c/diy-bike-repair

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?

Hot take: truing a wheel with the spokes still on the bike actually works fine

Everyone I see online swears you have to put the wheel in a truing stand or flip the bike upside down. I tried doing it with my commuter bike right on the ground, just spinning the wheel and eyeballing it against the brake pads. Saved me 20 minutes of hauling the stand out of the basement. I used a 5mm hex key to tighten a loose spoke on the drive side, fixed a wobble that was rubbing my rim brake. It ain't perfect but my wheel rolls true enough for the potholes on Broadway in Denver. Why do folks act like you need a professional shop for a basic spoke adjustment? Has anyone else just eyeballed it and called it good enough?

I gave up on the 'universal' chain tool after it ruined two chains

I was trying to replace the chain on my old Trek 820 last week, and I used a cheap multi-tool with a built-in chain breaker. It mangled the pins on two different chains before I gave up and bought a dedicated Park Tool CT-5. The difference was night and day. The dedicated tool pushed the pin out straight and smooth in about 30 seconds, with no fuss. Has anyone else found that a single-purpose tool is just better for a job like this?

Warning: a seized seatpost from a 90s mtb took me 3 days of soaking and a homemade slide hammer to finally break free.

I thought it would be a quick afternoon job, but that old steel frame had basically welded itself together with rust and required a full bottle of penetrating oil, a trip to the hardware store for pipe fittings, and a whole lot of patience before it finally let go with a loud crack.

TIL my chain lube habit was making things worse

My drivetrain was super noisy last week, and I kept adding more lube thinking it was dry. Turns out I was just gunking it up with old grease and dirt. How often do you all actually clean and re-lube your chains?

Finally got my old derailleur shifting smooth after two different methods

I spent last weekend trying to fix the shifting on my 10 year old road bike... it was skipping gears and driving me nuts. First I just tried adjusting the cable tension with the barrel adjuster, which helped a little but didn't fix the main problem. Then I watched a video that said to check the derailleur hanger alignment, so I borrowed a hanger alignment tool from a friend. Turns out the hanger was bent almost 3mm to the side... straightening that out made a night and day difference. The shifts are now crisp and quiet. Has anyone else found that a simple cable tweak is never enough if the hanger is off?

I thought the trick with a zip tie for a stuck seatpost was just a joke until mine was frozen for three months.

I tried everything from penetrating oil to a heat gun, but pouring a full bottle of cola down the tube and letting it sit overnight actually broke the corrosion loose, so has anyone else had luck with weird household fixes for seized parts?

Can we talk about using a zip tie as a temporary derailleur hanger alignment gauge?

I thought it was a total joke until I checked my hanger with a zip tie taped to the frame, compared it to my Park Tool DAG-2.2, and found the measurements were within half a millimeter, saving me a $60 shop visit last month.

Spent three hours trying to get a stuck seatpost out of an old steel frame

It was a 1990s Schwinn frame I picked up for a project. I tried a ton of penetrating oil, heat from a hair dryer, and even clamping the post in a vise to twist the frame. What finally worked was mixing acetone with automatic transmission fluid and letting it sit overnight. The next morning, it came out with two light taps. Anyone have a better method for a really stuck aluminum post in a steel frame?

Shoutout to the guy at the bike co-op who told me to always check my quick release skewers, saved me from a bad crash last week.

A rainy Tuesday in my garage taught me more than a whole year of smooth rides

I was trying to replace the bottom bracket on my old touring bike, a job I'd put off for ages. The crank was seized solid, and my cheap puller just bent. I was ready to give up and take it to a shop. Then I remembered my dad's old toolbox in the basement. I found a massive, rusty adjustable wrench he'd left me. I wrapped the crank arm in a rag, braced the frame against my workbench, and leaned my full weight on that wrench. After a loud crack, it finally gave. That moment, using a tool from thirty years ago to fix something today, felt like a real connection. It wasn't about saving the fifty bucks a shop would charge. It was about figuring it out with what you have. Has anyone else had a stubborn part finally come loose with an unexpected tool?

My chain snapped on a steep hill in Seattle and I had to walk home

It happened two days ago on the climb up Queen Anne. I was putting down some power and there was a loud crack, then the pedals spun free. The chain broke right at the master link. I didn't have a chain tool or a spare link in my bag, just a multi-tool and a patch kit. So I had to push my bike the rest of the way up the hill and then walk it two miles home. It was a brand new chain I put on maybe four months ago. I think I messed up the master link when I installed it. I've since bought a proper chain breaker and a few extra links. Has anyone else had a new chain fail that fast? I'm wondering if I should just avoid master links altogether and pin it the old way.

Pro tip: I used to just guess on my tire pressure, but after a flat on the Greenway trail, I bought a $12 gauge and check every ride.

I used to tighten my chain with a hammer and a punch, and I'm not proud of it.

For years, I'd just tap the rear axle nuts loose, shove the wheel back, and whack it all tight again. It was fast, but my chain tension was always a guess. Last fall, my chain slipped off on a steep hill in the park and I nearly went over the bars. That was the last straw. I finally bought a proper chain tension gauge for about $25. Now I set it to the exact 1/2 inch of play my old ten-speed manual calls for. It takes an extra minute, but the bike shifts perfectly and I haven't had a single skip. Does anyone else have a 'before and after' tool that made a huge difference in your routine?

Remember when you had to buy a whole new chain tool just for that one stuck pin?

Back in 2010, I was trying to shorten a chain on my old mountain bike and the pin got stuck halfway out. I almost gave up and bought a new tool. Then my uncle, who used to race, told me to put the chain in a bench vise and tap the pin with a small punch and a hammer. It popped right out and I saved like 30 bucks. I still use that trick today when my main tool acts up. Anyone got other old-school fixes for modern chain problems?

My brother told me to just use WD-40 on my chain for a year and now I'm replacing the whole drivetrain.

He swore by it, said it was cheap and worked fine. Tbh, I listened because he's been riding longer. But after about 8 months, my chain started skipping and the cassette teeth were hooked. Took it to my local shop in Tacoma and the mechanic said the WD-40 just thinned out and attracted grit, wearing everything down fast. A proper chain lube is like $12. So now I'm out over $150 for new parts and doing the work myself. Anyone have a go-to dry lube they actually trust for rainy weather?

Am I the only one who thought chain wax was just a fad?

I used wet lube for years, but after trying wax on my gravel bike this winter, my drivetrain stayed clean for over 300 miles. Anyone have a good brand they like that isn't too pricey?

Shoutout to the $20 chain tool that saved my whole weekend trip

Snapped a link on a remote trail near Bend, but my cheap tool held up for a perfect fix versus the 'just replace the whole chain' advice I always get. Anyone have a go-to trailside repair that defies the usual shop wisdom?

Appreciation post: My old brake pads lasted 3,200 miles

I just swapped out my brake pads and checked my log. I was sure they were worn out after a year, but they actually went for 3,200 miles. I ride a lot in the hills near my house, so I thought they would wear faster. Seeing that number made me realize I was replacing them way too early before. Now I just check the wear line instead of guessing. Has anyone else been surprised by how long a part actually lasted?

Dropped $80 on a chain cleaning machine and it's been a total waste for me

Everyone online says they're a must-have, but my Park Tool CM-5.2 just makes a huge mess and takes longer than my old rag and brush method. I've used it three times now and each time I end up with more degreaser spray on my garage floor than on the chain. Has anyone else found a better way to clean a 10-speed chain without this gadget?

Had my chain snap on a steep hill in the rain and it totally changed how I check my bike now

My chain snapped on a steep hill and I had to walk home in the rain

I was climbing a big hill near my house last Tuesday when my bike chain just broke in half. It was starting to drizzle, and I was about two miles from my garage. I had to push the bike the whole way back, which took almost an hour. Once I got home, I watched a video on chain replacement and bought a basic chain tool for $15. I put the new chain on myself, but now the shifting feels a bit rough. Has anyone else had trouble getting the chain length just right after a snap?

Honestly, a guy at the trailhead in Boulder showed me how to check chain stretch with a ruler

Ngl, I was about to buy a new chain but mine was still under 0.5% wear. Anyone know a good brand for a basic 12-inch metal ruler that won't bend?

Bought a cheap chain tool for $15 and it broke halfway through a fix

I was replacing a chain on my old mountain bike last weekend. The tool snapped when I was pushing the pin through a link. Had to walk the bike to a friend's place to finish the job with his gear. Now I'm looking at better ones. Anyone have a chain tool that's held up for more than a few uses?

Had to choose between a cheap chain tool and a Park Tool CT-5 last month

I was fixing my old road bike and the chain was stuck. I almost bought a $12 tool from the local hardware store, but a friend told me to get the Park Tool one. I spent the extra $30 and it worked perfectly, no broken pins or stripped threads. Has anyone else had a bad time with those bargain bin chain breakers?