Mechanic School?

[lunacycles]

Don't overlook UBI's one week basic mechanics course just for women held every year--usually in the summer when it is gorgeous in Ashland. It covers the same stuff as their other basic course, but is a friendlier atmosphere as far as feeling like a newbie goes. I tought it for a few years and it was always a blast.

UBI's web site is bikeschool.com

[Red Rock]

DebW and Lunacycles thankyou for your input and various answers. It is making me think twice about this. In the meantime, I will checkout some of the websites you all mentioned and go from there.

Red Rock

[Tuckervill]

I've been thinking about going to UBI, myself. Thinking we need a bike shop here in my little town. I just can't jump on it yet, due to other obligations. My son is dying for me to open a shop. He wants to sell bikes on one side and guitars on the other! lol. (I actually think it could work.)

But I think in this small Southern town, I'd need to earn some credibility by going to bike school. hmmm....just dreaming right now.


Karen

[madscot13]

I would love to go to UBI or the Barnett's school, but since I don't live near them the extra cost of room, board, and transportation is very prohibitive. I did an REI one day bike class. everything was very short and abridged. It taught me the basics of keeping my drivetrain in good order and how to dismantle it. I wish I could have learned how to set up cables and repack my headset but time was so short. I would recommend it for learning how to take care of your bike and to avoid taking your bike to the shop for its annual check up by doing it yourself. I don't think it taught me enough to build a bike up from parts.

[Red Rock]

This might sound terrible, but I do not even have access to a "local" REI even though I am a member! It might sound like I'm in the sticks. We do have a few chain/BIg Box stores here but none of the fun stuff. I have to drive for that. So right now, I'm reading and have been reading anything and everything on cycling probably for the last four years in my spare time. My DH might think it is my new drug of choice.

I am dealing with squeeling brakes on my HT lately. From what I have read it could be a matter of using sandpaper on the brake pads to give them a surface or "toeing-in" the pads themselves. How the second one reduces the squeeling, I have no idea.

It would be really useful to at least take a comprehensive course that covers everything. Bike Mechanics 101. That way I would be exposed to everything. Then if I wanted, I could expand on the base that I had.

More random thoughts,
Red Rock

[Tuckervill]

Oh, how terrible! No REI!!!!??!!! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOoooooooooooooooooooooooooooo



There's not an REI within 350 miles of me. :-\

Karen

[Red Rock]

Tuckervill-that is about the closest REI to me as well approx 350 miles. More are further away. We might be in similar situations.

Being that far away keeps the tempations down for sure.

Red Rock