I would second what Paul is saying about working on bikes. I have absolutely no delusions about calling myself a bike mechanic or even apprentice...but I can do as much as I need to keep my bike on the road (flat repair, seating tires, installation of racks and accessories, cleaning and lubing drivetrain, etc...). I have to do all my repairs "Pasadena Style" as I don't have a rack either, but I'd like to get one before I have to do a full-on cleaning and lubing of my Atlantis.
I'm going to look at my local community college for a bike repair class...that's a great idea. Bike co-ops are also good places to pick up and work on skills. Obviously with the pandemic things have shut down, but when my local co-op reopens for classes and open shop time, I'm definitely going to take advantage of their advanced repair classes. Ben On Sunday, December 6, 2020 at 9:33:29 AM UTC-6 Paul in Dallas wrote: > I expect most of us if not all on this list can relate to this challenge > of getting a bike perfectly > 'in tune', 'in synch, 'riding flawlessly ' or whatever terms you want to > describe it. > > When you have several bikes it compounds the challenge. > > Decades ago I paid mechanics to build up and maintain my bikes. > > I recall taking over my 1999 Riv Road custom frame over to a local home > bike mechanic with all the parts to build it up. I think I paid him around > $150 to do it. > > Finally I bought 6 or 7 bike repair manuals and a dozen or so recommended > bike tools and took to figuring it out for myself. > > There was quite the learning curve and at times I felt really dense but > eventually I got competent for my purposes at most of it after much trail > and error. > > That was before youtube > > Nowadays if I get stumped I usually find a video that helps me solve the > issue. > > I don't consider myself an ace bike mechanic but simply adequate for my > purposes. > > I recommend RJ the Bike Guy videos. He's great! > > Also this guy John is fantastic: > > https://johns-recycled-bicycle.blogspot.com/?m=1 > > His documentation of the process is simply wonderful, best I've found. > Quite the artist of bike restoration , I think. > > > As already mentioned buying a bike stand might be just the ticket for you > Leah to further your bike maintenance/ repair skills. > > Some bike shops or community colleges might offer basic bike repair skills > classes. > > Just from observation on this list I think you are well on your way and > have more skills than you realize that you can build on. > > Simply observation and patience can go a long way along with youtube, > possibly a repair manual or two and the help of this online community. > > Even as I write this I think of several fiddly things I need to do on at > least two bikes. > > I see bikes as rideable works of art always in a state of flux and change > and needing ongoing maintenance regularly. > > Fortunately I love the entire process, from finding the right bike for me, > sourcing parts, disassembly, rebuilding to my preferences, maintaining > and most of all riding them. > > Occasionally I get to work on bikes with a friend or two and we get the > work done as well as have great fellowship. > > Possibly in your area there is a bike savvy lady that you could meet up > with and work on bikes together. > > Long-winded Paul in Dallas > > > -- 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 [email protected]. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/0f26c423-7800-4a70-bc23-2b629c0f1ea1n%40googlegroups.com.
