c/diy-bike-repair

Can we talk about how much harder truing wheels was 20 years ago without a proper truing stand

I used to flip my bike upside down and eyeball the rim against the brake pads, but after I picked up a used Park Tool stand for $40 at a garage sale in Eugene last spring, I can fix a wobble in under 10 minutes and I'm not sure why I put up with the old way for so long.

Got stranded at a trailhead in Moab because I skipped a basic check

Ngl, I thought I was being smart by saving $50 and not taking my bike to the shop before a trip to Moab last month. First day out, my derailleur hanger snapped 8 miles from the trailhead with no cell service. Had to walk my bike back in 95 degree heat because I ignored the slight wobble I noticed the week before. Now I always check the hanger alignment and bolt tightness before any ride over 20 miles. Anyone else learned this lesson the hard way or am I just the dummy here?

Stop replacing your damn bike chain every time it starts skipping

I see people in this sub buy a new chain the second it skips. 9 times out of 10, your cassette is just gummed up or your derailleur hanger is bent. Took me 15 minutes with a degreaser and a hex key to fix what would have cost me $40 on a new chain.

Guy at the co-op showed me a cracked chainring after I said I was fine skipping a tune-up

He was swapping pedals on a beat-up hybrid and I mentioned I'd been putting off basic work on my own bike. He just pointed to his chainring and said "this crack started after I ignored a loose bolt for two weeks." That ring had a hairline fracture running from the bolt hole to the tooth edge. I looked closer and realized it would've snapped under load on a hill climb. He said he caught it by chance while checking his chain for wear last Tuesday. Have any of you found hidden damage like that from just skipping routine checks?

That one Saturday where my chain snapped 3 miles from home on a gravel path

I was out near the Cuyahoga Valley trail last Saturday, not even pushing hard, just cruising along when BAM my chain snapped clean in two. No warning, no weird noises before it happened. I had a quick link in my bag but of course I forgot my chain tool at home. Walked my bike back 3 miles in SPD shoes feeling like an idiot. Has anyone else had a chain fail on them with zero signs before?

Finally swapped my own bottom bracket after 2 hours of swearing

Tried to replace a creaking Shimano BB on my old road bike last Saturday. Got the old one out fine but spent an hour fighting the new one because I forgot the plastic spacer. Once I put it in right it went smooth. Saved about $40 vs taking it to the shop. Anyone else forget a random spacer and feel like a fool?

Tried the $15 crank puller from a no-name brand on Amazon and it stripped after one use

I was swapping out my old square taper crankset on my 90s mountain bike and figured I'd save a few bucks on a tool I'd only use once. That thing barely got the crank arm off before the threads just gave up and started spinning. Learned the hard way that some tools you just can't cheap out on, especially when you're in the middle of a project and have to wait three days for a replacement. Has anyone else had a tool fail on them at the worst possible moment?

That week I tried to save money with a $15 bottom bracket tool from Amazon

Last spring I ordered a cheap bottom bracket tool from Amazon for 15 bucks because I figured why pay 40 for the Park Tool version. First job on my old Trek went fine, but the socket stripped the plastic tool head halfway through the second bike. I wasted three evenings fighting with a stuck cartridge and ended up having to pay a shop in Columbus 35 bucks to extract it. Has anyone else had a cheap tool cost them more than just buying the good one upfront?

That one week last summer where I replaced three flat tires in four days on the same bike

I swear I almost threw my bike into the river after the third one. First flat was just bad luck, ran over a staple on the Greenway trail. Second one I thought I fixed it right but I guess I pinched the tube putting it back on. Third one was a thorn that somehow went straight through my new tire and tube. I spent like $30 on tubes and patches that week and missed two good riding days. Has anyone else had a run of bad luck like that where it felt like the universe was just against you riding?

Fixed my own broken derailleur hanger at a trailhead and saved $45

I was out riding the blue loop at Brown County State Park last Saturday when I clipped a log and bent my rear derailleur hanger pretty bad. Couldn't shift past 3rd gear and the chain was rubbing the spokes. Instead of packing it in and driving 45 minutes to the nearest shop, I remembered I had a spare hanger in my pack from that Amazon multipack I bought for $12. Pulled out my multi-tool, swapped the hanger right there on the picnic table by the parking lot, and got the shifting dialed in with the limit screws in about 20 minutes. Felt amazing not having to waste half the day and $45 on a shop repair. The whole ride cost me maybe $3 worth of parts and some sweat. Anyone else carry spare hangers on trail rides or am I just paranoid?

Was never a fan of tubeless tires until I flatted twice in one week

I rode with tubes for years and thought tubeless was just hype for mountain bikers. Then last month I got two flats on my commuter bike going to work in Columbus. First one was a tiny piece of glass and the second was a staple. I spent $30 on a tubeless conversion kit and some sealant on a Friday afternoon. Set it up in my garage with a floor pump and it actually seated the first try. Three weeks later I ran over a nail and the sealant fixed it before I even got home. I still carry a spare tube but I might not need it. Has anyone else switched and ended up saving time on repairs?

Broke down and tried Park Tool chain lube after using WD-40 for 3 years

I always figured cheap oil was fine for my chain. Been using WD-40 on my old Schwinn in Phoenix for like 3 years, reapplying every 200 miles. Last month the chain started grinding bad on my ride to work. Friend at the shop told me to try Park Tool CL-1 for $12. After 400 miles it's still quiet and smooth, no rust. Anyone else stubborn about using the right lube or just me?

Hot take: my chain cleaning routine got wrecked by 3 days of rain

I spent Sunday scrubbing my chain with a Park Tool kit, then it poured Monday through Wednesday in Seattle and now my drivetrain sounds like a coffee grinder. Did I just waste my time or is there a trick to keeping things clean when the weather won't cooperate? Anyone got a go-to drying method after a wash that actually works?

I finally fixed my chain skip with a $10 chain checker

Swapped to wax chain lube and almost ruined my drive train

I was using wet lube for years because I ride in all weather but after reading a forum I switched to a wax based drip lube. First 2 rides were fine but by ride 3 my chain was DRY and squeaking like crazy. I didn't realize you need to strip the factory grease off completely before switching. Had to buy a new chain and cassette because the old one wore down in less than 100 miles. Anyone else had this issue with wax lube? Maybe I should have just stuck with what worked.

Spent $45 on a chain tool that broke on the first use...

Honestly, I grabbed one of those cheap chain tools off Amazon thinking it'd save me a trip to the shop. Tried to break my chain on my old Schwinn and the pin snapped right off after three links. Anyone got a chain tool that actually holds up for under $30?

Ditched the chain lube for wax and my drivetrain is finally quiet

I spent 2 years using wet lube because I ride in Portland rain a lot (you know, constant drizzle). But I got tired of cleaning black gunk off everything every month, so I switched to a crock pot wax method last spring. $12 for a bag of wax powder and my chain is silent and stays clean for like 400 miles. Has anyone else made the switch and regretted it when it gets really muddy?

Found a cheap trick for truing a bent wheel rim

I got a nasty wobble in my back wheel after hitting a pothole near downtown Portland last week. Instead of buying a $60 truing stand, I zip-tied two pencils to my frame as makeshift markers and it worked perfectly to spot the high spots. Took me about 20 minutes with a spoke wrench from Harbor Freight to get it mostly straight again. Anyone else used a lazy DIY method for wheel work?

Just realized the bike co-op in Portland has a free tool library

Went to the Community Cycling Center last Saturday and walked out with a $45 Park Tool crank puller for zero dollars, has anyone else found a local shop that lets you borrow the expensive stuff?

I finally stopped buying $8 chain lube every 2 weeks

Switched to plain 3-in-1 oil for $3 and my drivetrain is actually quieter now - has anyone else found a cheaper lube that works better than the fancy stuff?

Tried to adjust my derailleur in the dark behind a 7-Eleven in Tucson last night

Snapped the cable because I was too stubborn to use my phone flashlight and kept guessing by feel. Anyone else ruin a simple fix by refusing to go inside and get a proper light source?

Spent $60 on a Park Tool chain checker and it saved me big time

I used to just guess when my chain was worn and ended up replacing cassette and chainrings way too early. Picked up the CC-4 last spring for about 60 bucks and now I check every 300 miles. Caught a chain at 0.75 stretch before it trashed my gears. Has anyone else found a cheap tool that paid for itself fast?

Spent 2 years fighting with my chain skipping before I realized I was cleaning it wrong

I was using that citrus degreaser stuff from the auto parts store and just hosing it down. Then my buddy at the bike co-op in Portland watched me do it and was like bro you're washing all the grease out of the bushings. He showed me to just wipe the chain with a rag and lube the rollers one at a time. Total facepalm moment. Anyone else find out they were overcleaning their chain?

Shoutout to the guy who told me to check my bottom bracket before buying a new crankset

I spent two weekends chasing a creak in my pedal stroke. Replaced pedals, cleaned the chain, even greased the saddle rails. Finally broke down and pulled the cranks off, found the bottom bracket cups were barely hand tight. A $5 tool and 15 minutes fixed what I spent 12 hours overcomplicating. Has anyone else wasted days on a problem that had a stupid simple fix?

Rear derailleur hanger snapped on a group ride last Saturday

Five miles from the coffee stop, chain wrapped around the cassette and bent the hanger so bad I had to walk the bike back, anyone else carry a spare hanger for their specific frame now?