servicing my own bike

abcdggs

I'm pretty new to cycling but am interested in being fairly well versed in the workings of my bike so i would like to be able to service it, also being a poor student this will help keep my drink link in the black. how difficult will it be and how much tools and such will i need to buy? Any help will be greatly appreciated. thanks
J

DirkVoodoo

Use lots of lube...

It's quite easy once you have a few basic tools (Allen keys, philips screwdriver, etc.) some rags, some degreaser and a lubricant (for the basic maintenance).

I would recommend Park tools website and sheldonbrown.com

Zinn and the art of road bike maintenance is a good book too.

abcdggs

Use lots of lube...

Thats what she said. sorry couldnt resist
sweet thanks

flickerx

It depends on what you want/need to do. Simple things like tightening up/adjusting your brakes, you can just google and find the answer. For absolute beginners I'd recommend a small set of hexagonal allen keys, a tri-socket tool (8/9/10mm) shaped like a 'Y', and maybe a couple of adjustable spanners. Some lube or wd-40, a puncture repair kit and a pump also makes sense.

It really depends on what you need to do. Say something does go wrong with your bike and you dont know how to fix it - e.g. the chain snaps in half, and you have to get a new one, or put it back together. You'll probably want to just drop it into the shop and let them do it, because it'll be quicker; but you should buy a chain tool (same price as getting the repair done, probably even cheaper), and learn how to do it yourself. Search this forum for answers, and then ask a question if nobody has asked before, people will be willing to help you. Photos of the problem always help. You might not need the chain tool again for a couple of years, but you'll have it for the future, and you'll have the skill to fix it if your chain (or a friends) breaks again.

Chips Lovell

Most basic maintenance is very simple. You can take care of an awful lot with a set of allen keys and some tyre levers. You can pick up a good bit of know how from just reading around on the web. Sheldon Brown's website and the Park Tool site are excellent resources.

Without too much effort you should be able to:
1. Change a tube or tyre
2. Replace brake bads
3. Adjust gear and brake cables
4. Replace a chain (provided you get a chain tool).

rottenhat

DirkVoodoo wrote: »

Zinn and the art of road bike maintenance is a good book too.

+1 on that...it's the bible, but with more chain grease stains on it.

BostonB

This looked interesting
http://bicycletutor.com/

Ryaner

I got a Topeak Survival Gearbox before xmas and have been able to do all my repairs using what came in it.

It is small enough to keep in my saddle bag too although it does come with a bar mount too. The one I got didn't have magnet heads on the tools either which would have been very useful when I was rebuilding my wheel.

NeilMcEoigheann

flickerx wrote: »

Some lube or wd-40,

don't use WD-40 on your chain...
http://bicycletutor.com/no-wd40-bike-chain/

zzzzzzzz

You'd be suprised how easy it is once you have the patience to learn and access to "da interwebbbz".

As mentioned above, the park tool site, sheldon brown and bicycletutor.com are a wealth of information and if there's something you can't figure out there's plenty of people on this list that are always happy to advise you.

Lidl are doing cycling gear from 05/03/09 according to their site so if you can swing by, try and pick up their cycling tool kit if they're doing it again. It has most of the tools you'll need to fix anything on your bike. Think it was 25 lids last year:



(pliers not included)

Eoin D

+1 on the zinn book, I've been taking my bike apart and putting it back together, cleaning things, adjusting things using that book and I'm getting far more confident and capable at what I'm doing.

On a side note, de-greaser, first time I used it I just used oven-cleaner, bought bike specific stuff there yesterday and used it and it didn't work half as well. Any cons using oven cleaner??

zzzzzzzz

Eoin D wrote: »

On a side note, de-greaser, first time I used it I just used oven-cleaner, bought bike specific stuff there yesterday and used it and it didn't work half as well. Any cons using oven cleaner??

Diesel's a good one

DadaKopf

aidan.offbeat wrote: »

You'd be suprised how easy it is once you have the patience to learn and access to "da interwebbbz".

As mentioned above, the park tool site, sheldon brown and bicycletutor.com are a wealth of information and if there's something you can't figure out there's plenty of people on this list that are always happy to advise you.

Lidl are doing cycling gear from 05/03/09 according to their site so if you can swing by, try and pick up their cycling tool kit if they're doing it again. It has most of the tools you'll need to fix anything on your bike. Think it was 25 lids last year:



(pliers not included)

Looks similar to the Bike Hand set on Chainreaction.co.uk. How have you found the tools? I've been thinking of buying that kit, or the Lifeline tools over on Wiggle.co.uk. I can't shell out majorly on Park, etc. right now.

Gavin

Got the same kit. Chainbreaker broke, everything else is good. The Allan keys, crank extractor, BB tool, cassette tool alone would be worth the cost of the kit.

zzzzzzzz

the black spanners are a bit crap - haven't had any trouble with anything else

DirkVoodoo

I have the lifeline toolkit,so far so good. Crank puller wasn't as good as a park tool one that I used before.

BBB also make pretty good tools.

A lot of park tools stuff is pretty overpriced anyway (along with Pedros). Unless you are servicing multiple bikes per day, i.e. it is your trade, a budget toolset should last you a good while without too much wear.

Obviously things with more complicated function might not be up to scratch, but wrenches, screwdrivers, lockring tools, etc. should all be pretty reliable.

Gavin

aidan.offbeat wrote: »

the black spanners are a bit crap - haven't had any trouble with anything else

I discovered this as well, they are cone wrenches, only for use on cones. If you use them just for that, they are grand!

zzzzzzzz

Gavin wrote: »

I discovered this as well, they are cone wrenches, only for use on cones. If you use them just for that, they are grand!

ahhh... i figured there must be a reason they're so thin!

Home:Ballyhoura

PBK have ridiculously cheap tools and now they have like 60% off most things here. Example here: €1.96 for a set of allen keys.

Best value of all is their tool kits like here, here and here! Add up the bits individually and you will see how crazy these prices really are (and you get a nice toolbox too). I might just go buy myself some tools now, I just realised how good this offer actually is! Good luck

stuf

flickerx wrote: »

I'd recommend a small set of hexagonal allen keys, a tri-socket tool (8/9/10mm) shaped like a 'Y'

Great idea - got a y allen key with 4, 5, 6mm which I find a lot better than traditional allen keys or multi-tool. Bargain pair of socket y's here

Would highly recommend a speed lever which makes tyre removal and seating a million times easier than without. Halfords do a version of this too

Húrin

I'd say a set of allen keys and a shifting spanner are the most important things to get. You'll be able to do nearly everything with them. The internet is a great resource for learning how to perform bike jobs, especially the late Sheldon Brown's website and www.bicycletutor.com for video tutorials.

Gavin

Húrin wrote: »

I'd say a set of allen keys and a shifting spanner are the most important things to get. You'll be able to do nearly everything with them. The internet is a great resource for learning how to perform bike jobs, especially the late Sheldon Brown's website and www.bicycletutor.com for video tutorials.

Adjustable spanners are handy alright, but if you are using it at all regularly, it's best to get a spanner of the right size. Adjustable ones have a bad habit of rounding bolts when used with a lot of torque. Certainly that's what I find on track nuts

DadaKopf

What's better?

This: http://www.probikekit.com/display.php?code=T0053

Or this: http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=39077

Since I'll be servicing/doing up old bikes, fixies, (and will be on a budget), I realise the first one doesnt have a threaded head spanner. And I'll need that.

So which is better value for money?

DirkVoodoo

That PBK one is the exact same as the lifeline toolkit I have (as in simple rebranding) and I have been very happy with the quality so far. I would prefer an enclosed bottom bracket tool like the Park one, as the open one they provide is hard to use and was slipping off the threads.

Plus I think mine cost me about 90 euro over wiggle, so 40 euro it's a must have. You get all the basics and can add a nice quality torque wrench and other specialist tools to the box over time.

Oh, the chainring nut wrench is the only tool that I found was really crap now that I think about it.

DadaKopf

In that one, I don't see a standard lockring wrench. There are two things missing: the lockring wrench and a headset wrench. I have loads of spanners, so would need cone spanners alright. Hmm...

DadaKopf

It's funny, I'm not sure if the Bike Hand toolkit is more appropriate for people with an older bike, and the PBK is better for people with a modern bike. With PBK, there's no toothed/lockring wrench and no headset wrench.