Originally Posted by
MikePFlyFish
I have to admit, everything I've read and watched (YouTube) these last few weeks on bikes, components, maintenance, upgrades, tool kits for trips, has got me kind of intimidated. Even things like seats (now saddles), and tires, and brakes have got me worried about venturing too far from home. In my youth, we would be miles from home with nothing...turn the bike upside down to put the chain back on, fix the master link, maybe use a Swiss Army knife to adjust the brakes? Now bikes seem so advanced and sensitive to any variance from perfect setup....I feel like I need to bring a tool chest along with me when we finally get to start riding in the spring.
Dont be intimidated. The fact is, that contrary to many on the forum a bicycle is a VERY simple machine. It depends one how much wrenching you have done, and what you are willing to learn. When I was working, I worked on a Composer that looked like a large typewriter. It had 5000 parts, so for me, the mechanics of a bike is totally simple.