c/diy-bike-repair

Had a talk with my neighbor that made me rethink cheap chains

My neighbor Bill, who's been building bikes since the 70s, told me I'm wasting money on those $10 chains from the hardware store because they stretch out in 200 miles. He showed me his 15 year old Shimano chain that still measures perfect with a chain checker tool, and now I feel dumb for buying 4 cheap ones this year alone. Am I really saving money if I'm replacing a chain every 3 months instead of every 3 years?

TIL most people lube their chains way too often and it just attracts grit

I was at a group ride last month and saw three guys drenching their chains with wet lube before we even started. Then we hit a gravel section and by mile 10 their drivetrains sounded like sandpaper. I used to do the same thing until I talked to a mechanic in Portland who said you only need one drop per roller and wipe off the excess. He told me a dry chain shifts better than a greasy one any day. Now I lube maybe every 150 miles and my cassette lasts twice as long. Has anyone else seen this mistake at shop counters or group rides?

Found out brake pads cost me $80 because I was cleaning them wrong

I was scrubbing my disc brake pads with dish soap every time they got noisy. Then I read on a mechanics forum that soap leaves a film that ruins the stopping power. I swapped to just isopropyl alcohol and a clean rag, and my brakes grab way better now. Had to replace a set of pads last month that only lasted 6 months because of that mistake. Anyone else make this dumb error with their cleaning routine?

That time a shop mechanic told me my chain was too tight and I thought he was wrong

I've been doing my own bike maintenance for about three years now, mostly just basic stuff like cleaning the drivetrain and swapping brake pads. Last month I took my old Trek into a shop in Columbus to get the wheels trued because I don't have a stand. The mechanic glanced at my chain and said 'you're running that way too tight, you're gonna wear out your cassette in no time.' I kinda brushed it off because I always thought a tight chain meant better shifting. Well I went home and looked up the actual spec for my model, turns out I had maybe a quarter inch of slack where I should have had three quarters. I backed it off the next day and honestly the shifting felt smoother on my commute that week. How much chain slack do you guys run on a 1x setup without it dropping off? I'm still second guessing myself.

I was dead wrong about tubeless tires on a gravel bike...

I spent two years running tubes because I thought tubeless was just hype from the fancy shops. Then last month I got three flats on a 40 mile ride near Boulder and decided to try it. A buddy loaned me his Stan's kit and I set it up last weekend... no flats on two rides since and the ride feels smoother. Has anyone else fought the switch and ended up liking it more than they thought?

TIL my neighbor's chain lube trick saved me forty bucks

I was talking to my neighbor Bill last Saturday while he was fixing his old Schwinn. He told me he's been using automatic transmission fluid for his chain lube for like 15 years now. I thought he was crazy at first but he showed me his bike and the drivetrain looked cleaner than mine with the expensive stuff. So I tried it out on my commuter bike this week and honestly it works fine and cost me nothing since I had a bottle in the garage. Has anyone else tried weird lubes like ATF or sewing machine oil on their chains?

Overheard a guy at the bike shop say chain wax is a waste of time

I was at the local bike shop last week picking up some tubes and this older dude was talking to the mechanic about chain maintenance. He said waxing your chain is just a gimmick and that he's been using the same bottle of wet lube for 10 years with no issues. It got me thinking though because I've been fighting with a dirty drivetrain for months after switching to a wax based lube. My chain gets sticky after just two rides on dusty trails near me in Phoenix and I'm constantly cleaning it. Now I'm wondering if that guy has a point or if I just picked the wrong wax product. Has anyone else tried wax and then given up on it for something simpler?

Chatted with a retired bike messenger yesterday who told me he never bothered with fancy carbon frames

He said he rode the same steel frame for 12 years straight through potholes and rain and it only needed two new bottom brackets, which made me wonder if I’m overthinking upgrades like that $300 wheelset I’ve been eyeing.

Rant: was dead set against tubeless tires until i saw my buddy's setup

i watched him pull a 2 inch roofing nail out of his rear tire and just pump it back up with no sealant mess or tube swap, and that 30 second fix after a 3 month test period convinced me to ditch tubes forever. has anyone else had a conversion moment like that or am i just late to the party?

Had a bike shop guy tell me I was ruining my own chain...

I was using that spray-on wet lube and just blasting it on every weekend. Guy at the shop said I was just attracting grit and wearing everything out faster. Told me to wipe the chain dry after each ride and only use one drop of lube per link. Switched to that method 3 months ago and my drivetrain is way quieter and shifts cleaner. Has anyone else gotten pushback on the 'less is more' approach to chain lube?

Had to pick between cheap cables and name brand, went with the cheap ones

I was swapping shift cables on my old hybrid last weekend and stood there in my garage holding a $3 Topeak cable against a $12 Jagwire one. Picked the cheap one because I figured I'd just replace it sooner if it frayed. 300 miles later, zero issues and it shifts smoother than ever. Anyone else find that the expensive bike parts aren't always worth the extra cash?

Switched from Park Tool chain lube to Boeshield T-9 after a 50 mile rain ride

I was using Park Tool's synthetic lube for months, but after a soaked ride through Seattle my chain was grinding by mile 30. Tried Boeshield T-9 on a buddy's advice and it stayed quiet for the whole 50 miles with zero rust. Anybody else find a specific lube that just works way better for wet weather?

Rant: Grease on disc brake pads is basically game over

Last month I was cleaning my chain and got a little careless with the lube near the rear rotor. Had to buy new pads for my Shimano brakes ($18 at the local shop) because no amount of sanding or degreasing would stop the squeal. Anyone else ruined a set of pads this way?

Used to think cheap cables were fine until my shift cable snapped going down a hill in Denver 3 years ago.

Just realized I hit 10,000 miles on my old Trek frame this morning

That fork has been through three different wheel sets and two rear derailleurs but the frame itself never needed anything more than a basic bottom bracket service, has anyone else stuck with a frame way past its intended lifespan?

Just realized I been overthinking my chain cleaning routine

Heard some guy at the shop saying he just wipes his chain with a rag after every ride and lubes it once a month. I been doing the whole degrease, scrub, rinse, dry, lube dance every 2 weeks for the last year. Started doing his thing for about 3 months now and my chain still looks fine plus I saved like $20 on degreaser. Anyone else been doing extra work for no reason?

Went to a local bike co-op and they wouldn't let me use their Park Tool truing stand

I get that they've got rules, but I've been truing wheels at home for 2 years with a zip tie and a screwdriver. Their volunteer kept pushing me to use the budget stand they built from scrap wood and honestly my homemade setup worked better. Has anyone else had a co-op act like you need fancy tools to do simple repairs?

Tried a spray bottle with isopropyl alcohol for cleaning my drivetrain

I got tired of degreaser making a mess in my apartment kitchen sink, so I tried filling a spray bottle with 91% isopropyl alcohol from CVS. Sprayed it on the cassette and chain, let it sit for 30 seconds, then wiped it clean with a rag. It got off all the greasy grime without any sticky residue, and it dries fast so I can relube right away. Has anyone else tried this or found a better home alternative?

PSA: Stop using WD-40 on your bike chain, saw a guy wreck his drivetrain at a local trailhead yesterday

I was at the Pine Mountain trailhead last Saturday and this dude was spraying WD-40 all over his chain like it was magic lube. Within 20 minutes his cassette was making this grinding noise and he couldn't shift into the smallest gear. WD-40 is a solvent, not a lubricant, it strips the factory grease and leaves nothing behind. If you're on a budget get a $8 bottle of Tri-Flow or even basic 3-in-1 oil, it'll save you a $60 cassette replacement. Has anyone else seen people wreck their bikes with the wrong lube at group rides?

That guy at the bike co-op told me I was cleaning my chain totally backwards

I used to spray degreaser all over my chain and then rinse it off, but someone pointed out I was just pushing dirt into the rollers. Now I wipe each link with a rag after adding lube, and my shifting actually stays crisp for more than one ride. Has anyone else tried the wipe-only method and seen a difference?

Old mechanic told me to stop greasing my pedal threads back in 2019. Changed my whole bottom bracket game.

I always put a thick layer of grease on pedal threads. Figured more was better. This old guy at the co-op watched me one day and said 'you're gonna ovalize your crank arm.' Explains why my cheap cranks never lasted more than 2 seasons. Now I just do a light wipe of anti-seize. Anyone else get burned by over-greasing stuff?

The week I tried to fix my derailleur without a stand

Last Tuesday I decided to adjust my rear derailleur in my apartment parking lot. No bike stand, just flipping the whole bike upside down on the grass. After THREE hours of messing with the limit screws and cable tension, I finally got it shifting smooth. My back was killing me from crouching, but I saved $40 not going to the shop. Has anyone else had a rough time doing drivetrain work without a repair stand?

That $15 spoke wrench set from Amazon was a complete waste of money

I bought this cheap spoke wrench set last month and it stripped three nipples on my rear wheel before I gave up. Anyone else just pay the extra $25 for the Park Tool one and skip the garbage?

Found out my chain lube was making things worse in wet weather

I was using that dry wax lube for months on my commuter bike here in Seattle. Last week after three days of rain my chain started sounding like a coffee grinder. Turns out the water just washes that stuff right off and leaves you with nothing. Anyone else switch to a wet lube for rainy months and notice a big difference?

I finally snapped a chain on a hill climb and it cost me way more than it should have

I was grinding up a steep gravel road near Mill Creek Park last Saturday when my chain gave out at the worst spot, no warning at all. Had to walk 2 miles back to the truck and pay $45 for a new chain at the shop since I didn't have a spare link in my kit. Anyone else carry a quick link on them now after a similar blowout?