Rant: I finally learned how to adjust my own derailleur and it's not the dark art shops make it seem

For three years, I paid my local bike shop $40 every few months to fix my shifting. It was always a little off, skipping gears or being loud. Last month, after the third visit in a year, I watched a ten minute video online and bought a $15 hex key set. I spent an hour in my garage turning the barrel adjuster and the limit screws, following the steps. The before and after is crazy. My bike now shifts perfectly, every single time, and it's been solid for six weeks. The cause was just me being scared to touch it and thinking I needed special tools. It's literally two screws and a cable. Has anyone else broken free from the shop cycle for basic adjustments like this? What was the first thing you fixed yourself?

2 comments

2 Comments

amyb545d ago

Wait, you paid $40 every few months for three years? That math is actually painful to think about. Good on you for finally grabbing a hex key and just doing it.

viola1714d ago

My buddy did the same thing with his wobbly ceiling fan. He finally watched a two minute video and fixed it with a screwdriver he already owned. The look on his face when he realized how easy it was, priceless.