Bicycle Tutor - Bike Repair Video Tutorials
Bicycle Maintenance Guide and Riding Tips
This page was last updated 24 May 2007. I often get asked about bicycle maintenance and repairs, and tips for how to ride efficiently. This little manual is intended as a summary of what I have learned over the years. I am not a professional mechanic. All of what I say here is the result of personal experience and opinion and may in places flatly contradict professional techniques, but it has served me well. I offer no guarantees that it will work for you.
8 Bombproof DIY Bike Repair Stands
This entry is a Bike Hacks classic (originally posted by Bren). Lately I've been eyeballing some repair stands and contemplating building my own. I don't have a real garage, just a carport with a small attached shop area. The shop area has a workbench, but there's just not much room to move. So I'm thinking of building a movable repair stand. So I'm thinking that this post-mounted repair stand (it is an old link, no more detailed pictures, sorry) might be just the thing for me. As usual, Instructables has some nicely designed bike repair stands. Here's the second design from Instructables. This wooden bench mounted repair stand looks like a straightforward build. Now here's a serious project. This fine looking pipe based bike repair stand uses simple and easily obtainable raw materials. This is a really simple design for another bench mounted bike repair stand, and might be just the thing if you've got a workbench. This next one is pretty interesting. Collapsible Bike Repair Stand
PVC Bike Repair Stand
I chose 1 1/2 inch PVC pipe for the main frame because it was sturdy & had the broadest selection of fittings. There are a couple pieces of 2" pipe that I use for the bike frame rests, and some optional foam weather stripping to use for padding. There is also some shaping of some of the pipe & fittings, so some carving & shaping tools are required. Tools: - hack saw (or alternately a PVC tubing cutter) - tape measure - wood chisel (or alternately a dremel tool with a carbide bit) - pencil & dry-erase marker - file - sand paper PVC parts: (4) 15" lengths of 1 1/2" diameter pipe for the base supports (2) 34" lengths of 1 1/2" diameter pipe for the legs (1) 16" length of 1 1/2" diameter pipe for the down-tube support (1) 51" length of 1 1/2" diameter pipe for the base outrigger (1) 3" length of 2" diameter pipe for the bike rests (3) 1 1/2" T-fittings (2) 1 1/2" 90 degree elbow fittings (2) 1 1/2" coupling or end-cap fittings (1) 1 1/2" cross fitting (AKA 4-way fitting)
BikeHacks
Reader Matteo recently contacted us and noted that he had turned an old wheel into a ceiling light. His bike deco hack kicked my brain into search mode for another post along the same lines, and before I knew it was in full search mode for hacks we have posted related to decorations made from bike parts. A bunch of time typing and mousing through memory lane resulted in this cumulative post. 1. Reader Matteo sent along this ceiling light he created which is featured on his website. 2. Reader Song put a bit of a more modern twist on a discarded Spinergy rim that he submitted to us. People usually have a love-it-or-hate-it relationship with Spinergy Rev-X wheels, but when I saw a damaged specimen at a flea market, I figured I just had to buy it and think of something to do with it. 3. Via the blog ViaComIt I stumbled on a great little house decoration hack possibility. 4. As it turns out there is a company, Urbane Innovations, that is trying to make a business out of this concept - 5. 6.
Chain Maintenance
Search sheldonbrown.com and sheldonbrown.org Chain Maintenance A Religious Question Chain maintenance is one of the most controversial aspects of bicycle mechanics. This article is based on my personal and professional experience and my own theories. [And a comment from John Allen: the problem becomes religious because it addresses mysteries of existence, life and death (of chains...) to which there is no clear and obvious answer -- as long as the chain is exposed to dirt. On the other hand...the Sunbeam oil-bath full chain case solved this problem in 1908. Chain cases have only ever been marketed for single-sprocket utility bicycles, they are an extra-cost item and they add weight and complication. Name your poison, as the saying goes. Man is born free but everywhere he is in chains. Jean-Jacques Rousseau Chains: Old And New The past fifteen years [as of Sheldon's writing, in 1996] have seen many revolutions in bicycle design. An old-style bicycle chain has ten parts per link. Lubricant Flow
Bike Cargo, Chapter 3: 22 Extended Frame Bikes
Photo: WorkCycles. Other photos via respective manufacturers.This is the third in a four-part series on how to haul anything and everything by bike.Bike Cargos for All Tastes!In our endeavours to take a snapshot of the world of Bicycle Cargo we have to date looked at the Racks And Bags used for bicycle cargo as well as the Bike Trailer. Now in Chapter Three, we take a gander at over 20 Extended Frame Bikes, as used for the hauling of people, product or produce. Bakfiets The Bakfiets have become a symbol for the resurgence in urban cargo bikes. Bullitt Taking a different tack, the Bullitt is modern version of the Bakfiets, designed by two Danes who've lent their names to the parent company, Larry vs Harry. Burrows 8 Freight is name to given the cargo hauler conceived by famous cycle racer and bicycle designer, Mike Burrows. Bilenky Hailing from Philadelphia in the USA, Bilenky contruct all manner of bikes, no solely cargo bikes. Cargocycle Christiania Frances Cycles
Video Memberships - Bicycle Tutor
Cody - I have looked at 10 videos on youtube, but this one is the ONLY clear one for beginners. You saved me hours of learning this the difficult way, I could have destroyed my bike. Marc - Thanx man. This website has helped me alleviate three different problems on two different kinds of bikes. Dave - I would just like to say this website is excellent, and it has help me a lot and saved me a lot of money. Cheri - Thank you, thank you, thank you! Kirby - Once again, another totally awesome tutorial that contained just enough information to answer all my questions about working with my headset and not a lot of fluff. Gregory - Thank you so much for kindly making this well-directed, well edited video! Craig - Excellent job. James - Thank You so much!!! Alexis - One huge big thank you. Patrick - Best tutorials I've seen on bike repair/maintenance. Erin - Very cool site, especially the tutorial videos. Dave - To all of my riding friends... THANK YOU !!!!!! Cheers :) Phil - Your website rocks.
Guided and Self Guided Cycling Holidays, Mountain Bike Holidays and Road...
