Bike maintenance course

[Heddle the Pedal]

I'm a regular cyclist and bike gets plenty of wear and tear on London rds. It's costing me a fortune to get simple stuff done to gears, brakes etc. So I'm thinking of doing beginners bike maintence course, then working up. Can anyone recommend a good course preferably in south/east London? Thanks.

 

[Debade]

Not being facetious, but take a look at Parke Tools online videos. They are well done and fairly easy to follow.

 

[Paulus]

Have a look at the Haynes bike book.
Step by step pictures and easy to follow text.
A good start for basic maintenance leading on to the more involved stuff.

 

[Cycleops]

Yes, there's a wealth of information and 'How to' on eBay and in manuals. Unless of course you like the personal touch.

 

[twentysix by twentyfive]

You Tube videos are good.

 

[vickster]

I'm a regular cyclist and bike gets plenty of wear and tear on London rds. It's costing me a fortune to get simple stuff done to gears, brakes etc. So I'm thinking of doing beginners bike maintence course, then working up. Can anyone recommend a good course preferably in south/east London? Thanks.

Here you go..
quick Google
across town
https://www.cycleconfident.com/courses/maintenance/
Or
Stratford or Notting Hill
https://www.bikeworks.org.uk/Event/maintenance-courses/

or further north, Islington?
https://www.lbk.org.uk/

 

[Sharky]

https://www.bromley.gov.uk/road-safety/cycle-maintenance

Looks very basic, but if you need a little push to get started, maybe OK.

 

[Regular.Cyclist]

Probably a bit early in the year but check out what night classes the local schools/colleges do, especially over winter.

E.g. A number of years ago I did a 10 week course, 2 hours a week, at a college in Eccles. It was inexpensive and very worthwhile. There was nothing on a bike we didn’t take apart and put back together.

They followed that one up with a bike building course which I would love to have done but other commitments ruled it out for me.

 

[Brooks]

I would look for any charity bike workshops that may operate in SE London, that’s what I did but ventured further afield to Ilford.
The bike project in Deptford are often looking for volunteers where you can pick up valuable skills and experience. I volunteered for a bike charity before doing a city & Guilds course. It may well take a bit of effort and time but you will get there in the end.

 

[Punkawallah]

I’d second YouTube as a resource. Particularly RJ the Bike Guy for his ‘I haven’t got the tool, what do I do’ content.

 

[Heddle the Pedal]

Thanks to all. very helpful.

 

[fossyant]

You tube is a good place to start, also handy for car repairs too. You'll need a basic set of tools, so get these as you go. I've never been on a course, so just learnt from being a kid, progressing to propper road bikes at 16. I can build wheels from scratch and even service suspension - it's not difficult, and there are step by step you tube instructions for most things, even how to service specialist hydraulic seat posts (called dropper posts).

It's all out there.

 

[Sunny Portrush]

I am absolutely useless at fixing anything but will give it a go after watching youtube videos.

Then I take it back down to the shop to have it done properly.

Disc brakes are particularly a pain in the rear end, give me old fashioned brakes any day!

 

[Lookrider]

I'm not from London so cannot help
...but I did the exact same thing for my bike
I went to my lbs and I paid to " help" with the total strip down service of my bike
This way all the course was spent learning about my bike and not general stuff about other bikes
Ask your lbs if they do such a " course"