Brian Kennedy

How do I become a completely self-sufficient home mechanic?

I am currently playing around with the idea of attending either United Bicycle Institute or Barnett Bicycle Institute. I can do it in the summer, when school is out of session, so it doesn't pose a problem schedule-wise. I know there are costs associated but it would be worth it to me if I become totally self-sufficient.

I have repair books and everytime I try more involved maintenance (i.e. hubs, crankset) I just end up taking my botch job to the bike store for them to finish. Growing up on a farm, I am mechanically inclined but I think I need outside help to be self-sufficient.

I think the mechanic school experience might be pretty cool too. I just want to go somewhere and get it all over with in one shot, so Westown and Park Tools classes probably won't work for me. Does anybody have any experience with these schools or other possible alternatives?

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Permalink Reply by mattbikes1 on September 7, 2009 at 11:46am
I think with this recession you could easily volunteer at any bike shop in your spare time and that would be great hands on experience for you. I learned a lot by just going to a bike shop and asking how to fix certain things. I have always been a fan of the saying, "If you don't know how to do something ask someone who does." Working bikes always needs volunteers too. I recently asked one of my mechanic friends from Rapid Transit about volunteering and said they will always except free work and with the winter season coming up they will be plenty busy.
Permalink Reply by Doug Haynes on September 7, 2009 at 12:27pm
West Town Bikes build a bike or tune up class plus the investment of a good set of bike tools and a stand.
Permalink Reply by Ryan L on September 7, 2009 at 12:40pm
West Town Bikes is the place that turned me into a bicycle mechanic 4 life :)
Permalink Reply by Matt M. 18.5KM on September 7, 2009 at 1:09pm
Get an old bike. Take it completely apart, down to the bearings, spokes, and nipples. Attempt to put it back together. Buy the necessary tools to finish the job.
Permalink Reply by Lee Diamond on September 7, 2009 at 3:20pm
Buy the Big Blue Bike of Bicycle Repair. That and some personal instruction from a few people have taught me everything I know. Then just doing it. Also, I have turned to some Youtube how-to videos on stuff that wasn't quite clear on paper, and that has helped a lot. You could also help me build the next round of Recyclery bikes! ;-)
Permalink Reply by David Travis on September 7, 2009 at 3:48pm
When Chris Wallace gives classes - take them. He explains the physics of what you are doing in everything. After that you can go on to out of town specialty courses.
Permalink Reply by JRod on September 7, 2009 at 4:37pm
Matt M. said:
Get an old bike. Take it completely apart, down to the bearings, spokes, and nipples. Attempt to put it back together. Buy the necessary tools to finish the job.

That's what I did with my Varsity. Stripped it, painted it, lubed and reassembled it in about a week. I tune up cars too, so for me, building a bicycle was pretty straight forward...
Permalink Reply by Primitive Don on September 8, 2009 at 2:34am
+2 West Town Bikes - take all the classes, especially Build-A-Bike. This is a good chance to learn to work with bearings with knowledgeable instructors to help you
bicycletutor.com videos
park took website and hardcopy repair manual
bikeforums.net Bike Mechanics Forum
Permalink Reply by Primitive Don on September 8, 2009 at 2:21pm
WTB has Open Shop on Tuesday nights; show up early for a repair stand and access to tools for a donation. There are always knowledgeable people like Alex, Chopper Carl et al that are happy to dispense knowledge and demonstration.

M.A.R.K. said:
Tools are going to be the biggest hurdle. You can have the knowledge, but need the tools which really don't come cheap depending on what exactly you are going to be doing.
Permalink Reply by S on September 8, 2009 at 2:53pm

Brian

When you're looking for tools, I'd check non-bike related brands. You can often get things like p handle wrench sets for a lot less than bike specific brands will charge. To get started, you can probably do most repairs that you'll need with a p-handle wrench set (look for a ball head on these since it'll let you work on bolts at odd angles), a cable cutter, needle nose pliers, a chain breaker, a third hand tool, a pedal wrench, a lockring tool and a chain whip. Although you can jury rig something using ropes or a bench clamp, getting a stand is probably a good idea as well.


With this you'll be able to do most things except for playing around with your headset, bottom bracket and your hubs. But you'll be able to do pretty much everything else (I was able to replace my shifters, cables, and derailleurs with the above) The park tools website has great instructions and video in places for a lot of this and you can use the park blue book or bicycling's bike repair book. Oh, you may already have some of these already (e.g. most multi-tools have a chain breaker which is adequate for swapping a chain every so often and you probably already have tire levers).


You can get the other stuff as the need arises or if you move further but some of it is not worth it unless you're going to be gung-ho about bike repairs. E.g. a headset press probably isn't going to be used much but costs a bunch. Besides, as others mentioned, you can always go to westtown on open shop nights to borrow their tools for something like this.

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