Results Posted:
After poll is taken
How do you maintain your bike?
Choose the boxes that apply
72 Comments
- + 49
FS4M1K3
(Nov 19, 2012 at 13:11)
I clicked on "other" only because I have a great relationship with my bike shop. I pay a fair, but not overblown price for my parts and they let me wrench in the back corner of the shop. I don't touch other customers bikes, only my own. If I have a question about a procedure or certain technique to doing the job (like building a wheel) their right there. Patience is a virtue, I don't interrupt them when their on the phone or dealing with customers. Its a very nice arrangement. Plus I always try to make sure to leave a case of brown bottles behind after I clean up the workspace. I appreciate their willingness to share the expertise and the time.
- + 9
haha, I do that too! but we now have a bike cafe in town where you can go and fix your bike for free xD
- + 2
Yup! My local shop is run by a guy with the same name as me and whenever i don't know how to do something i just go over there to get some help to learn...i've spent enough there already but i make sure i have trade offs for'm.
- + 3
Same here. The bike shop mechanics are some of my best friends who ride and build with me, and the owner appreciates my bike-love and especially doesn't mind when I talk someone into buying a bike. If I don't know how to do something, I schedule a time or hang around until I can sit with my buddy in the shop and see how it's done.
- + 2
Same here, after working in a bike shop as a mechanic for a few years I got to know the local riders.
Now it seems I've moved on from the shop and now who was once a local now has his own shop and I hang about like a bad fart haha!
I get to use all the workshop facilities and I help out now and then too. Wish I worked in the shop, it'd be sweet.
- + 1
should have also had "Works as a pro mechanic" on there. I clicked the 'do all my own maintenance" option, but I also do work on other peoples bikes.
- + 1
yes that right there is the holy grail. Full responsible usage of shop tools, help with some more complex tasks when time is on the line
- + 1
Also got a great relationship to my local bike shop. I personally think it's also important to support smaller bike shops, they're doing a great job 
- + 1
LBS + good relationship with them is the best. Nothing like knowing one of the employees really well and just popping in with your bike and leaving with a quick fix in about 10-20minutes with a very small bill.
However, in general, I really think we all should know how to maintain every bit of the bike tho. Internet has all the info you could ever need. Before, I didn't know anything like how to: bleed brakes, derailer changes, fork maintenance, overall bike maintenance/customization, but overtime and just having the confidence to try things out, I know all those things now and don't need to waste the time going to the LBS. It feels awesome to be self-sufficient. I still support the LBS by going to them for parts, but when it comes to actual labor/work, it's all done by myself. I would really urge anyone who doesn't know these things to read up articles on the internet. I'm 100% sure that people will realize that doing more complicated/higher bike work is actual pretty easy and simple.
However, in general, I really think we all should know how to maintain every bit of the bike tho. Internet has all the info you could ever need. Before, I didn't know anything like how to: bleed brakes, derailer changes, fork maintenance, overall bike maintenance/customization, but overtime and just having the confidence to try things out, I know all those things now and don't need to waste the time going to the LBS. It feels awesome to be self-sufficient. I still support the LBS by going to them for parts, but when it comes to actual labor/work, it's all done by myself. I would really urge anyone who doesn't know these things to read up articles on the internet. I'm 100% sure that people will realize that doing more complicated/higher bike work is actual pretty easy and simple.
- + 1
you Lucky bastards and your bike shops.. i made 2 mistakes to go to an LBS.. never again.. taught myself everything.. since there isnt a trust worthy shop anywhere near me.. or away..
here they work mostly on city bikes.. they dont understand shit about higher end bikes let alone hydrolic brakes.. and the peeps working there are mostly complete tools.. read >? welfare job..
but tbh i dont really care cause i know now all i need to know..
i let chainRC build my wheels occasionally....
here they work mostly on city bikes.. they dont understand shit about higher end bikes let alone hydrolic brakes.. and the peeps working there are mostly complete tools.. read >? welfare job..
but tbh i dont really care cause i know now all i need to know..
i let chainRC build my wheels occasionally....
- + 10
Any man who uses any sort of machine or device NEEDS to know all of the below...
1. How it works
2. What It's function is
3. Why it is necessary
4. How to fit or remove correctly
5. How to adjust properly
6. How to perform basic maintenance or repair
7. When maintenance is required
8. when the item is not fit for purpose
9. What the safety issues are with the item
And the most important..
10. When to admit to yourself that you do not have the tools, skills, or knowledge to undertake the job in hand!
These rules apply to just about everything in life, including women!
Follow them and you won't go wrong!
- + 3
@oldmandan: oh yeah? so you fix and perform routine maintenance on your iphone? i dont NEED to know how my toilet works, but i NEED to use it! lol, and if you think you can "fix" or even "understand" a woman, your only fooling yourself, or your just a fool
- + 3
@ siscoma.......
I do not own an iphone, they are s**t.
But just for the record, I am actually a fully qualified electronics engineer, I did 4 years at college for it.
So yes if I happened to own one, I could indeed fix it. Could you?
And if you ask my wife, she will also inform you that after 8 years married out of a 15 year relationship, we have still not had an argument. If you consider her 'fixed' then so be it, but I think mutual understanding is at play here......
So stop beating yourself up because you don't know how your toilet works, and hear this....
A wise man speaks because he has something to say..
A fool speaks because he has to say something...
Think how it works......
I do not own an iphone, they are s**t.
But just for the record, I am actually a fully qualified electronics engineer, I did 4 years at college for it.
So yes if I happened to own one, I could indeed fix it. Could you?
And if you ask my wife, she will also inform you that after 8 years married out of a 15 year relationship, we have still not had an argument. If you consider her 'fixed' then so be it, but I think mutual understanding is at play here......
So stop beating yourself up because you don't know how your toilet works, and hear this....
A wise man speaks because he has something to say..
A fool speaks because he has to say something...
Think how it works......
- - 2
@old man dan: apparently modesty is not your primary asset. and if you think comments on pinkbike are 'saying anything' you do not know how the internet works. lol! and congrats on the old ball and chain, although presupposing an understanding of ANY human is a gross and arrogant assumption. also, i don't even satisfy you initial thesis "any man who uses any sort of machine..." because i am a woman, so apparently all your wisdom is not for me
- + 2
Fyi:
Theoretically the term 'man' or 'mankind' means 'Homo sapiens' .....
The scientific term for all humans regardless of gender....
And besides....
'Woman' is not what I call a 12 year old.......
If you want a discussion on this come round for a cup of tea .
If your mum will let you...
Theoretically the term 'man' or 'mankind' means 'Homo sapiens' .....
The scientific term for all humans regardless of gender....
And besides....
'Woman' is not what I call a 12 year old.......
If you want a discussion on this come round for a cup of tea .
If your mum will let you...
- + 2
um, i dont mean to interupt here, but i dont think oldmandan was being a dick at all, all i saw there was sicsoma gettin shut down. have a nice day 
- + 9
Shops do pretty sketchy work, i do all the keep up on mine and its setup better/cleaner than most factory bikes Ive seen, if you spend thousands of dollars on a bike why the hell wouldn't you learn to fix it yourself?
- + 1
shops can miss stuff admittedly, even the good ones. the mechanics simply have alot of work to do and they're working pretty fast so they might forget to tighten a grip or crown bolt once in a while but its no big deal
- + 3
I live in a single floor apartment with 4 bikes in the living room.
And I simply do not have the space to have a Parktool bike stand with a full set of ranches.
With the current housing price in Vancouver right now, I should be grateful for the space I have.
- + 1
think of everything there is on a bike man... theres like 30+ steps to a tune up at a shop and if you forget just one little thing then all of sudden the shop did a shit job. but with that said the mechanic should double check everything when hes done, and then have another mechanic triple check.
- + 1
I build, maintain and repair all my bikes myself. The only thing i won't get into is fork and hub servicing while they're still under warranty. After that, I'll happily have a go at fixing them myself.. All these folks who take their bikes to bikeshops to fix every little thing confuse me. What happens when you're out on the trail and you break something!?
- + 1
"Other" for me. While I do almost all the needed maintenance and upkeep on my bike, there are times where I need to hand something off to a professional: I.E. my trusty LBS. Fork services, shock services, drivetrain, brakes, ergonomics, cleaning, blah blah blah: me, all me. Wheels? Bike shop all the way. Also they have tools and stuff that I can't afford or don't own, and as a previous shop rat there, I get access to that stuff when needed as long as I bring a bottle of ice-cold cola for the head mechanic!
- + 1
I'm a mech at a local shop and fix all my friends shitty bikes for them, Having access to the stand, I do the major jobs at work on my personal bikes and pretty keen on having them prime running condition, That being said, you cannot beat a fox fork rebuild at OGC for the price. So I leave the suspension rebuilds (unless its just seals) to the suppliers. I will never purchase a factory built wheel for the rest of my life!
- + 1
I serviced my Lyrik recently. I was scared to death of messing it up but it was surprisingly pretty easy with the right tools and a few knowledgeable friends to pick brains. I imagine I saved more than a few bucks. If you have any bit of mechanical-ness in you there is no reason you couldn't do most, if not all, of your upkeep. Although I probably wouldn't even touch some of the bikes my fellow pinkbikers ride... too expensive if you screw up.
- + 1
My local bike shop is a scam Evans cycles took my old Manitou years ago just for a seal change 125quid since that day I learned to do everything my self from seal changing to building wheels, having a proper engineering workshop at work comes in handy the dudes are awesome even learned me to weld top lads
- + 1
I try and take care of as much as I can myself, which is almost everything apart from servicing fork cartridges and assembling and trueing wheels. My LBS is great at offering tips and advice which I truely appreciate as they must see this as money not coming in. On repairs I have not been able to figure out myself, I have them walk me through what they did so I may be able to repair it myself if it happens again.
Any LBS must walk a fine line between distinguishing between offering customer service in the hopes of seeing that person becoming a good customer and just giving away free advice with no return.
As a consumer and small business owner myself, I appreciate the extra service and will return the favor with my business but I too have to weigh that service against the seemingly large margins they earn on some products when I perhaps get them at a reduced cost in line.
The guys at my LBS do a good job of giving out the advice and throwing me a bone with discounts on products and service.
- + 7
I expect there is a fair few high ranking national level racers that use these forums too ya know..
- + 9
My dad has owned and managed a bike shop for over 20 years. He is a certified, proffesional mechanic and yes, he does maintain my bikes. I am grateful for everything he does and do not take for granted anything. He has tought me everything I know and owe it all to him, He is currently ordering all the parts to build up my DH rig for 2013. I did not lie...
- + 2
My best friend is a wrench in a bike shop, and he does almost all of my serious maintenance. I know how to do most of it, but he truly enjoys it whereas I see it as just a chore that has to be done to keep my bike running good. He has built a couple of bikes for me now. I drop off parts at his house and then bikes magically appear.