It has the be a joy of learning to be a MTBer that you need to hone up the mechanical skills. In all my years as a triathlete and road biker, I only ever had to deal with the very occassional puncture and one broken spoke. I have learnt more about bike mechanics in my rel short time as a MTB that I would have believed. And for someone with a mechanical IQ of close to zero that is quite something. I am even starting to enjoy it!!

Today’s lesson, learning to avoid, and if not deal with, calliper pads locking up on hydraulic brakes. I don’t often put my bike in the back of the car, so that was a lesson when travelling ex wheels!!! Felt like a numpty trying to get the back wheel on at first!!!

With the LBS bills this year, I need to keep climbing the steep learning curve quickly!!!!

Not just the bills, but the time it takes for them to do things.

A weeks wait for my LBS to do something that I can do myself in an hour or 2.

You’ll also learn to spot stuff before it goes wrong 🙂

That’s true, especially at the moment.

Odd this morning as I had real problems fitting real wheel when I started. It eventually slipped into place but brakes felt slightly strange. Gave the bike a mega clean when I got in and this time the callipers were well and truly clamped together. Another problem and solution ticked off. What next?

Yep, very rewarding being able to fix and maintain your own bikes. The only real outlay is the specialist tools you need but you just need to but them as and when needed.

I started out in the boat as you, but I have now built 3 bikes and regularly strip them down without too much problem. I have even started servicing my forks now with the help of PeterPoddy’s excellent fork guides. Only thing left to tackle now is wheel building.

A lot of disc brake calipers self adjust, so avoid pulling the brake lever when the wheel is off, or wedge a bit of wood between pads.

I tackled the wheel building thing last year. As with everything, plan ahead, plenty of space, plenty of time. Very pleasing. 8)

I’ve done my own maintenance for a long time now, because its the only way to be sure that some buffoon in a bike shop that calls himself a mechanic doesn’t mess up my kit, or does half a job and takes bloody ages to do it.