I first started working on bikes in 1969 when I was working on the Cycling Merit Badge in the Boy Scouts. Had to do 6 @ 25 mile rides and one 50 mile ride - all accomplished on a 2-speed Sting-Ray, but back to the point. My friend who was working on the merit badge with me - his father showed us how to take apart two bikes - one a Schwinn coaster brake bicycle with one-piece Ashtabula crank, and another English 3--speed with a cottered crank. I have been working on my own bikes and occasionally other bikes ever since. Other than the initial schooling for the merit badge, I am self taught and I have never worked in a bike shop. Until recently, I did everything myself except headset installations on new bikes. Then I had the LBS install a1-1/8" IRD roller bearing headset on a VO Neutrino. They installed it upside down. You cannot assume that the LBS knows what they are doing (re: Leah and her rear fender). Nobody cares more about my bike than I do, Some care equally, a lot care less. I have broken some parts over the years, but honestly - I learned more from the mistakes. I usually build my own wheels, but I am not Rich Lesnik or Peter White - I have wheels by both and they are definitely better than mine, but mine are much better than they were a few years ago.
I was completely baffled by threadless headsets when I bought my first bike with one about 20 years or so ago (a LeMond Buenos Aires). I thought the screw in the top was just to hold the cover on the top - no idea that it was how you set the bearing pre-load. Finally figured it out when I was in an LBS buying a tube and the mechanic was working on a headset then it was painfully obvious how simple it was. Still prefer threaded (mostly based on appearance). Note - I prefer bike shops where they work on the bikes out in the open - not hidden in the back room. I do have a great mechanical aptitude and I am a mechanical engineer. If you can assemble an Ikea cabinet, you can probably do your own bike work. They didn't have it when I was growing up, but YouTube is great (but not always correct). You just need to buy the specialized tools when needed and be willing to break a few things. Otherwise you may need to leave it to the pros. Laing Delray Beach FL -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/6639dc6f-a998-418b-8184-8e1a4df6169d%40googlegroups.com.
