Fear of wrenching...

[Irulan]

it's all in what floats your boat, ya know? I like it, it makes me happy. I like not paying someone to do it. But I refuse to do any car stuff. Whatever.

My whole thing is that it's nothing to be afraid of, why not give it a try? You might like it, and then again you might not.

[Boise Birder]

and are not afraid to cut that cable, what's next??? I like getting dirty and turning wrenches, but would feel better if I had a guide.

what books or websites would you suggest for those who want to try it out and see if it is for them?

[jobob]

and are not afraid to cut that cable, what's next??? I like getting dirty and turning wrenches, but would feel better if I had a guide.

what books or websites would you suggest for those who want to try it out and see if it is for them?

Irulan already pointed out Zinn & the Art of Bicycle Maintenance in her original post. There's a version for mountain bikes & one for road bikes.

[kfergos]

Thank you for this post! I've been wanting to do maintenance on my bikes for a while -- saves money and, in my opinion, is therapeutic and rewarding -- but I've been too chicken to really get in there and do it.

My goal is to learn enough to learn enough to fix my battered winter mtb (needs everything, including headset and bottom bracket, replaced) and convert her to an Xtracycle. I hope to do this by spring of 2009. Where to start??

[Irulan]

Thank you for this post! I've been wanting to do maintenance on my bikes for a while -- saves money and, in my opinion, is therapeutic and rewarding -- but I've been too chicken to really get in there and do it.

My goal is to learn enough to learn enough to fix my battered winter mtb (needs everything, including headset and bottom bracket, replaced) and convert her to an Xtracycle. I hope to do this by spring of 2009. Where to start??

I'd start with brake cables, housing and pads, and then same for deraillers. Then, bottom bracket, headset last. There are parts of the headset process that usually require a stop at LBS for them to use their headset press on a thingy in there.

[Irulan]

So I know I just need to allow the cage to move slightly farther out from the bike frame when its in the big chainring. (I am using a 3 chainring Shimano 105 on a new Bianchi road bike). From the Park Tool website and the SheldonBrown website I know I need to tighten my H screw like 1/8th of a turn. Tiny. However, the screws aren't marked L and H and I'm way way too scared to test it like the site suggests... And google isn't finding me a handy diagram...

According to Zinn, and for a mtb derailleur (lets' assume it's the same) he says that MOST front ds have the low limit screw closer to the frame. Sometimes they are labeled L and H too.

Option B is to take some warm fresh baked cookies down to the LBS with your bike and ask nicely "would you guys please show me how to do this?". Works great for me.