Dunbar

Same here, if I could learn how to do that stuff without potentially sidelining my bike for a couple days I'd probably do more of my own work. But with only one road bike in my stable it's seriously not worth it to save $15-20 on a derailleur adjustment.

NRZ

I would, but my BFF is the head shop mechanic and I roll my bike in for same day service/night time service. Sure it costs me dinner but it beats the 2 week wait in the summer at all other LBS'. I know how to do a lot of the stuff but lack the tools and would just suffice with letting a pro do it for me.

EdgewaterDude

I'm one of those who just likes to ride, and would rather not spend time wrenching. I'm the same way with my car as well.Luckily for me, there are literally dozens of shops in Chicago which do amazingly excellent work with fast turn around time. Though I don't like riding my hybrid that much, it is there for me as a backup just in case my main ride goes in to the shop.

RT

This kind of shop would not last long around here. There's a common decency to at least give it back no worse than it was. This goes for bikes, cars, pets, children etc.

RT

Not that I take my cat and kids to the bike shop when they are sick, but you know...

Nachoman

I would like to do my own work but I"m good friends with a professional bike mechanic that used to work for Motorola, Postal, Garmin, Jelly Belly. He's a perfectionist and does a way better job then I could ever do. Plus, if I buy him a beer, I get to hear some of his behind-the-scene stories.

MikeyBoyAz

This is my life too. Yesterday evening while I was working on my bike a friend of mine stopped over and we worked on his bike for an hour, which was therapeutic for me. I then returned to my bike for another 90+ minutes of fine tuning and double checking. It makes everyday rides that much less stressful when you know everything is behaving just as it should due to regular maintenance. Knowing cables also makes me more confident if I have to make fine tuning adjustments while still on the bike (moving): More than once I have made cable adjustments half way though a century ride.

Nagrom_

The only thing I don't/can't (I would if I had the tools) do is press headset cups, cut a carbon steer tube, and set a crown race.

marqueemoon

I'm broke, picky, and impatient. I do most of my own work.

Looigi

Work? On my bike? I install components, lube and grease bearing and pivots, replace worn parts,... but that's hardly work. It more like making love. Take her to the LBS!!?? I'd rather pay someone to make love to my wife.

Nagrom_

I'm certified.

ThermionicScott 

I enjoy working on my bikes, but I don't begrudge people who just want to ride. Few people work on their own cars anymore.

Jed19

Cars (at least the modern ones) are much more complicated and messier to work on than bicycles. I use to do routine maintenance on my cars, but it is just not feasible anymore.

Sometimes, the sum total of satisfaction/joy any hobby/experience brings involves total immersion. And doing simple regular maintenance (at least) on your bicycle(s) qualifies.

R1lee

My lbs doesn't charge me for any service. Now they have taught me to do the basics, but ill still bring it in if I'm in no rush.

R1lee

Do you have pictures of this problem? I'll gladly do it free of charge if I can see the issue first.

hhnngg1

I've found that broke + bike self maintenance doesn't mix well. Sure, it's cheaper than the LBS if you know what you're doing, but the tools, space to store tools and work, as well as the inevitable consumables that occur are far from broke-friendly. With 2 bikes or less that don't require much maintenance, it might be cheaper to bring your bike to LBS for the nontrivial stuff.

baj32161

I do, only, the most basic maintenance on my bike. I have always been a putz with tools. I surely did not inherit the mechanical aptitude of my father.

buffalowings

If you buy tools online, often times a one time job would end up costing around the same as the lbs would charge. Not too bad, I like working on bikes, except for fine tuning the derailleurs, removing ball bearings, repacking grease, and really fiddly jobs that I have no clue about.

Paul Y.

I know my limitations. I do alot of my own, but stop at crank removal, sprocket replacement etc.
I do all the maintenance though. That is enjoyable still.

hhnngg1

I was actually shocked at how much and how quickly bike repair tool costs build up, even shopping for good prices online. A pedal wrench that I might use 1-2x/year is $10-15. A chain whip that I might use similary is the same. Individually, they're not much, but given how infrequently I use them and how many different tools are needed for different fixes, it adds up quick.

And actually, by far the biggest expense for me wasn't the tools themselves, but affording the SPACE to store the bike and tools such that it wasn't a royal pain to do the repairs and fixes. Some folks are lucky enough to have an entire garage allocated to bike repair, but if you're a young adult and still in apt renting phase, that's a fair ways away. It was a royal pain as an apt dweller to lug my tools outside to an appropriate spot to do repairs. That alone was reason enough to not work on the bike.

DataJunkie

I like acquiring tools. It is a win win for me.

soccerpig70

I know my limits and any type of mr fix it stuff I dont even try. I can do minor stuff but thats it. I usually call my brother over and and he will do it. He likes that stuff, apparently he got all of those genes, plus I only have to buy beer so its a win win.

dimabear

good to know i'm not alone. i would also prefer to ride than wrench. i was always a bit embarrassed, given how much i ride among my buddies, that i don't work on my bike.

i've got a buddy i'm pretty sure he spends more time working on his bike, than actually riding his bike. i think it enjoys it thoroughly...just taking apart and rebuilding. i just remember he did the re-cabling and cut the wires too short, he spent about two days trying to fix it and just ended up buying new wires. that's two days i would rather avoid (probably more if i tried to do it myself).

thanks for all the replies!

rolliepollie

Giving to the shop means I have to wait a few hours or a day. I'd rather spend half that time doing it myself and some things I just want to do perfectly - aligning brake pads, handlebar/stem/saddle angle, derailleur trimming, things that I always find lbs to just wing at. I'd have the shop do the more "techy" stuff like tightening cassetes, bottom bracket, pressing in headsets where I don't have the tools and torque wrenches.

marqueemoon

Eh, I have 9 although that number will be going down soon. A shop would probably have them in working order a lot more quickly

I've built 13 wheels and several bikes from frames. Housing is pretty cheap in bulk. I mostly know what I'm doing but I have no problem bringing stuff to a shop if I'm over my head or don't have the time to mess with it.

As for the space, I live there too (and that's as many bike as will fit). The tools I've bought have paid for themselves easily. The tools I haven't bought I can use at the coop I belong to.

I don't look down on anyone who has the LBS take care of most of their stuff. Shops still have an important role in my bike life and they gotta make money somehow.