Bike repair/maintenance course?

Swinefluproof · 03-12-2013 9:19pm #1

I've been cycling a few years now mainly just for keeping myself a bit fit, nothing too serious. I'm wondering if there's anywhere that I could do a course on bike maintenance. It's basically just for my own bike. Sick of dropping it into the local bike shop for any repairs I need

cyclic · 03-12-2013 9:28pm

http://www.rothar.ie/booking.htm

07Lapierre · 03-12-2013 10:07pm

Log onto youtube and search "bicycle maintenance"

then sit back and learn!

Paddigol · 04-12-2013 9:48am

Did one in Cycleplus in Greystones a couple of weeks back. Excellent - would strongly recommend. Not sure when their next one is, or if the location is convenient for you, but might be worth getting onto them.

Compared to another course I did in town a couple of months back (I don't think it would be fair to name the place?), for the exact same price, this was on another level.

The Youtube videos are great, but I personally think for beginners like myself it's well worth doing a good bike maintenance class/ course early on. It makes the videos much easier to understand, you pick things up from the videos much quicker, and you're less likely to make an utter balls of things! It's great to be able to ask specific questions about little things that have been bugging you, and get an instant answer.

RainyDay · 04-12-2013 4:58pm

I did an intro half-day course with Rother a year or two ago. It wasn't a great experience. Five or six people standing round in a cramped workshop. I'm sure the instructor was good bike mechanic, but he wasn't a great instructor.

Paddigol · 04-12-2013 5:19pm

RainyDay wrote: »

I did an intro half-day course with Rother a year or two ago. It wasn't a great experience. Five or six people standing round in a cramped workshop. I'm sure the instructor was good bike mechanic, but he wasn't a great instructor.

My experience there exactly.

Lawr · 04-12-2013 8:48pm

07Lapierre wrote: »

Log onto youtube and search "bicycle maintenance"

then sit back and learn!

Agree. It is mostly common sense, but everything is online. I start with Sheldon Brown. Tools cost, but it's worth it because you can fix your bike without worrying about how long the bike will be tied up, etc., not to mention the savings. I don't think there is anything on my bike that I cannot do myself. One time, I couldn't get a carbon seat post out of the aluminum seat tube on my bike. I thought I was going to have to cut it out. Finally, I got the idea of pouring boiling water down the seat tube. It eventually expanded enough to allow me to twist the post from left to right while pulling up on the seat. It took some time and a lot of boiling water, but it just goes to demonstrate that if you use your brain, you can fix anything. Of course, the right tools help.

ZiabR · 05-12-2013 10:26am

07Lapierre wrote: »

Log onto youtube and search "bicycle maintenance"

then sit back and learn!

Thats actually how I learned most if not everything. No I can strip a bike and rebuild. There is not actually that much to them, it is more the fear at the beginning of breaking something.

07Lapierre · 05-12-2013 10:44am

logik wrote: »

Thats actually how I learned most if not everything. No I can strip a bike and rebuild. There is not actually that much to them, it is more the fear at the beginning of breaking something.

You can always practice on someone else's bike first!

Lawr · 05-12-2013 4:15pm

07Lapierre wrote: »

You can always practice on someone else's bike first!

That's pretty funny.

Lawr · 06-12-2013 1:52pm

just found this: http://bicycling.about.com/

Swinefluproof · 08-12-2013 6:14pm

Thanks for the replies. Signed up for a night course with Limerick College of Further Education so hopefully get a bit of hands-on experience

Unknown Soldier · 08-12-2013 6:55pm

Speaking of bike repair (I didn't know where to post this. Off topic?)

Is this now a banjaxed tyre?

billyhead · 08-12-2013 7:19pm

Unknown Soldier wrote: »

Speaking of bike repair (I didn't know where to post this. Off topic?)

Is this now a banjaxed tyre?

Unless the tube starts to bulge through the tyre Id keep using it/

Unknown Soldier · 08-12-2013 7:34pm

billyhead wrote: »

Unless the tube starts to bulge through the tyre Id keep using it/

Cheers. I am currently google'n how to repair it

Konkers · 09-12-2013 9:50am

Unknown Soldier wrote: »

Cheers. I am currently google'n how to repair it

I have lots of small nicks in my tires. Only issue is if something gets stuck and starts to touch the tube. U should check ur tires after every spin.
Could u put a tube repair patch on the inside of the tyre? Will be google'n myself now.

cdaly_ · 09-12-2013 12:12pm

Patching the inside of the tyre is a must there. It may not be enough though. I had one tyre like this which would chafe the tube resulting in punctures every week or so. I patched it a few times but had to bin the tyre in the end...

joxerjohn · 09-12-2013 5:28pm

If this is through to the inside it could be very troubsome for you. The problem is that small stones and bits of glass and flints etc will be picked up in the hole and will result in punctures.

As the tyre looks ok with a good bit of wear left here are a few work arounds. Use glue to seal up the hole and put some extra protection inside the tyre like a a piece of you rubber cut from an old tube. You can even get kevlar rotection bands which will go on the inside of the tyre.

If you don't mind getting a few more punctures I try this on the front tyre. If it works then fine but if you get puntures at this same spot I would bin the tyre and get a new one.

Unknown Soldier · 09-12-2013 9:35pm

Many thanks for the replies. I will try and save it and see how it goes.
It's a Mavic Yksion Pro Powerlink Tyre (rear) with little usage

I'll do what has been suggested. Patch it on the inside and find a decent hardening glue to kinda seal the hole to make it harder for items to get lodged in it.

mirv · 10-12-2013 10:57am

Wouldn't bother patching it on the inside unless it's gone through the carcass (fabric). Also, if you're going to glue it you may as use a soft rubber or silicone glue as anything hard will either a) pop out because it doesn't deform as the tyre rolls or b) cause a puncture, much like a lodged grain of sand might.

Roadrat · 10-12-2013 12:36pm

Yes its done its time.Ditch it.Looks like a flat spot all round the middle.:eek:

Bike repair/maintenance course?

Comments