Bike Repairs and Maintainence.
 

I just wondered how many of you actually do your own bike repairs and maintainence, overhauls, etc and how many take your bikes to the shop and how often.

I'd like to think I could do my own maintainence and repairs but I simply don't have the inclination nor the skill.

I do my own everything (but sometimes not well). I've learned that things that require specialized tools that I don't own (bottom bracket installations, wheel truing) are best handled by the shop. Things that I don't do well (or don't care to do, like handlebar wrapping) are best done by the shop. Things that don't fit these categories, I'm willing to go for. The technology is simple, my skills are adequate (or I can easily develop them), and if I mess something up, getting it fixed is cheap. If you have the inclination - don't hesitate to work on your own bike. It is rewarding!

Anyone can work on a bicycle but it does take some special tools at times.That said consider what
I do......most of the time......I do the routine maintance leaving the special tool stuff to the shop.
This leaves me about a 80/20 split on how much I do.

Every now and then I get ansy and build a bike for special need doing all the work myself. Even then
I get stuck once in awhile and my LBS bails me out. That's why I give'm some of my business.....to keep'm
in business to be around to bail me out!! ;)

I don’t true wheels .. very good … when they are greatly out of true … do not like to either.

I do everything from repairing, building wheelsets and building a bike from frame up. Just finished building up a Surly LHT which I am planning to tour with, I figure if I'm going to go touring I had better learn how to repair bilkes at home rather than in the middle of nowhere. If I need any special tools I'll go out and buy them, still cheaper than paying the bike mechanic. I believe that to have a perfectlly functioning bike one must learn basic tuning, such as setting up brakes, derailleuer adjustment as these will always need fine tuning do to pad wear, cable stretch etc. Any time I get stuck I just post on the Bicycle Mechanics section of this forum and problem solved.

Try parktool.com and sheldonbrown.com--two good sites which might make it easier for you to work on your bike. Also, Zinn and the Art of Mtn.Bike Repair is a great source of info-don't know if he has one out for road bikes.

He does. "Zinn and the Art of Road Bike Maintenance".

There is lots of info duplicated between the two, but he covers roadie-specific stuff very well in it, so it's worth having both if you have both types of bikes, or a bike that mixes road and mountain components.

I use LBS

I am fairly mechanically challenged, so other than fixing flats - I rely on the local bike shop. I take mine in once a year for a complete overhaul. At that time the mechanic usually tells me if there is anything extra needed. Last year he recommended Specialized "Armadillo" Kevlar tires and a Goop filled tube. Now have almost 1600 miles on the set with no flats.

Tom

I just came across this site yesterday. He's got some good info for do-it-your self repair.
http://www.jimlangley.net/index.html

I do all my reps. & maintenance myself ,but all my bikes are 10yrs+ old so if i mess up its not too expensive & the older tech. is not as precise or delicate ,if I had a $1 K set of wheels I would be reluctant to tinker with them !

I use my LBS. I used to build and race cars, but today, mechanical work just feels like drudgery. I'll work on a bike only if I have to. I went to drum brakes and a partially enclosed chain with internal gears because changing pads and cleaning/lubricating chains was more than I wanted do do. As the song goes, "I've looked at life from both sides now." Years ago, I used to enjoy tinkering and fixing things, but not any more. I say: do it if you enjoy it, but don't feel guilty if you let the LBS do it instead.

Paul

I am about as mechanical as a rock...My lbs guy does ALL of my wrenchin'. I'm smart enough to know what I don't know and realistic enough to admit it...

With very few exceptions, such as a tightly stuck BB cup, I do all of my own maintenance, repairs, and modifications, including wheel building.

I do all of my own. It panders to my mechanical bent. It helps to know what's wrong with a bike when it does go wrong "out there". It makes you more adaptable, and its cheaper than having an LBS do it. Plus it's also a darned sight cheaper than playing with rally cars like I did a long time ago.

With me it is a time function. I get out of the house at 6:30 a.m. and don't get home until about 8:00 p.m. So, the last thing I want to do is work on anything. Everything else get shoved to the weekend and there is just too much to do execpt squirt oil and if anything major comes up drop the bike off at shop to be fixed.