I thought I'd post my experience learning to work on bikes, there was a comment on another thread,

And yes...I need to start learning to take care of my own bike! I am just so afraid i'll end up breaking something

I finally started to tentatively learn to wrench after an experience where I had some free work done by a friend to two bikes, that cost me $100 to have redone correctly on just one of them. Ahhhh!

I found a different friend who was very willing to walk me through my first "job". He had the stand and the tools, and basically handed me each tool, and stood at my shoulder and told me what to do next. That day I replaced a chain ring and a derailleur cable all by myself.

That encouraged me. I dug out DH's old bike tool box, bought a copy of Zinn and the Art of Mountain Bike Maintenance, and started to try different things. I changed some pedals. I put a new chain on. And then... I rebuilt my old very first mtb that had been collecting dust.

Now, you have to picture this. I find the directions, get out my highlighter, read them, read them again, go into the house and get a drink, stare at the bike for a bit and THEN cut the first cable. OMG, I was so sure I was going to break something!! Or that something would explode. But nothing bad happened.

Slowly I've added the tools I didn't have. I've also found that there are lots of knowledgeable people out there willing to give advice, or help with nuanced adjustments. I've cultivated the heck out my favorite LBS's with home baked goodies. I do buy all my small parts locally, support the LBS and all that.

Now, I maintain the fleet at our house. DH got me a Park stand for Xmas one year, complete with tech apron. He thought it was a crazy request but now that I detail his bike for him... different story. Sure, it takes me at least 3 to 5 times longer than a pro but so what.

Moral is, you can't break anything. Worst case scenario is that you have to drag your bike to the LBS ( cookies in tow) and say, "guys, what did I mess up here". That hasn't happened yet, but I have need help with some old v-brake spring adjustments.

Go for it!