Velocivixen

I figured I could learn how to do basic things on my bike (like turning the barrel adjuster when it needed it. I didn't know what it did or which way to turn it). So I did internet searches, which often lead me to this forum. I saw references to Sheldon Brown's site, along with Park Tool repair help site. Eventually received Parks Big Blue Book as a gift, which is more detailed than online.
I found, at a later age, that I am mechanically inclined and if I could take it apart and understand it better, then I would know how to adjust things better. I bought bike specific tools as needed and now have all sorts of tools....and I really enjoy them.
It's never too late to learn.

drlogik 

Bike shops mostly.

When I was a young lad back in the 60's I went around around the neighborhood fixing the fire hydrants...or so I thought. When I turned 12 I took the family lawn mower apart and put it back together again and it worked. I figured out I was pretty mechanically inclined.

As a teenager I worked in a filling station and learned how to work on cars for about a year as a freshman then I started working in bike shops.

I cut my teeth at Al's Bike Shop in Cleveland Heights Ohio. Al has since retired and closed shop.

I worked in successive bike shops through our moves out of state for about the next 7 or 8 years and helped pay my way through college working in a bike shop and as a carpenter, another skill I picked up (comes in handy for our home renovations...3 of them).

I love working on bikes. It relaxes me. I'm an IT professional by trade...go figure.

Gresp15C

I learned to work on bikes by learning to work on things in general. As a kid, I certainly learned how to fix a flat and lube bearings, but I also learned how to fix a dishwasher and braze with a torch. That experience just developed an interest in continuing to do the same through adulthood, and now I'm passing it on to my kids.

These days, when something requires a specialized tool or technique, or there's a "right" way to do it, I look it up online, whether it's a bike or a dishwasher.

philbob57

Anybody's Bike Book, and the University of Michigan's Bike Co-op 1972-74

scott967

I also came from a family upbringing where if something broke, you figured out how to fix it or it stayed broken. Though my Schwinn "ten speed" was often a single speed by necessity. I did buy repair manuals, in the day before you could hunt stuff down on the net, so I also have a "Glenn's Bike Repair Manual".

scott s.
.

Salamandrine 

Originally, Eugene Sloane's Complete Book of Bicycling. When I was 15, I got a job in the LBS, and was fully trained by the head mechanic there, who was actually a mechanical engineer. I worked as a mech part time through high school and college, and then a few years afterwards, picking up lots of tricks along the way.

xiaoman1 

Trial and error....lucky for me less error. Older bikes a relatively simple and remembering how it came apart works wonders when assembling.
A little intimidating at first but when you have no other choice fear becomes necessity and after all its not rocket science.
JM2C's

canklecat

I started as a teenager in the early 1970s with "Anybody's Bike Book" by Tom Cuthbertson. If I'm recalling correctly that book had a section on Motobecanes, so when I upgraded from a 3-speed cruiser to a 10-speed road bike, that's what I bought in 1976. Gradually accumulated all my own tools, did all of my own maintenance and repairs, from fixing flats, to spokes and truing wheels, to overhauling wheel hubs and bottom brackets, customizing chain rings and freewheel gears to suit myself, etc.

Back then the only references were other cyclists, library books (mostly out of date) and magazine articles (mostly trendy and aimed toward road racing). So lots of trial and error, redoing a job two or three times to get it right.

Best modifications I made were to tweak the gear steps in the chain ring and freewheel to suit myself, which reduced tiring steps that were too big or inefficient steps that were insignificant over long rides, and to improve climbing. And to move the SunTour friction shifters from the stem to the downtube. And to replace the original grease with Phil's green goo, which was much more effective at repelling water and keeping out grit.

Most pointless mods were removing the dork disc, chain ring guard and handlebar extension brake levers (so-called "suicide" levers -- misnamed, because they were actually useful). Made no discernible difference in weight or speed. It didn't make the bike look any cooler, because the serious roadies knew the bike was a mid-level consumer grade bike anyway. It made commuting less friendly as I had to clean up chain grease off my leg or pants cuff. Removing the brake extension levers made it less convenient to use the upper bar with confidence. Eventually I put all that stuff back on the bike, after I stopped participating in local crits and time trials and just rode for my own pleasure, or on leisurely weekend tours with friends.

I sold all my tools about 12 years ago, along with all my bike stuff, when I figured I'd never ride again after my neck and back were busted up in a car wreck. But now, about 8 months into cycling again, I'm gradually getting back into doing more of my own maintenance and repairs. I had the LBS replace the rear wheel for me after the original got warped, but replaced the broken shifter myself. Eventually I'll get the basic tools to maintain the hubs, BB, etc.

It's much easier now, because instructions, illustrated and video tutorials are available for almost all repairs. It's just a matter of whether it's cost effective to buy the tools, and whether you have the time, space and inclination for doing it yourself.

jyl

I did little things on my bikes when I was a kid. Adjusting brakes and changing tubes. I had Cuthbertson's book. Then I got into cars, and worked on them quite a bit. When I got back into bikes, I figured they were far simpler than cars, needed fewer and smaller tools, could be worked on standing up, so they had to be easy. And for the most part they are. Not that I'm a great or even good bike mechanic, but after a few years of working on bikes I'm a better bike mechanic than 20 years working on my cars made me a car mechanic. I learned from Sheldon Brown mostly, then from here.

rydabent

As a kid that grew up on a farm, I watched dad starting at an early age. By the time I was 12 I was packing bearings, and taking my coaster brake apart and cleaning and greasing it.

Working on a bike is not rocket science, they are actually very simple machines with all the adjustment pretty much right out in plain site.

1242Vintage

I got a "idiots guide" to working on bikes, look things up on this forum, and watch a few videos on YouTube. Found over the years its much easier and usually we quicker to fix things myself than going to a shop.

I've got three kids going to expensive universities so saving a few dollars by doing my own maintenance and repairs is good too.

Garfish

+1 on all the previous suggestions. I'd add two more: if you're stimulated by formal continuing education, consider a course @ Barnett's Bicycle Institute, Colorado Springs, Colo. John Barnett's manual is exhaustive and covers nearly every aspect of bike mechanics and bikes both new and old. They emphasize a scientific, measured approach to bike repair and maintenance, with proper torquing of parts, etc. Not cheap, but in my estimation worth the expense. Their staff has a wealth of knowledge on the subject. Another thing I've found very helpful in learning bike repair and also personally satisfying is volunteering at a local homeless shelter. We have an old garage converted into a bike repair and maintenance facility. Counselors at the shelter get these people jobs; when they get a job, we give them a bike to get to work. It's the first step to getting these folks out of the vicious cycle of no job/homeless/alcohol-drugs, etc. Naturally it works for some but not all, but it is gratifying to see some "graduate" to social stability, knowing that you helped. We take donated bikes and go over them and get them in working condition. The great thing is, if you screw something up as a neophyte mechanic you haven't ruined a vintage Campag part, just most likely a WalMart beater. I frequently bring bikes home and work on them in the peace and quiet of my own shop - it can literally get pretty "crazy" in a homeless shelter, as you can imagine.

Flinstone

If only I knew about bike tools when I started learning. There's a bunch less swearing involved if you buy a basic set of bike tools (who knew there actually would exist a wrench that fits in that funny spot?). In fact, then it's pretty easy. If you need a vice grip or find your self holding a hammer and screw driver at the same time, you're probably doing it wrong. Look at part, find tool that fits.

Misty Bianco

1. I learned because I always wanted to know how spokes are treaded
2. I learned because I couldn't see myself paying some stuck $50.00 per hour to do what i can do myself!

rmfnla

When I really young (up until maybe 5 years old) I had a reputation for breaking toys.

It wasn't until I was a bit older that I started putting them back together.

Always been a tinkerer...

mcours2006

I'm pretty mechanically inclined and handy with things, probably more than most people, so it wasn't too difficult. Fixing bikes is pretty easy, especially since most things fit together nicely. As for where to learn when you need it, Youtube is great. Manuals, forums, wherever information is found. If you're not afraid of taking apart things and putting them back together you'd be a pretty good mechanic at anything, as long as you can put it back together.

CliffordK

I'd have to say I started long before this forum, or the WWW even existed. How life has changed and evolved.

I'd been riding for years, and probably built a couple of wheels before High School which was the first school that had an old teletype in the library (text only). It had some research info, but was quite limited in scope.

That said, NOW, I do find the internet to be an excellent resource when trying something new, or learning about specific calculation such as spoke lengths. Even just browsing the forum is informative.

I've always had a great curiosity about mechanical things. So, even if I never got a flat, I'd probably take a tire off sometime just to see how it works.

Now, after being stuck a couple of times with the inability to fix a car tire, I now have the mobile ability to pull car tires off the rim to replace them, or fix flats. Plugging too, of course. All I need is good enough tires.

tgolden

It's far easier to work on bikes today with the internet than when I was a kid. The needed information, tools and parts are easily revealed with a few simple searches on the web. Specific questions can be answered on forums such as this. The best information is easily available. Special tools are relatively cheap, because they're produced for he mass market. Back when I was a kid, I did my best to work on my bike without special tools, because they were relatively expensive and primarily marketed to professional mechanics. Doing your own bike work pays for itself, because you're not paying for somebody else's labor who's trying to beat the clock and your bike will be better maintained, because you'll have the tools and knowledge to fix issues on the spot yourself rather than make another trip to the LBS.

mccorpsman

I was lucky, I grew up poor, so I had to learn to use tools. I can afford to pay someone else to fix things for me now, but usually do so myself. I believe that preventative maintenance keeps the mechanic away.

RubeRad

+1

If a picture is worth a thousand words, how much is a video worth? There are many videos on youtube for any routine bicycle maintenance task (and probably most of the complex ones), you just have to have a good command of the vocabulary to be able to search for them.

So start by learning the names for all the components of a bike. Then search for utub videos about the parts you need to deal with.

This website is of course a great resource as well. Note that the built-in search function isn't all that helpful, but what does work well is to go to google and type

site:bikeforums.net your search terms here

Camilo

1. 1960s: Futzing with my red cruiser with a slot-blade screwdriver, crescent wrench and hammer as a pre-teen

2. 1970s: The Bible, mid-70s edition of Glenn's:

https://www.amazon.com/Glenns-Complet.../dp/0517500930

3. 1970s (con't): A less technical, but more colorful supplement in those 70s days, Anybody's, a crunchy Whole Earth Catalogue type:


https://www.amazon.com/Anybodys-Bike-...dy%27s+bicycle

4. 1980s: Then I used Richard's, which I still have in the Archives (mine's an edition or two older than this; no indexed shifting):


Richard's Bicycle Book: Richard Ballantine: 9780345294531: Amazon.com: Books

5: 1990s and into the 21st Century: the WWW, various usenet groups, Park, Sheldon, Youtube, misc. searches, and this and other forums.

CliffordK

Everything has changed, but everything is the same.

I never had to worry about indexed shifting. Simply adjust derailleur stops. A couple of different standards, but so much was one-size-fits all. No oversized tubing. One type of brake pads.

I suppose one difference is that one only used what the LBS carried. So, if you want some obscure chainring and it wasn't hanging on the wall, then you were generally out of luck. With some exceptions. I think Nashbar and a few other catalog companies have been around for a long time.

I suppose during my sewup era, I just had a couple of places I'd go to for parts, and just didn't ask elsewhere.

I've built several wheels before learning about the valve hole thing.

rm -rf

I think bikes are more difficult to work on now. But it's way easier to find out how to do it correctly.

For instance,
Threadless headsets. It's not obvious at first what's the purpose of the top cap and the stem bolts. Of course, once you've done it once, it's quite simple.

But I was kind of surprised how to adjust these headsets correctly, when I read the Park Tool Threadless Headset Adjustment page.

Now, Park Tool Repair Guides are my first choice. Their derailleur setup and adjustment pages were extremely helpful, taking it step-by-step.

I've seen tons of threads here in BF with the OP randomly turning limit screws and tightening and loosening the derailleur cables, hoping to fix their problem. Just start at the beginning and take it step by step, and it's easy.

FullGas

anyone who rides for 25 years without flatting is riding very, very few miles...

even then, it borders on the unbelievable.

rmfnla

I received a copy of Richard's as a gift but my copy had a photo of the most gorgeous Raleigh with chromed stays on the cover...