Mechanic Skills Class

One of my "bike dreams" if you will:rolleyes:, has been to feel confident in some DIY.

I know we have a lot of good info here, on the net, and there are books. Sometimes if the lbs is not busy, I've gotten tips there.

Everyone has different styles of learning. For me, I need hands on with supervision. It always comes down the confidence of wondering "did I do this right? or did I just mess up my bike?".

I would be willing to pay, and spend the time taking a class, but I'm not sure where a person goes. For any of you that have done this, please share. I've decided to make this one of my winter projects.:cool:

Go back to your LBS and ask them if they would do this for you. Be sure to tell them you are willing to pay.

Many shops offer courses in the slower winter months, so check ALL of the shops near you. REI stores usually have them also. You can check the Park Tool site for a listing of shops offering "Park Tool Schools".

I agree with the previous posts, and would add this -- check your local Craigslist, if you have one. In my area I've seen a couple moonlighting or solo mechanics who might be flexible with time, perhaps less expensive, and more easily able to tailor instruction to your needs.

Thx ladies for your thoughts:). That's an idea about asking the shops. Some of my lbs experiences have been not so pleasant. Part of the motivation for the DIY. And to have more concrete knowledge (even if I didn't own the tool do to it).

That is an interesting tip about the moonlighting. There are plenty of teaching professionals who tutor on the side for additional income. Maybe there would be a mechanic to do the like away from the shop.

I did google find some more formalized classes and schools. They were way out of my area. I'll keep searching with those ideas.

Look through here for the nearest Park Tool School. It is an excellent program that will take you through every system on your bike, using the Big Blue book as a text. Some shops even offer a discount on tool purchases if you take the course from them.

http://www.parktool.com/clinics_trai...toolschool.asp

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Originally Posted by newfsmith

Look through here for the nearest Park Tool School. It is an excellent program that will take you through every system on your bike, using the Big Blue book as a text. Some shops even offer a discount on tool purchases if you take the course from them.

http://www.parktool.com/clinics_trai...toolschool.asp

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:) Thank you for that link! That is what I had in mind. I looked for a dealer, and a couple came up that are about an hour travel, maybe a bit less. I like the way the program is laid out with the text book. One problem I've had in the past with non-bike related private tutoring is that the person may be the best at what they do... however, their organization and teaching skills are not.

Unless I am missing it, I don't see a price. I assume this varies by local and shop a bit. Well, I assume unlike anything else with bikes, nothing is ever cheap:rolleyes:.

My only other thing that I thought about was an ad I see on and off in the back of Bicycling magazine. It's some type of ladies only retreat workshop that includes improving specific skills, and some mechanics. That's on my list of bike fantasy vacations. This one is in the Carolinas somewhere. That would be a plane ticket for the bike and I. That will take some long time selling to other non-bike loving folks at home:o. Hmmm... makes driving to tool school sound better, doesn't it? lol ;)

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Originally Posted by Miranda

My only other thing that I thought about was an ad I see on and off in the back of Bicycling magazine. It's some type of ladies only retreat workshop that includes improving specific skills, and some mechanics. That's on my list of bike fantasy vacations.

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I haven't seen the ad - was it Women's Quest? It was one of their retreats that got me back into cycling a couple of years ago. It was a wonderful experience with a lot of soul-searching and heart work besides the cycling - I highly recommend it! I actually blew off the little bike maintenance seminar they had though... already knew some, mostly because I just needed a rest that afternoon.

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Originally Posted by OakLeaf

I haven't seen the ad - was it Women's Quest? It was one of their retreats that got me back into cycling a couple of years ago. It was a wonderful experience with a lot of soul-searching and heart work besides the cycling - I highly recommend it! I actually blew off the little bike maintenance seminar they had though... already knew some, mostly because I just needed a rest that afternoon.

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Oakleaf... hmm, I don't know if it's the same company. But it sure sounds like it. I googled the web site, sounds similiar. The old dates are not on there from 2008. It's been a while since I saw the ad. I just think that would be such a cool thing to go and do. Sound like you had a wonderful time:cool:.

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Originally Posted by newfsmith

Look through here for the nearest Park Tool School. It is an excellent program that will take you through every system on your bike, using the Big Blue book as a text. Some shops even offer a discount on tool purchases if you take the course from them.

http://www.parktool.com/clinics_trai...toolschool.asp

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This list is not at all accurate. I did the search a year or so ago and one shop absolutely did not have classes, he had no interest in giving classes, another shop was out of business/closed, but the third one did offer classes. Different kinds of classes but not "the" Park Tool School. Just does it his own way with no text book. I just did the search again and the same three shops came up. Even the out of business one.

I agree that it is not up-to-date, but since we don't know where the OP is located it seemed a fair starting point for her to do research from. I hope she was as successful as you were.

I'm currently doing a bike maintenance course. They're arranged by my local cycling campaign group and run by the LBS. It's only 5 classes of 2 hours, but a good start (though i think that I'll probably still be too nervous to do much myself).

The classes are quite informal. Even better for me is the course I got onto started the week after i got my beautiful LHT which had been built up by the same LBS, so the teacher knows my bike really well.

Anyway, this isn't really of much use to the OP seeing as I'm in a different bit of the world, but if you have local cycling campaign groups then maybe they run similar things or may be interested in setting some up.

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Originally Posted by uforgot

This list is not at all accurate. I did the search a year or so ago and one shop absolutely did not have classes, he had no interest in giving classes, another shop was out of business/closed, but the third one did offer classes. Different kinds of classes but not "the" Park Tool School. Just does it his own way with no text book. I just did the search again and the same three shops came up. Even the out of business one.

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Originally Posted by newfsmith

I agree that it is not up-to-date, but since we don't know where the OP is located it seemed a fair starting point for her to do research from. I hope she was as successful as you were.

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Thx for the feedback about Park's website. It's ok if it's not dead on:).
Before this thread I really didn't know even which way to turn that there was even a Park Tool School at all. So, I'm already at an upgrade;).

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Originally Posted by ms pepperpot

I'm currently doing a bike maintenance course. They're arranged by my local cycling campaign group and run by the LBS. It's only 5 classes of 2 hours, but a good start (though i think that I'll probably still be too nervous to do much myself).
The classes are quite informal. Even better for me is the course I got onto started the week after i got my beautiful LHT which had been built up by the same LBS, so the teacher knows my bike really well.

Anyway, this isn't really of much use to the OP seeing as I'm in a different bit of the world, but if you have local cycling campaign groups then maybe they run similar things or may be interested in setting some up.

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Good for you on the classes. We have snow and ice here early, so my mechanics class can take on a more serious search with winter officially here. About being nervous to DIY, I feel the SAME way! I just get so freaked about messing something up. Plus, I don't have any support besides dragging my bike into whichever lbs I dare. I don't really have one I feel comfortable with. I can ask around some more. The gym is getting more outdoor peeps back in now with the snow. Thx:).

This is a bike mechanics program. I guess you have to stay there but I have no other info. http://www.bbinstitute.com/