I'm amazed by the number of people who ride road bikes, often a fair distance form home, and have little to know knowledge of how to fix or adjust their bike.

So what is the minimal level of comptence that every rider should have when it comes to repairs?

Edit: darn it, computer dumped Bike Forums as I was trying to add the Poll.

So is it 1) None (I ride supported at least by my cell phone and significant other), 2) at least be able to fix a flat, 3) fix a flat, and tune a derailleur, 4) That plus change a cassette, 5) replace a broken spoke, true a wheel, 6) adjust bb's and headsets, 7, build a bike from the ground up?

[And what is the minimal competency requirements for posting on BF: Start a thread and be able to include a poll?]

I'd say (3)--fix flats, tune derailleurs (and brakes).

That's about what I carry tools for on most rides, anyway.

It's like that joke about outrunning the bear.
An incompetent bike fixer need to be able to cycle as fast as a competent one.
And never alone.

Many people I ride with I doubt could fix a flat.
Good thing they're so hawt.

I carry the tools to true a wheel, but not replace a cassette nor a broken spoke.

I think minimum is fixing a flat (replace the tube) and carry a cell.

Minimum competence to post in BF? How about knowing how to spell "minimum" and "competence??"

Sorry, couldn't resist.

anyone who rides a bike more than .25 miles from home on 23c tires without knowing how to, and carrying the proper equipment to change a flat is an idiot.

that has to be the bare minimum.

with the exception of bearing presses and facing equipment, i have found its always cheaper to buy the tools and do things myself than pay the lbs to do them.

bikes are so mechanically simple comparatively speaking, and the amount of information available for free (park tools site, sheldon brown, google) is amazing. most people should be able to do most maintenance themselves.

+1

In this order:
Change a flat
Tighten stem bolts
Adjust saddle height and angle
Adjust brake
True wheel
Adjust shifting
Anything else, call for help.

In the MS Bike ride last year, a guy in my team had a flat at mile 45 and was standing on the side of the road. I stopped and help him and found he had nothing with him. No spare tube, no tools, no pump. I had to give him my tube and help him install the tube.

I asked him why he doesn't carry anything. He said he has been biking for 20 years (from his teenage years) and never had a flat so it never occurred to him to carry anything.

He did wise up and bought the necessary supplies at the next service stop.

I suppose if your wife is a lot more understanding than mine, you could get away with 1.

Anybody with some sense should be able to do 2, but there are plenty of people who don't even know how to change a flat tire on a car. To me, calling for help is more of a PITA than learning how to change flats, but I'm one of those types of people who hates asking help for anything.

1. fix flat.
2. dial phone (and be able to give directions to someone who can't find their way out of a brown paper bag all the while complaining about having to pack the kids into the car to come get you because you're too stupid to fix a bike you ride way too much but can spend hours on end cleaning after each even if it was sunny and dry but no, now you need a ride home and the hair appointment will have to be rescheduled...uh oh, i've said too much)

just past someone yesterday on my ride walking their bike in the desert. slowed to ask If nee help. She had someone coming to pick her up )...someday I will be STUCK, have noone to pick ME up (for now). guess I will be walking with thumb out

I can't explain, maybe it is fear of the unknown. I have no problem working on critical parts in my car like brakes, suspension, cooling systems, etc. Yet I am dreading what is involved with changing the crank.

Perhaps it is because that although a bike is a simple mechanical device, it requires a lot of fine tuning to get it right, specially for inexperience mechanics.

I'm up to 4 on your list, right now I don't feel like spending the money on tools to do more (college student ). I can, however, strip my bike down to the frameset (bb left in) and build it back up no problemo. I've got cable routing down, including figuring out the right housing length (not just copying the old setup). I've also taken my brakes apart completely and built them back up.

at least be able to fix a flat. most other problems apart from a broken chain still allow you to limp the bike home.

I was on an organized club ride, with sag support, recently. Came up to a rest stop and there was a guy getting ready to get sagged in because his crank arm was loose, about ready to fall off.

It was a modern 2 piece external bearing crankset, and all it needed was to be tightened with an 8mm allen wrench.

I wasn't that surprised that the guy didn't know how to tighten the crank. I was rather suprised that the Sag people, and the others at the rest stop didn't konw how to fix it. One minute with a multi tool and he was riding again.

Riders should be able to change a flat.

I'm met too many riders that weren't smart enough to carry a pump and tube!....That's minimal, atleast another rider can help them if their skills are lacking!

Back in the day with fixed and moveable BB cups, loose bearings, having to adjust how tight, and the need for special tools ( pin spanner, lock ring wrench, crank arm puller) it took a little savvy to work on a bb and crank.

With 2 piece mego exo cranksets and sealed bearing bb's its extremely easy. Just read the Park tool website.

After fixing a flat, the rest is just gravy to save you some cash and avoid the LBS for quick/easy fixes.

That was nice of you to get him back on the road again but he'll likely be in for many retightenings of that same crank now that the precision fit of the arm and axle has been destroyed by riding with it loose. Was it an FSA crank?

I'll go with #3. Of course, getting beyond that is not only desirable, but really very satisfying. Well worth the effort and investment in tools, IMO. For me, the tuning and maintenance parts are half the fun of being a cyclist.

With sealed bearings, better components, etc., it's gotten a lot easier than it was back in the day.

It's pretty close to (2).

Yes.

To answer my own question, I'd say fixing a flat really is a bare minimun (sp). Being able to tune the derailleur, while maybe not as required is going to be pretty helpful, and prevent a lot of clattering between trips to the LBS, as well as allowing you to confidently remove the dork disc.