Bike Maintenance

I don't overhaul dampers and things like a Reverb. I have reviewed videos on how to do these tasks but once I see special tools and numerous steps I decide it is better to have a pro to that. I do everything else though. Wheel builds, bleeds, cables etc. Maybe because I do my own work my costs for parts are way more than a $1000. Probably closer to $3000.

I only have two bikes, which I imagine is less than most of ye, but my nicer bike gets most of its repairs and maintenance from the lbs whereas my crappy bike I do everything myself. I'm kind of learning on the crappy one. I don't want to screw up the nice one though. Kind of depends on what the work is though. I mean, I can do general drivetrain maintenance, brake work, etc on the nice bike too.

Suspension overhauls and wheel builds are all I pay for at a shop. I'm even set up for some of the less frequent stuff like headset swaps.

While I like my lbs I don't think it's my job to give them lots of money just so they can stay open.

I don't do suspension service, Reverb service or wheel truing and building on my mountain bike. Everything else I generally do myself, save headset swaps on nice bikes. Since I'm a grown-up now and have shit to do I pay for work (Velofix/OBB) that I could do if it makes the difference between getting a ride in or not.

Almost all of the rest can be done with a small toolkit, and when I choose parts and frames I try to choose for compatibility/futureprofness which helps with keeping the tool costs down. I suck it up and just buy the goddamn-poorly made-expensive-specialized-mutherfuckin-doomed to obsolescence tool if it's likely to save me money over time. Fork then shock service tools and skills are next on the list. Reverb is permanently for sale due to it's painintheassness.

Condo living would make things harder I bet. All your tools can go in a toobox that fits in a closet, workstand is bulky but a strap hanger setup on the porch could work nicely. I did that for years before I got a workstand.

I can do everything and have rebuilt a Fix Fit damper a few times, but once you factor in the repair kit, time and disposal of oil, it is just easier to get Suspensionwerx it Vorsprung to do it for you.

Wheel building is easy enough and if you can handle a 4mm, 5mm and 6mm Allen key and use a block of wood and hammer, you can do all the work on your bike!

I have invested in all the necessary tools and it is the way to go if your family rides. I have 15 bikes to work on…..

I just have to add that I took a Reverb to Vorsprung for a complete rebuild yesterday around 11 AM. Was ready at 4 the same day. No appointment made ahead of time. They may not be super busy right now so if anyone up here needs work, might be a good time.

If you can make a bunch of coin doing what you are good at and have someone fix your bike who is getting paid SFA … it may be cost effective

also there are people who should not be allowed to own tools and you know who you are

I don't build a wheel I just buy new ones, probably won't do much suspension rebuilds otherwise I do my own maintenance, have also done maintenance for friends, hot women, syrian refugees and homeless natives so they can range further to pick more bottles and buy more 74

I do most my work myself, just don't do full suspension rebuilds or wheel builds (though that's a winter 2016 project for me).

I learned out of necessity as a kid and a broke student. Did lots of wrenching in college apartments with a small toolbox and small chain stay style stand. It did the trick.

Now I'm set up with a pretty solid set up. I've collected various specialised tools over the years, sometimes out of necessity and sometimes when on sale.

I also find wrenching and building bikes a hobby and form of therapy for me. I thoroughly enjoy going into my workshop and tearing a bike down and building it back up. Knowing how everything works and how to make it work well is satisfying. That said, I've certianly had my fair share of ham fisted moments (usually fuelled by a few too many brews) that have cost me money but I have certainly learned!

^^^^ x 1,000,000

I could be making seven digits a year and I'll still enjoy tearing my bike down and rebuilding it.

I just watched a couple of these videos of the world cup mechanics set ups, very cool
GMBN's Toolbox Tours: http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXWBBaEdFtbL-hkzxTxzea33QLvpkMTIv

^^^^ x 1,000,000

I could be making seven digits a year and I'll still enjoy tearing my bike down and rebuilding it.

Totally agree. I love working on my bikes and only wish I had more time to do it these days. It is pure therapy for me (along with riding).

I've collected a great workshop of tools over the years. My latest additions are a spoke threading machine and a disc tab facing tool. I do everything except rebuild Fox rear shocks.

If I had the space to work on my bikes and a stand then I'd enjoy it.

But right now I live in an apartment and have no space, and no stand or budget to buy one, so for anything more than brake pads / tire swaps / cables I take it to a shop so I don't have to deal with the bike balancing / leaning on something / upside down / girlfriend holding / oil on the floor / fucking whatever else headache .

^^^^ x 1,000,000

I could be making seven digits a year and I'll still enjoy tearing my bike down and rebuilding it.

Honestly I think t would be more cost effective for me now to take to a shop. But I really have fun working on bikes. I'll even choose time in the shop over a ride if I only have time for a short one.

Actually doing a restoration project right now and having fun with it.

I'm mechanically incompetent and shouldn't be let loose anywhere near a toolbox. Whenever I try to save myself a few bucks by doing some work myself, I invariably break something else which ends up costing far more than the measly few dollars I "saved' myself in the first place..a could reel off many examples!

I have three bikes which,at the moment, seem to constantly rotate into my LBS for service. On Wednesday, I picked one bike up which was in for a gear tune up as I just could not get it to change smoothly - turns out, I put the chain on the wrong way round. Seriously, who the fuck decided that chains needed to be uni-directional???

I'd love to have my own spacious workshop but my locker is cramped, has no proper power supply and the lighting is terrible [HTML_REMOVED]and the strata won't permit me to do anything about it…grrrrr[HTML_REMOVED]. Besides which, my eye-sight isn't great anymore meaning fiddly jobs are a pain in the ass so I'm happy to let my lbs do the work as long as the bikes not off the road too long.