Originally Posted by
dengidog
How funny that this topic was revived...but I'm very grateful it was. LoriRose: you give me great hope! I don't mind getting my hands (and any other part!) dirty. My first project was to learn how to adjust the height of my seat. I'm REALLY new at anything mechanical. I actually started the "happy" dance when I realized that changing a link on the chain wasn't the great crisis I thought it was.
The book recommendations by others have been extremely helpful. As for help from my neighbors, none are into bikes (and I'm reasonably fluent, so that's not an issue). I guess my second biggest issue, besides ignorance, is feeling like the local repair shop will laugh themselves sick if I walk in with my poor bike in bits...or worse, put together backwards. I know that's really dumb, they're very nice guys, but...
I guess I'll just take the obvious path and practice taking things apart...and putting a few pesos aside for the shop to fix my "repairs"!
Thanks, all. I really appreciate the help.
I hadn't realized that this was a revived thread, but how great that you're around to witness its resurrection! Your attitude is everything! Good for you.
My first "crisis" was to simply to remove the rear wheel and put it back again. I thought I had broke the bike. lol. Took me forever, but I was successful.
Don't worry about being laughed at by your LBS or anyone else for that matter. Life's too short to give a second thought about what people think about your bike mechanic abilities. When I have to go to my LBS for help I just smile big, ask lots of questions and buy something I probably don't need just to help the menfolk feel helpful and important - which they are. They tend to give me free stuff and advice in the end. I'm a lady though so I'm not sure how much that angle will work for you!