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Bike Maintenance?

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2

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    #32
    Cee-Jay-Cee
    Registered Users Posts: 12,235 ✭✭✭✭Cee-Jay-Cee


    I can do everything with exception to truing wheels. I haven't ever had the need to yet but may have a go at it at some stage. I have the tools to do everything else. I got quite a lot of them on Aliexpress for considerably less than you'd pay here.


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    #33
    xckjoo
    Registered Users Posts: 3,349 ✭✭✭xckjoo


    Basic strategy is that if I can do it without buying a specialised tool, I'll do it. If I need a specialised tool and I'll use it a fair bit, I'll buy it and give it a go. But if I'm unlikely to need it again for a few years or there's a number of small jobs that I don't have all the tools for, I'll bring it to the shop. Bike is my main transport to work so downtime and reliability is the main focus.



    I always seem to make a balls of adjusting the derailleurs though. Just seem to have a mental block at getting them right. And the bottom bracket is such a pain to get off, I'll happily pay someone else to do it next time :pac:


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    #34
    fat bloke
    Registered Users Posts: 5,824 ✭✭✭fat bloke


    I fill my own water bottles aaaaaand...... oh yeah, I sometimes put air stuff in the tyre thingies...

    Do I get a badge?


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    #35
    Large bottle small glass
    Registered Users Posts: 1,721 ✭✭✭Large bottle small glass


    ednwireland wrote: »
    everything except trueing wheels cant get my head round that

    I build my own wheels, and with a few tools, isn't that hard; that's with the proviso that you have decent quality parts and a conservative build(3 cross and high spoke count).

    Truing a wheel without the knowledge of what a bicycle wheel is is a mugs game; there are a lot of reasons why a spoke might be loose or have broken.


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    #36
    cletus
    Registered Users Posts: 7,885 ✭✭✭cletus


    Actually, would there be anything to be said for having a "How to Service Your Bike" thread, similar to the one on the DIY and Car Maintenance for car servicing. People could add pictures, videos, step by step etc for the basic things, and people could leave questions re more unusual jobs


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    #37
    ED E
    Registered Users Posts: 36,166 ✭✭✭✭ED E


    cletus wrote: »
    Actually, would there be anything to be said for having a "How to Service Your Bike" thread, similar to the one on the DIY and Car Maintenance for car servicing. People could add pictures, videos, step by step etc for the basic things, and people could leave questions re more unusual jobs

    *ahem*

    https://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2057690768


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    #38
    Crippens1
    Registered Users Posts: 197 ✭✭Crippens1


    All repairs/bike building except wheel-trueing and disk-brake bleeding. I've had 1 spoke broken on a road wheel and twice on an MTB in the last 10 years. For bleeding bakes there isn't enough practice/repetition to become good/quick at it (especially Avid brakes).


    I'd rather pay at an LBS for the skilled hands.


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    #39
    Alek
    Registered Users Posts: 4,520 ✭✭✭Alek


    I only go to LBS for stuff that needs super expensive tools that I'll not use in 5 years time and cannot be replaced by a wrench, beer can and a nail. Like facing a BB shell.

    Everything else gets the luxurious in-house treatment; in the dimly lit hall, when kids go to sleep. I build bikes and wheels for myself and friends, no mechanic-induced failures, knock on wood, so far ;)

    Been to the LBS for service twice, maybe three times ever. (Hi Dara!)


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    #40
    Thargor
    Registered Users Posts: 17,883 ✭✭✭✭Thargor


    I'm completely useless, anything roadbike related I've ever tried to fix with brakes/chains/gears/cables etc just doesn't work apart from a bit of gear indexing I did the other day that was more luck than skill. I swapped the cantilever brakes on my junk MTB for callipers I found on a frame in a skip a while back aswell, that was about the only successful job I ever did on a bike. I use Gatorskins so I never really get punctures which is good because changing a tube on a roadbike is practically impossible, broke all my levers trying and never bothered replacing them ages ago, it's 5 Euro for a new tube or 10 Euro for a new tube and fitting with your gears and brakes adjusted for you in the LBS so no competition really. I'll be badly screwed if I ever puncture on big rides up in the mountains or in the middle of nowhere on the canals though. I just keep it clean and lubed and nothing ever really goes wrong touch wood.

    I said it recently in the maintenance thread, 99% of YouTube videos on how to do anything to a roadbike are just useless p1sstakes and a complete waste of everybodies time, they solve every problem with one turn of an adjustment screw or barrel adjuster, usually while pretending to work on a brand new €x000 bike with nothing wrong with it. Zero real world applications. I remember the last time I looked up a tutorial on changing a 700cc tyre the guy did it with his bare hands lol.

    Buying a house soon so hopefully will get better when I have a garage and stand and proper tools. I was thinking for my next BiketoWork credit I'll force myself to assemble the new bike on my own...


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    #41
    07Lapierre
    Registered Users Posts: 8,219 ✭✭✭07Lapierre


    Thargor wrote: »

    I remember the last time I looked up a tutorial on changing a 700cc tyre the guy did it with his bare hands lol.


    You think this is unusual? I find most foldable road tyres can be fitted and removed without using tyre levers. Admittedly it can be difficult, especially if you have deep section rims, but with a bit of practice its very doable.


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    #42
    CramCycle
    Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 24,515 Mod ✭✭✭✭CramCycle


    07Lapierre wrote: »
    You think this is unusual? I find most foldable road tyres can be fitted and removed without using tyre levers. Admittedly it can be difficult, especially if you have deep section rims, but with a bit of practice its very doable.
    I had a bike mechanic rap my knuckles when he seen me using a tyre lever.


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    #43
    secman
    Registered Users Posts: 6,241 ✭✭✭secman


    07Lapierre wrote: »
    You think this is unusual? I find most foldable road tyres can be fitted and removed without using tyre levers. Admittedly it can be difficult, especially if you have deep section rims, but with a bit of practice its very doable.

    Arthritis in both thumbs definitely hinders that , especially in the damp winter, look forward to a warm dry summer :)


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    #44
    fat bloke
    Registered Users Posts: 5,824 ✭✭✭fat bloke


    In fairness yeah, when it comes to tyre fitting, technique trumps torque everytime.


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    #45
    07Lapierre
    Registered Users Posts: 8,219 ✭✭✭07Lapierre


    CramCycle wrote: »
    07Lapierre wrote: »
    You think this is unusual? I find most foldable road tyres can be fitted and removed without using tyre levers. Admittedly it can be difficult, especially if you have deep section rims, but with a bit of practice its very doable.
    I had a bike mechanic rap my knuckles when he seen me using a tyre lever.

    I used levers to put a tyre on once... an hour later I was refitting the same tyre (with my hands) having had to remove it and replace the punctured ( pinched by the tyre lever) tube!

    How easy a tyre goes onto a rim is an important criteria for me when choosing new Tyres too.

    Remember, if a tyre is difficult to fit/remove, imagine doing it on a cold,wet, dark winters evening! :)


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    #46
    Canis Lupus
    Registered Users Posts: 9,893 ✭✭✭Canis Lupus


    I'd be willing to give anything a go on the bike if it looks simple enough on park tools youtube vids. Can do most of the usual stuff on a typical road bike.


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    #47
    DaveyDave
    Registered Users Posts: 6,203 ✭✭✭DaveyDave


    On my old Lapierre hardtail I did everything like cassette, chain, bottom bracket, shifters, brakes, discs, pads etc. I had the shop face the frame for Hollowtech II cranks and also cut a new fork to size.

    On my Canyon I had to have the shifter cable replaced twice as it has snapped and I couldn't get it out. I've also had the headset replaced as I didn't have the tools to remove it but I haven't needed to do much maintenance myself.

    I'll also get the wheels trued when needed.

    After having large bike shops do basic things such as gear adjustments poorly, I don't bother unless I have to. I bring it in because I can't get the adjustments just right, but neither can they...


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    #48
    cletus
    Registered Users Posts: 7,885 ✭✭✭cletus


    ED E wrote: »
    *ahem*

    https://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2057690768

    Yes. You are of course correct. I've posted in it myself a number of times. Brain fart


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    #49
    Thargor
    Registered Users Posts: 17,883 ✭✭✭✭Thargor


    07Lapierre wrote: »
    You think this is unusual? I find most foldable road tyres can be fitted and removed without using tyre levers. Admittedly it can be difficult, especially if you have deep section rims, but with a bit of practice its very doable.
    Well Gatorskins definitely arent easy to do by hand anyway, impossible to budge them without tools.


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    #50
    07Lapierre
    Registered Users Posts: 8,219 ✭✭✭07Lapierre


    Thargor wrote: »
    Well Gatorskins definitely arent easy to do by hand anyway, impossible to budge them without tools.

    Yeah I heard that before alright. That's why I don't use them. I also hear their not great in wet conditions either.


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    #51
    tomasrojo
    Registered Users Posts: 11,745 ✭✭✭✭tomasrojo


    CramCycle wrote: »
    The park tool ones are typically the best as they often go through multiple options, you then can search youtube for people who have make park tools out of random home and garage stuff to save money

    I had a few friends in a Physics department, and I know on at least a few occasions they made tools when they needed to fix the bike, thanks to the in-house machine shop that Physics departments tend to have.


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    #52
    Bambaata
    Registered Users Posts: 4,086 ✭✭✭Bambaata


    I do everything except true a wheel. Ive only ever have to had it done 2 or 3 times in the 10+ years cycling so i dont see the point in buying the stand. Its a tenner well spent to have done properly.

    I havent yet changed press fit BBs either but i plan on, just as soon as i figure out what tools i need for the PF4630 and 4624 BBs i have in two cannnondales


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    #53
    tuxy
    Closed Accounts Posts: 14,983 ✭✭✭✭tuxy


    I see some people won't fix a headset but do other repairs that I find more difficult. Any bike that's fairly modern will have cartridge bearings that just pop out then you just grease up the new ones and pop them in. Put everything back in place and hand tighten the top cap until there is no play in the fork and you're done, very quick job.


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    #54
    tomasrojo
    Registered Users Posts: 11,745 ✭✭✭✭tomasrojo


    tuxy wrote: »
    I see some people won't fix a headset but do other repairs that I find more difficult. Any bike that's fairly modern will have cartridge bearings that just pop out then you just grease up the new ones and pop them in. Put everything back in place and hand tighten the top cap until there is no play in the fork and you're done, very quick job.

    I think some people were talking about replacing the headset, rather than servicing it; I was anyway. You need special tools to press-fit the cups, as far as I understand it.


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    #55
    tuxy
    Closed Accounts Posts: 14,983 ✭✭✭✭tuxy


    Ah, that makes more sense and is something I would have to go to the lbs for.


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    #56
    cletus
    Registered Users Posts: 7,885 ✭✭✭cletus


    tomasrojo wrote: »
    I think some people were talking about replacing the headset, rather than servicing it; I was anyway. You need special tools to press-fit the cups, as far as I understand it.

    No reason you couldn't make that tool from threaded bar, big washers, and nuts


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    #57
    CramCycle
    Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 24,515 Mod ✭✭✭✭CramCycle


    Newer headsets don't require special tools IMO, I've removed with a hammer and screwdriver and put in with a bit of wood and a hammer


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    #58
    NeedMoreGears
    Registered Users Posts: 1,418 ✭✭✭NeedMoreGears


    I’ll do almost everything including wheel builds. I don’t have press fit tools for press fit bottom bracket but the bike is old enough that I may try the threaded bar homemade one that Cletus refers to.

    The best thing about doing it yourself is you can sometimes source very cheap sub components - one of the bearings went in a zonda freehub. Two euros fifty for a better one in dicksons instead of sixty sterling for a new freehub.


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    #59
    tomasrojo
    Registered Users Posts: 11,745 ✭✭✭✭tomasrojo


    cletus wrote: »
    No reason you couldn't make that tool from threaded bar, big washers, and nuts

    It is one of the most occasional jobs there is though, so it's probably not one I'll do. But you never know.


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    #60
    hesker
    Registered Users Posts: 1,490 ✭✭✭hesker


    ednwireland wrote: »
    everything except trueing wheels cant get my head round that

    This guy's guide is excellent if you haven't read it already. Well worth the 10 euro.

    https://www.wheelpro.co.uk/wheelbuilding/book.php


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    #61
    magicbastarder
    Moderators, Category Moderators, Arts Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 48,516 CMod ✭✭✭✭magicbastarder


    fat bloke wrote: »
    I fill my own water bottles aaaaaand...... oh yeah, I sometimes put air stuff in the tyre thingies...

    Do I get a badge?
    do you have the special 35mm badge installation tool? or will you be going to your LBS to have it fitted?


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