The best way to pick up mechanic skills is by reading a good repair book.
We offer these in our store and you will find them instructive and easy to follow.
It can be scary to get started so we recommend learning the basics first,
which include such things as airing tires, lubing the chain and fixing a flat.
If you get into repairing your bike gradually like this, you will develop
your confidence one step at a time and build your tool kit purchasing
only those things you need right now. As your requirements change and
you want to tackle more challenging procedures, you will have an idea
where to start from you previous experiences, and things should go
smoothly.
Keep in mind that you only need to be an expert on your bike(s),
so there is no pressure to be an all-knowing mechanic. Most bicycle
parts are quite user friendly and are easy to diagnose and repair with
inexpensive tools, some of which you may already have, such as pliers,
screwdrivers and adjustable wrenches. Another cool thing is that a lot
of bicycle parts come in pairs, so as you work on one component, you
can refer to the other to see if you are forgetting anything.
To give you a head start, here are five important bike-repair rules:
1. Almost every part on a bicycle is regular thread, meaning you turn to the
right to tighten and to the left to loosen (remember "righty, tighty;
lefty, loosy," if it helps). The one part that is not regular thread is
the left pedal. Turn it counter-clockwise to tighten, clockwise to loosen.
2. Because lightweight materials
are used, bicycle component threading can be delicate so it takes a
while to learn how tight is right. It is best to tighten things until
they are snug, test to see if the part is tight, retighten if it needs
it, and so on. If you are too heavy handed with your wrenches, you will
strip parts quickly.
3. Never force anything. If it does not fit, determine why before you ruin the part or damage your bike.
4. Allow time to complete a procedure. A rushed job is usually a botched job.
5. Work where you can safely leave things if you get interrupted, so important
parts do not get lost. And, use good lighting and work on a smooth,
clean floor so you can easily find small parts you drop. |