Originally Posted by
timmythology
So I am starting to notice that the main barrier for myself with long distance cycling, is my total lack of mechanical knowledge of bikes. Which can be a very major part of doing long distance rides in the middle of nowhere. Especially if something were to go wrong.
When i say, lack of mechanical knowledge, I mean a total lack of figuring out mechanical thing's period. I do make up for this deficit by meticulous maintenance of my bike at two LBS. I do not buy tools, which creates a barrier for more thing's than my bike
But it also provides me with more time to cycle on the weekends, when I notice my friends using their tools
One friend of mine finally figured it was easier, faster, and more efficient to just do the project for me, than try and explain it to me.
I started riding bikes in 2005, I remember my great 6 mile rides, and have progressed since to the goal of a 200k this year. Now in that time, and with two bikes; I have had one broken spoke, broken chain ring, and a broken derailleur during the ride. So of the major mechanical issues on the road, I think only one could of been planned for. Which I guess is one incident every two years, knocks on wood.
Now most of my longer distance rides have been in organized events, rather than solo, so an option other than my self could be easily available. The longest I have done solo is 65 miles, with no options available for assistance. Which is half of where I want to be. So now I am trying to gauge what the least amount of mechanical knowledge a person should have on long distance rides is. Especially at night, regardless of weather, in the middle of nowhere.
What's your comfort level?
I would say if you want the minimum of knowledge with field repairs, you should know how to:
Repair a puncture....
True a wheel with a broken spoke, enough to make the bike ridable....
Replace a cable.
Repair a broken chain.
For minimum tools, a set of tire levers, a pump, a chain tool, a pair of wire cutters, a spoke wrench the proper size.
For minimum parts, a spare tube, a spare rear brake cable, a spare rear shifter cable, a spare spoke in each size required, a spare chain link or two, a 6" piece of floral wire, a 12" hunk of duct tape.
Let me explain that last two, I once had a derailleur break on me, used the wire to hold it together long enough to get to a bike shop for a replacement, I actually rode the bike to the shop! Duct tape is the handyman's secret weapon, it's very tough and has a very strong glue, it can be used to hold a lot of things together when they break, field repairs are the world of jury rigging, when the next nearest person is 20 miles away, being able to make something work well enough to get you to them is the key. It doesn't matter how it looks, or how well it works, as long as it kinda works. Really though, you know the old saying an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, it's true, actually I think it's more like an ounce of prevention is worth a hundredweight of cure, but that's beside the point.