Looking for a hands-on bike repair class in Manhattan that covers the basics of derailleur adjustment, wheel truing and general maintenance, not necessarily down to the level of repacking hubs and things like that. Bicycle Habitat on Lafayette says they'll be starting up a class in a couple of weeks. Does any other shop offer classes? Thanks.
Bike repair classes in NYC
Mon, 11/11/2002 - 11:35am
Mon, 11/11/2002 - 1:58pm
#1
Bike repair classes
Keep an eye on http://www.5bbc.org/repair.htm
Tue, 11/12/2002 - 6:53am
#2
I overheard a conversation regarding repair lessons at a bike shop called Toga.
If I heard correctly, Toga offers repair lessons.
Toga is on 9th Ave and mid 60s.
Mon, 11/18/2002 - 9:13pm
#3
Just FYI - Toga Bikes is on West End Avenue at 65th Street.
Thu, 11/14/2002 - 3:10pm
#4
bike repair classes
I'd recommend that you stay away from the 5BBC classes. I took one of them (2 sessions) and it was pretty much a waste of time. The teacher didn't have a roadbike, didn't seem to know what half the things were on most people's bikes.
Thu, 11/14/2002 - 5:14pm
#5
Hi,
Did you take the classes this year? The 5BBC coordinator was John Henderson. He really knows his stuff.
Sat, 11/16/2002 - 1:05pm
#6
5 bbc classes
i took a 5 bbc repair class on intro to wheel trueing and it was very informative , well worth the $5 , taught this year by john henderson. had absolutely no problems with it, geared to road bikes too..
Mon, 11/15/2010 - 11:36am
#7
BikeNY Education classes!
BikeNY has a Bicycle Maintenance 101 course that covers flat fixes, brake adjustments, derailleur adjustments and a few other basic things. It is taught by the head mechanic at Recycle-A-Bicycle in Dumbo. 4 hour course for $60. Includes a multi-tool and patch kit. Last class for the season is Sunday, Dec 19 from 1-5pm. More classes will be offered starting in March. Check here for more info: http://www.bikenewyork.org/education/classes/maintenance.html
If that doesn't work for you, I also give private lessons on all things cycling. In addition to being an A SIG leader, I am a certified Cycling Instructor with the League of American Bicyclists as well as a professional bicycle mechanic. I teach many formalized course for BikeNY, but also do private lessons on the side. I usually charge $50/hour. If you're a quick learner, the 4-hour Bicycle Maintenance 101 course can be covered in less than 2 hours one-on-one.
Let me know if I can help!
-Patrick Tomeny
Mon, 11/15/2010 - 11:59am
#8
Free and SOMEWHAT worth it and my thoughts
different topics on different nites, plus its Free
http://times-up.org/index.php?page=bike-co-op
I took the Bicycle habitat class and will say that I did get somethings out of it, but not as much as I had hoped.
Many times the class is geared to who comes and the type of bikes they ride.
We would work on bikes from the class, hybrids, road fixies.
Some repairs are the same for each bike but shifters obviously are different, same goes for brakes, crank removal and such.
What you should/could do?
First decide what exactly you may want to REPAIR on your own or learn to adjust.
Do you have space to do work in your home?
I would make a list of what you want you want to do on your own and work from there.
Maybe, put on a new chain and cassette. This alone will save many dollars over the LBS and requires no stand.
Change and replace Brake cable is also an easy job, plus brake pads.
Change shifter cables and housing is easy but requires you to learn to adjust the deraileurs. This is more involved, but you will become
a very popular person to your friends. This requires a Workssand.
Crank removal to swap your Bottom Bracket is nice to do, but you can do this for FREE (donation) at Times up. People will help you, they did me.
So, take your list and try Times up. Make a friend and be patiant. Oh yeah, bring YOUR OWN RAGS and cleaning solution for your hands.
OR
At Bicycle Habita t you can pay to have a private Mechanic for like $60 an hour.
They'll work on your bike with only your bike and in 2 sessions you will be a pro at most of the above topics. If not a pro then at least understand what may need to be fixed
and be an educated consumer.
Good Luck
Robert
Mon, 11/15/2010 - 3:09pm
#9
DIY
Save time, money, confusion, etc. Use the Parktool site and teach yourself to do it. To keep the intimidation factor low choose one task every two weeks. One week do derailleur adjustment, two weeks later do chain replacement, two weeks later do cassette replacement, two weeks later do derailleur cable replacement, you get the idea. Also join Richards wheel building class - 1 day commitment.
Now, to do most of these tasks, but not all, you will need to purchase special inexpensive tools like a chain breaker, a cassette remover wrench and socket, a wire cutter for cables and housing, a set of allen keys, etc. Nothing too overwelming.
Thu, 11/18/2010 - 12:44pm
#10
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More Online
Yep, the Park site is a great help. There's also Bicycle Tutor, which shows you how by video, supplemented with user comments:
And there's also the old original, Saint Sheldon, sadly now departed, whose huge labyrinthine online offerings have helped multitudes for many years:
Wed, 11/17/2010 - 4:39pm
#11
Bicycle Habitat
I took that class and am not sure it's so worth the money. Gives you way more than you'll remember or ever need to know on bikes that don't necessarily resemble yours. I really wanted the basics - how to change a flat, adjust a derailleur, but didn't feel enough time was spent on that. I learned way more by watching YouTube videos on bike maintenance. Also, the Park Tool bike maintenance book is good.
Thu, 11/18/2010 - 12:52pm
#12
...
This thread a good illustration of how this MB is confusing
You have people answering to posters from 8 years ago. New posts are disbursed w/ old post containing information that are no longer accurate or relevant.
The old stuff reads from bottom to top, the new stuff reads from top down. (I think?)
