Very interesting thread. I'm trying to learn as much as I can about bike maintenance. Taking care of things on a regular basis can avoid expensive problems later on. Also, it's nice to know how the job is done, even if I'm paying the shop to do it. I figure at a minimum, I can keep everything clean, and lube the chain. I bought the Big Blue Book of Bike Repair; good reading.

I recently paid $27 to have a spoke replaced on the cassette side of my back wheel. I thought that was kind of expensive, but he did it for me while I waited, and I was up and running again. But, I would like to be able to do this myself so that I'm not dead in the water with a broken bike.

RSBG