The fallacy of "servicing" a bicycle.

[swansonj]

There is a lot of elitism on this thread. Seriously, it is up to the cyclist whether they are comfortable fettling, filtering or fixing their bike. They are not 'bike users' because they struggle with mechs, they are cyclists because they ride an effing bike.

I know mechanics who struggle with the modern car let alone the driver without a computer degree and anyone who attacks other people's busy lives as being lazy are either unemployed, retired or really lucky with their work/life balance.

And I have yet to meet an LBS owner who objects to earning some money fixing someone's cable problems.

Anyone who decides to jump on a bike, whether a £100 quid beat-me-up or a £1000 show vehicle should be applauded whether their hands get greasy or not.

Actually I called this elitist, as a geek I know I'm wrong. This is nerdish behaviour.

No, as you were, I think "elitist" is quite right.

 

[cd365]

Hahaha @ eletism. I learnt to do most things to a bicycle as a child in a 70s, I had to coming from a not very well off working class family. I recently helped a young lad about 13 from the "rough estate" next to me, he had a puncture, saw me cycle home and asked if he could borrow a pump and some tools to get his wheel off. I took the wheel and tyre off, he fixed the puncture (far bettr than I would of) and I sorted the rest out.

If I'm asked for help again I will tell him fixing it himself is eletist and he must take it to his LBS. Of which there are none near me.

 

[Cyclopathic]

I just can't understand how anyone who claims to be a cyclist (Rather than a just bike user) can take zero interest in how his or her bicycle works at even the most basic level. I'm not talking about fitting headsets or gear systems, just the most simple of adjustments to keep things running sweet and safe.

I know. I've even seen some obviously over privileged riders with all the lycra kit and really expensive bikes, riding around in huge groups, who even have some lackies following them around in cars with spare wheels and food and drink and even spare bikes. They've got no business being on the roads!

 

[Cyclopathic]

Hahaha @ eletism. I learnt to do most things to a bicycle as a child in a 70s, I had to coming from a not very well off working class family. I recently helped a young lad about 13 from the "rough estate" next to me, he had a puncture, saw me cycle home and asked if he could borrow a pump and some tools to get his wheel off. I took the wheel and tyre off, he fixed the puncture (far bettr than I would of) and I sorted the rest out.

If I'm asked for help again I will tell him fixing it himself is eletist and he must take it to his LBS. Of which there are none near me.

No one has said fixing your own bike is elitist. Also you don't have to be from the ruling elite to be an elitist on a certain subject. That's not what it means in this context.

 

[mickle]

I'm a well known nerd , yet even I, with access to a fully equipped workshop, do not build my own wheels nor replace the guts of internal geared hubs. Because there are better folks than me at it and I want it done proper.
Having the skills to work on your own bike is admirable and desirable and should be encouraged, but its borderline offensive to suggest that someone is in any way not a 'proper' cyclist if they can't. It's just this sort of elitist bullsh!t that discourages people from getting involved in cycling.

 

[Globalti]

It's not about elitism or anything else, it's about the pleasure of riding a bicycle that's in perfect running order and is doing the job silently and efficiently. There's joy in owning a reliable, well-worn piece of equipment, be it a bicycle or a woodworking tool or a serviceable vehicle like an old Land Rover. that bears honourable scars of hard service but is still in perfect mechanical order. The near-crime is in wilfully neglecting that equipment then expressing surprise that it has let you down.

 

[Windassisted]

Makes the difference between the enthusiastic cyclist and the type you see on a beat up heap of scrap , riding with his kipper feet and stuck out knees because his saddle is set too low and wobbling all over the road due to being in a wrong gear cos the cable has broken

 

[youngoldbloke]

But that isn't how society and economics works.
We all specialise in certain skills to a greater or lesser degree. This means we can do these skills better and faster than someone else. So we do that, get paid for that, then spend the money on buying in skills that other people have.
I can make more money in an hour than I can save by doing bike maintenance for an hour. So I get the bike maintenance guy to do that for me while I do what I'm good at.

And please don't start about the pleasure of maintaining your own bike. It isn't a pleasure for me

My LBS charges £10 for 15 minutes (minimum charge), plus parts (at full rrp). It is over 10 miles away/ 20 minutes driving. The city council charges lots of money to park any where nearby. So .. how much money would I have to generate to cover the costs incurred? A hell of a lot more than £40, thats for sure. Maybe the 'elite' that posters are referring to are those that can afford the services of an LBS.

 

[Roadrider48]

If you ride a bike your're a cyclist!

 

[youngoldbloke]

If you play a violin you're a violinist, if you kick a ball you're a footballer ........

 

[Smokin Joe]

If you ride a bike your're a cyclist!

But if you can't adjust a cable or change an inner tube you should be ashamed to admit it.

 

[swansonj]

But if you can't adjust a cable or change an inner tube you should be ashamed to admit it.

You really don't give up, do you....

 

[Smokin Joe]

You really don't give up, do you....

Nah, I cut my teeth on the helmet threads. Nobody gives up there.

 

[welsh dragon]

Are we there yet?

 

[CopperBrompton]

But if you can't adjust a cable or change an inner tube you should be ashamed to admit it.

Quite right. Similarly, if you can't write a simple piece of javascript, you have no business using a computer; if you can't enrich the fuel mixture, you should be ashamed to fly on a plane; and if you can't even do the simplest chromakey cutout, you shouldn't be watching movies.