For new commuter cyclists, the idea of doing your own repairs and maintenance can be surprisingly daunting. We know in principle that a bike isnt an overly complicated piece of machinery, but if youve never changed a punctured tire or replaced a worn chain, its not always easy to know where to start. Plus in a city as cycling-friendly as Vancouver, a good bike shop is never too far away.
However, there are definitely advantages to having the confidence to fix your own bike. Avoiding labour charges is the most obvious, but theres also the bonus of not needing to drop your daily driver off at the bike store and wait a day or two before picking it up. Knowing what kinds of routine maintenance you can do at home also keeps many essential parts in good working order for longer.
At this time of year, one of the most important things you can do for your bike is clean its chain regularly and check the tension to make sure it hasnt stretched. A grubby, worn-out chain will take its toll on your cassette and chain rings, which are much larger repairs. Checking your brakes regularly is also very important; if the brake levers have a lot of travel, it might be time for an adjustment or even new pads.
If you havent done your own maintenance or repairs before, there are some great tools out there to help you get started. Ive been able to find instructions online on everything Ive needed to do in the past year or so, from minor brake adjustments to replacing a worn cassette.
Videos can be particularly useful if youre tackling something you havent tried before; watching a video through a couple of times and then pausing it as you work through each step yourself makes even fairly complicated repairs straightforward.
There are also some great books on bike repair available if you prefer to work from a set of print instructions; take a look at the selection at your local library before deciding which to purchase (this is something youll want to own -- bike repairs and greasy fingerprints go hand in hand).
If you have a few dedicated cyclists at your workplace, consider getting the Vancouver Area Cycling Coalition to teach a basic bike maintenance course for the group. Cyclists bring their bike to the session and learn essentials such as how to clean a chain, adjust brakes, and change the dreaded flat tire. Not only do you get to learn by watching an expert in action, but the instructors are unfailingly helpful when it comes to answering questions about any aspect of bike maintenance.
Im by no means an expert at fixing up bikes (Im trying to get back into it after a couple of lazy years where I relied on my local bike shop for pretty much everything) but I do try and make sure I always keep a pump, spare inner tube and bike tool in my bag when Im riding. A great tip is also to have a pair of latex gloves with your emergency repair kit -- chains invariably fall off sooner or later, and when it happens youll be very glad of them.
Kay Cahill is a cyclist and librarian who believes bikes are for life, not just for commuting. Contact her at [email protected].
