I replaced my own brake pad!

[Aggie_Ama]

Last week a brake pad came off my mountain bike. Being too lazy to take it to the LBS I just bought a new set of pads. Tonight I installed the replacement all by myself! Okay, not a huge thing to some but it was a miracle when I learned to clean my own drivetrain. I also put on my own cleats for the first time, who is this masked woman and why didn't anyone tell me this is kind of fun?

[Mr. Bloom]

Ok Ag, did you "toe in" the brake pad? or do you do that on mtn bikes??

[Aggie_Ama]

Don't have a clue. I read my handy bike maintenance book on what to do when it was squeeky after installation (front was hitting before the back) and made sure the wheel wasn't dragging (at first it was). It passed DH and my own test rides around the neighborhood (about 5-10 miles).

I am taking it to a relatively mild trail tomorrow, I think it is ready to roll!

[sgtiger]

Great job, Aggie Ama! I agree that it's fun to work on bikes ourselves.

[OakLeaf]

What a feeling of accomplishment that brings.

[cylegoddess]

I agree, oh the power! I fixed my brake rubbing.

[wildeny]

I also installed new brake pads for my two bikes not long ago. Very proud of myself , though it took me a while because I tried to align them as perfectly as possible. I found the information on Park Tool Repair Help is very helpful.

I also bought three bike maintenance books. One of them is Zinn's for road bike, which is much better than the other two.

[Aggie_Ama]

I rode the mountain bike today and the new brake pad worked like a charm. Guess I learned a new skill yesterday. New pedals were an improvement too! Unfortunately DH had to install those because I can't get them tight enough or loosen the old ones. I did install my own cleats and they were deemed "tight enough".

[msincredible]

I rode the mountain bike today and the new brake pad worked like a charm. Guess I learned a new skill yesterday. New pedals were an improvement too! Unfortunately DH had to install those because I can't get them tight enough or loosen the old ones. I did install my own cleats and they were deemed "tight enough".

Great! BTW, a nice long pedal wrench makes the pedal installation far easier...I couldn't do mine without one.

[TxDoc]

Last week a brake pad came off my mountain bike. Being too lazy to take it to the LBS I just bought a new set of pads. Tonight I installed the replacement all by myself! Okay, not a huge thing to some but it was a miracle when I learned to clean my own drivetrain. I also put on my own cleats for the first time, who is this masked woman and why didn't anyone tell me this is kind of fun?

Congrats on the first step!!!
Sooner than you know you will be fixing your own bike @ home

[carolbiker]

Way to go Aggie.: I've been riding for decades & have finally taken the initiative to "get a handle" on some repairs too. I look forward to the day I can post my first success.