significant work on a few people's bikes, bikes that otherwise likely would end up in the trash. Walmart bikes and Camping World folders abound.

So, I am thinking of doing a class at the RV park on some simple bike maintenance skills. Like how to change a flat. Like how much air to put in a tire (no one has known that just like car tires it says on the side of the tire). Like how to put sealant in a tire (if that is what you want to do to help with the thorn flats prevalent here). Like how to clean and lube a chain. Maybe some other things like "do your brakes work?"

Any thoughts on what might be good things to go over? This is for people who are mostly in their 70s, who like to ride around the park for a mile to maybe 10 miles in a shot.

I know I am an amateur but man, people really don't know anything about their bikes, how they work and what they need to do to keep them rolling along. Comments and thoughts would be appreciated.

bradtx

goldfinch, Reads like there aren't many tools around except for yours. Possibly tire inflation/repair and chain maintenance is as far as most will want to go. Perhaps the cyclists can pool some money for a bicycle pump and a basic tool kit kept somewhere central (rec hall?) and operate an ad hoc co-op.

Poll the cyclists that are enlisting your aid for what they need, what tools they have and mechanical expertise.

Brad

squirtdad

Basics that i can think of

Pump up tires
Change flats/tires
Adjust seat height (and correct seat height)
Basic lubrication (chain, cables etc)
putting change back on
how to lock bike

Adjust brakes (little more advanced)

derailer adjustment (this starts getting more complicated quick)

zacster

I was thinking of doing this myself, but for a younger Brooklyn hipster crowd. My topics so far: Fixing a flat, Chain lube, cone and cup hub bearings, replacing/adjusting cables and pads, and wheel building. Some of these would be about an hour, some would be longer. I'm just another rider, I'm not now nor have I ever been a bike mechanic. I have some tools, but even for basic wheelbuilding tools like a truing stand I use makeshift tools. I would do this all on my front porch and beer (homebrew!) would be available. I still haven't figured out how to advertise this and get the sign up, but the local bar would probably be a place to start.

The only thing I'd expect in return is more beer, but no BMC. Maybe wine, but my taste in wine is waaaay too expensive for the people I expect to sign up. Brunello or Chateauneuf du Pape.

HillRider

Perhaps develop a list of take-along tools for them: New tube, tire levers, box wrench for wheel nuts (or be sure they know how to use a qr skewer properly), screwdriver to remove the reaction arm clamp on a coaster brake bike, mini-pump.

FBinNY 

Seeing how things are going so far, and the distance they're riding, I can shorten your class to 5 seconds. Give them your cell phone number.

Besides what you mentioned so far, probably the best thing you could add is the 2 minute before ride safety check.

zacster

That's a good idea. I'm always prepared for road issues, and most serious roadies are, but the Brooklyn bike crowd isn't.

Brodie01

I used to hang out on a BMW motorcycle forum and they used to put on "tech days". Someone would post notice that on a given day they would be willing to host a tech day at their garage and members would express interest in bringing their motorcycle and actually perform some sort of maintenance on their own bike under the direction of those who had more expertice. Members learned how to sync throttle bodies, adjust valves and many other task that your average shady tree mechanic could handle.

goldfinch

The bike pump is a good idea. Maybe I can get the park to buy one.

goldfinch

I am thinking that simple is going to be the only way to go. So, pumping up tires. Reading tire pressure. Changing flats. Lubing chain. As it is people will need to buy tire levers if they want to be changing tires.

Safety check is good. I'll hunt up a checklist.

I am thinking that there are so many people in this very large park (1600 sites) that the class may be filled with people with flat tires. And we won't have any tubes to change out. I'll have to be sure to have the description read that people need to bring there own tubes. A while ago I got a bunch of cheap 26 x 1.5-2.0 Schrader tubes for the household mountain bikes. I have resold all but one to neighbors and now I am short of tubes.

Or no one will show up.

Crescent Cycle

I hope you meant shade. I don't trust shady mechanics. Especially ones that fix trees.

Brodie01

You're right I meant shade tree mechanic.

mconlonx

I do a two hour free maintenance class at the shop covering the basics:
- bike wash--how to do it, why it's good. Demo only. Chain care and lube at the end of that.
- Tire basics -- inflation, flat repair.
- Shift and brake basics -- adjusting brakes and derailleur cable tension.

I demonstrate and talk about theory, then let them do actual work. The above short syllabus usually runs right up to the end of a two hour class.

If people only learn these things, they'll be good to go for years. Many take the class and decide that what they pay the shop to maintain their bike is perfectly reasonable... I also offer advanced* classes, like advanced brake and shift tune including cable and housing replacement + bearing service, and wheel true/hub service. *Advanced in a sense that doing these things is a step up from the real basics. Once a month shop service area is open for free work time or specific issues. I've run a wheel build class a couple times, fork and shock service, spoke replacement/wheel true, BB/headset install...

I book two people per stand, which means at our shop that I have an 8 person limit on the class. Individual is better and faster; couples are fun, especially when the wife/kid is way more obviously mechanically inclined than a husband/dad

OP, if you are thinking of setting up a free class:
- Don't be surprised if not many people take advantage of a free maintenance class.
- Don't be surprised to find out that more people would like for you to do the work free or at nominal charge than actually learn how to do it. But maybe more DIY inclined, self-sufficient RV crowd is more curious to learn bike basics than population at large.

cny-bikeman

FOR THE OP

Squirtdad's list is a good one but I would leave out brakes and derailleurs - "a little knowledge...." and too many complications with different braking systems - unless you find there is demand.

Be aware that to teach you need to be very aware of things you do but don't think about, so you can convey full info to others. You also should check a lot of sources (esp.Park Tool and Sheldon Brown) to make sure you are using efficient and proper techniques before you pass them on.

The FIRST thing on the list should be how to do a Bicycle Quick Check (Google it) so that the rider can tell when something needs attention, even when they aren't able do it themselves, or simplydon't want to .

FOR ZACSTER

Same list and advice as above but reasonable to add brake/derailleur adjustment for a younger crowd. Wheel building? Colossal waste of time for most people, as very few ever need to build a wheel. Also too complex to cover properly as it starts with evaluating when a build is necessary or desirable, then selection of rim and spokes, moves to spoke length calculation, dishing, round and true and tension. Bike shops sometimes do such classes, but mainly to generate sales, so it's more oriented to the shop's needs than to the bicyclists.