App to assist with bike maintenance - Hubtiger

[Gunk]

My approach with bikes (as with most other things e.g. home DIY) has just been to acquire the skills when I needed to.

I have known how to remove wheels/fix punctures since I was a kid when my brother showed me how.

Here's a few examples:

Example 1

About 10 years ago I was going to throw away my commuter bike because the freewheel teeth were worn so badly the chain was just slipping all the time. I remember visiting Halfords, where the mechanic advised me that there were about 17 different sprocket removal tools; while neglecting to mention that by far the most common, at the time, was the Shimano one. In my opinion he was just trying to put me off. I eventually found the correct tool online and successfully used it to remove the freewheel and fit a new one. This also started an interest in using cheater/breaker bars as it was a ****** to remove.

Example 2

I bought a new roadbike in Decathlon - BTwin Triban 3 - and discovered that the bike technology was new - bear in mind that the kind of bikes I ride are well behind the curve (trailing edge technology). It had a cassette and a freehub which was new to me. So the first time I cleaned the drive train, about 6 months later I bought a cassette removal tool. For the chain whip I used a car filter removal tool which was similar.

I now have a proper chain whip which came with a box of tools I got as a Christmas present.

Example 3

I had a series of broken spokes on a bike I used for commuting; Each time it happened, I replaced the spoke with a spoke key and just tightened it, until the tension was roughly similar to the other spokes and the wheel was roughly true. This led to an interest in wheel truing. I remember finding a video where somebody (I think it was C J Hoyle [see YouTube]) explained how to true a wheel using the brake blocks as a makeshift truing stand. My daughter then bought me a truing stand that Christmas (It was a nice surprise!).

Through all these little learning experiences I have gradually built up a nice little toolkit. A part here, another there. Improvised tools from Sheldon Brown; all sorts really. I keep them all in a metal tool box just for bike parts.

I find curiosity does the rest.

Nice story, it is just about having a go and building up skills and confidence. It does help however having a natural enthusiasm for it.

 

[wafter]

Nice story, it is just about having a go and building up skills and confidence. It does help however having a natural enthusiasm for it.

... and the "natural enthusiasm" is helped by a deep mistrust of others, insaitable perfectionist streak and shallow pockets

 

[Ajax Bay]

OP joined, and in 24 hours posted OP + twice on this thread (not answering Qs put), and has not been seen since.

 

[Yellow Saddle]

OP joined, and in 24 hours posted OP + twice on this thread (not answering Qs put), and has not been seen since.

Isn't that the case with 99.73% of all first posts asking questions. I get the impression these people post on 10 forums, perhaps not even looking at any of them again and just bodging it.

Often, they also bugger off when they don't get the answer they want to hear.

 

[Globalti]

That'll be because they think CC is just another social meejia platform where you have a quick interaction with the members then move on to another one. They don't realise that old-skool web fora like CC or Singletrack or UKClimbing are more like virtual cafés with a handful of old regulars sitting around a table at the back, drinking interminable coffees and not actually going out cycling much but able to offer a wealth of experienced advice to anybody who asks nicely.

(Apologies to the regulars on CC who do go cycling unlike those on many other specialist web fora!)

 

[Blue Hills]

Excellent points globalti - matches my views on why this place isn't social media in the now generally accepted use of the term.
Yes there are a fair lot on here who don't seem to do much cycling, some in some of the pits seem to have very little interest in it at all. Consider them unhealthy.
But yes many many do, including me and i think you.
I still suspect that the op had some connection with this app.

 

[Globalti]

It can be irritating when you have taken the time to compose a reply in the clearest language possible, edited it for clarity, then you get no thanks or even acknowledgement.