MulliganAl

Now that I'm commuting more (things tend get outta' wack a lot quicker I find) and my wife and son are riding their bikes more I'm thinking about getting a maintenance workstand and some tools so I can begin doing tune ups and possibly complete maintenance on our bikes. I was also wondering what level of maintenance/repair most commuters do on their own bikes.

1) Take it to the bike shop (don't want to deal with it)
2) Basic adjustments and lube (just shy of pulling new cables but will replace the brake pads)
3) Complete maintenance (change cables, replace any parts when needed etc)

Also, for those commuters that do complete maintenance, what tools do you have and feel are necessary to properly maintain your bikes?

lil brown bat

I'm a 2 working on being a 3. It's worth pointing out that "maintenance" covers a lot of ground, and that some people don't even pump up their own tires (truth!). I don't think it's necessary to do a lot yourself, but a few basic things will save you a lot of hassle and expense (tire inflation, chain cleaning and lubing). More importantly, though...for safety's sake, you really shouldn't treat your bike the way some people treat their cars, i.e., you get in and fire it up and never give it a look over to see if anything's amiss. You don't have to do the work yourself, but I think it's good to get in the habit of checking for any loose fittings, sagging cables, etc. -- if they fail on you mid-ride, the consequences could be messy and involve lots of subcutaneous gravel (or worse).

chipcom 

You forgot 'all of the above'...which is me. I can do it all, but with 10 bikes to maintain I often depend on my LBS to do some of the work because I just don't have the time, or because I just want to throw them some business.

I have a pretty good set of tools and jigs for normal maintenance and repair, including a work stand, truing stand, wheel dishing tool, etc., but could still use things like a headset press, frame alignment tool, steering tube cutter (OK I do have a hacksaw) and such. I mention that in case you want to be my Secret Santa.

DataJunkie

Same as chip. I built my last commuter but occasionally due to time constraints or a lack of interest I take them into a LBS.

JeffS

I can do everything, but I don't enjoy working on bikes at all. If I had a "relationship" with a bike shop I would gladly send them a lot of business. For example, I have two unfinished builds because I can't get motivated to work on them.

When I do take things to a shop I feel overcharged though. For example, I took a DT wheelset to a shop to get the freehub changed because I didn't want to deal with it. They charged me an acceptable amount for labor, but REALLY screwed me over for the hub. Probably cost me $60 over buying the hub on ebay and installing it myself.

chipcom 

Yeah, you just can't beat having a good relationship with your shop. My friends at my LBS take darn good care of me, which is why I don't mind spending money to help keep them in business and profitable, even though I could muddle through on my own.

twinquad

Another "almost complete" here. I built up both my commuter and my road bike, but in both cases I had the shop build the wheels and press the headset. I basically do everything I have the tools for, and in cases where I don't have the tool, about half the time I go ahead and buy it, so I've accumulated a pretty complete set over the years.

Being able to do a few basic things can save you time and money, make your bike safer, and help you know and love your bike better. Know how to fix a flat, adjust brakes and derailleurs, replace brake pads and cables, clean and lube the chain, know when and how to replace the chain. Pretty much the only tools you need for these procedures are a couple Allen wrenches, screwdrivers, tire levers, chain checker, and chain tool (not even that if your chain has a PowerLink or similar). You're looking at an investment of $0 - $30 (depending on what you already have), 8-12 hours of reading up on and practicing the procedures, and then maybe a couple hours a month actually doing the maintenance.

Barrettscv 

I'm progressing. I'm lucky to have a great bike shop that does basic maintenance for free every time I upgrade my bike with some new feature. However tire, brake and chain maintenance can't wait for my once-every-1000-mile visits to the LBS, so these items I take care of. I run a 1x10 and have not needed any drive train work.

Michael

Mr. Underbridge

I actually like doing my own work, so I do everything myself. I've made a bunch of mistakes, but it's the best way to learn. I also haven't found a shop around here I like and trust enough to do the work, and that can turn it around quickly.

One thing I've found - whenever you need to do some technique for the first time, try it out on your cheapest bike.

nahh

everything except wheel building, and i'm going to look into that when i have free time/free funds in the summer.
I go to the LBS when i need advice, which is usually given quite freely with the understanding that i buy almost all my accessories through them. It's a great system...i learn, they profit. it works out.

@TwinQuad: here's a DIY headset press I used. Works quite well, and dosen't have the $120 price tag: https://www.bikecommuters.com/2007/09...llation-tools/

mechanicalron

That is just the thing, tools can cost lots of money for the specialty tools needed for bikes. I have been building up my tools for some time and have a lot of money into them. The maintenance part is simple and fun to do if you have the time but you have to have the proper tools

Ka_Jun

+1. Someone told me that you pick up tools, along the way, depending on what you need to fix when something breaks or needs maintenance. I've found that to be true, so far. Maybe a 2.25 to 2.4

CliftonGK1

3) Complete maintenance (change cables, replace any parts when needed etc)

Also, for those commuters that do complete maintenance, what tools do you have and feel are necessary to properly maintain your bikes?

Tools and stuff I have in my shop:

• Park PCS-10 repair stand
• Minoura Pro wheel truing stand
• Hex wrenches
• Flat and Philips screwdrivers
• Box wrenches
• Blunt and fine Vice Grips
• Blunt and fine pliers
• Regular and non-crimping cable snips
• Finish Line chain scrubber
• Park BCB-4 cleaning brush set
• 2 gallon parts washing bucket of mineral spirits
• Finish Line wet and dry formulas, Phil grease
• Cordless drill with screwdriver and drilling bits (sometimes stuff just needs more holes)
• Dremel and metal cutter wheels (for fabbing small parts like custom mounting brackets)
• Soldering iron and heat gun (I run a generator hub and lights)

I do everything from building my own wheels to fabricating custom mounting brackets for my lights, front rack and bag. The only thing I don't have is a headset press and star-nut tool, because really... how often am I going to replace my headset that I need to spend $60 on a special tool for it when my LBS will do it for free if I buy the headset from them?

no motor?

2 1/2, maybe 2 3/4.

ItsJustMe

It's easier to do stuff myself than to take the bike to the shop. Quicker too. The one time I took the bike to the LBS for something I didn't know how to handle, they didn't either. I took it home and figured it out myself.

Honestly, there's nothing on a bike that takes more than rudimentary mechanical skills and maybe $50 worth of tools to fix.

I'm the same way with cars. I can change my oil faster than I can drive to the oil change place. I will admit that my car was recently up on ramps for 3 months waiting for me to replace the vehicle speed sensor, but that was because I didn't need the car for anything and I didn't want to crawl around on the ground in the snow.

I am the sort of person who enjoys doing things though (I can't imagine having much fun paying other people to do stuff for me). A few years back an odd jobs guy called and asked if I had any jobs around the house I'd like to hire him to do. I asked why I'd pay someone else to have my fun for me? Next thing you know people will want me to pay them to take my vacations for me.

twinquad

Thanks, that looks simple and effective, which I like. Hopefully I'll remember it the next time I build up a bike, which might be in 8-10 years.

I think wheel building will be my next challenge as well. Any good DIY tools you've come across for that? The ones I've seen are all based on an old fork, which isn't very helpful for rear wheels.

Griffin2020

When I was a pup, I did everything myself. Of course, the nearest bike shop was about 20 miles away, so I basically had to learn it or figure it out.

Nowadays I tend to take my bike to the shop...of course it does not hurt that they will do all basic stuff for free since I bought the bike there. If parts need replacing I pay for that, but that's it.

I do my awn clean and lube, but let them handle the rest (and they are only 6 miles from the house, down a fun road).

mangosalsa

Other than wheel building and tensioning, it's all done at home.

Tools? Over the years I've managed to get a complete set of tools together that will work
on new and older bikes. I bought a couple of those complete bike tool box kits when they
would go on sale and that helped. Decided that this is the year I will finally build my own
wheels. Which means that I get to buy more tools ! ! ! Win Win

capejohn

When I first started working on my bikes I often had to take it to the lbs to fix what I fixed. I got better, but still have them do some things.

chipcom 

Yup, that's me too. Just cuz I can do it, doesn't mean I can do it without f'ing it up!

mechanicalron

We should have a how to sticky! You know, a Q&A sort of thing.

Pinyon

I fix almost everything myself, but sometimes I just take it in anyway. Especially if the job is tedious and time-consuming. I actually like taking apart big stuff like hubs, bottom brackets, and headsets; and I don't trust anyone else to fine-tune my brakes or gears. I also prefer that I replace bar tape/grips (picky about how it feels and stays-put), make saddle adjustments, and do things like switch-out or replace pedals.

But sometimes I don't have the patience for doing things like matching/cutting and putting on new cables and cable-housings, serious wheel-work (replacing spokes and serious wheel truing), or installing something like a new bike computer (it looks neater when they do it).

mustang1

I'll do everything except bb and headset related work. I dont have the tools for that.

ItsJustMe

Here's the answer:
Park Tools Big Blue Book of Bicycle Repair

I think it's about as close to perfect as a bike repair book can be. I actually read it as bedtime reading for a week or so (how geeky is that?).

I bought a couple of other books before that, and they were garbage. They only showed how to do stuff that was totally obvious anyway, like changing chains and brake pads and such. The Park book shows how to do EVERYTHING on almost ANY modern bike or component. Whether you need to know how to change a flat tire, install a threadless headset, or properly adjust an Avid hydraulic brake caliper, it's got it covered, in very clear language with plenty of pictures.

I bought mine for something like $12 when AE Bike put it on their "daily deal" a few months back (it's normally $25). If I realized how good it was, I would have bought a few extras as gifts. If it comes up on sale again, I might buy a copy to donate to the local library.

<gush mode off>

ian123

me too ever since i was a kid i have done all the work myself and built my own bikes. and def have made some mistakes... but ill go to the bike store and ask for help if i need it. where i used to live they would let me use there tools but now i pay them when i need them to do it/ show me how