General Biking Info
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1283 days
JamieM posted 1 year ago.
I's start with a couple of websites:
parktool.com/repair Good descriptions and technical information.
sheldonbrown.com - just a wealth of good information
946
Member
1115 days
PJT posted 1 year ago.
Call around to your local bike shops or tri club. Some do offer classes. Park Tools also has classes. In addition to the websites JamieM mentioned, "Zinn and the Art of Road Bike Maintenance" is a very helpful book. I think you've got the right idea that hands-on is the way to go. Especially with changing tires, which really requires practice to be good at.
Everyone should know the basics of bike maintenance--at the bare minimum how to do a pre-ride safety check, change a tire, adjust derailleurs & brakes, and give the drivetrain a good basic cleaning. You can do all those things with a minimal investment in tools and spare parts.
81
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920 days
ston_ar posted 1 year ago.
I second the websites, but definitely also get some hands on work. I try to do all my bike mantinece by myself, but when i don't have a specialty tool, or more often when i mess something up, I take it into the shop and watch how they do it right so i can better fix it myself.
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Member
525 days
The Tortoise posted 1 year ago.
JamieM;67373 wrote:
I's start with a couple of websites:parktool.com/repair Good descriptions and technical information.
sheldonbrown.com - just a wealth of good information
I have heard Sheldon Brown's name numerous times in biking/tri circles since I have started to read up on biking. WHat i didn't realize until I followed that link, though, is that I used to live about 200 yards from his bike shop which I have been to several times. I also used to see him on the road all the time - I recognized his eagle helmet immediately when I saw the picture in the link. Funny.
I still work in Newton, but on the opposite side of the city, so I don't see him very often anymore.
What are the best resources for getting to know one's bike, especially the mechanics of changing tires, maintainance, etc? I love my bike but feel guilty that I don't know how to take care of it as well as I should.
I'd prefer a hands-on course at a bike shop or something (do they offer things like that), but also would like suggestions on books that are geared toward bike-newbies, but also get fairly in depth.
Thanks!