In the three months we have been open (yes, it really has been three months already), a number of cyclists have called in with mechanical issues, hoping/pleading for any help we can give. Thankfully, most have been small jobs, and it has been easy enough to see them on their way again, after a (non) compulsory coffee.
I must reiterate that we are not a workshop, and while Jordan and myself have accrued wrenching knowledge over the years (and I serviced Boris bikes for a while, so if you ever need one of those fixing, I'm your guy), we only keep limited tools here. So sorry again Mr S-Works Tarmac, but no we can't fixed your broken BB with only allen keys.
That being said, we will always try to help, and with that in mind, I have found a few instructional videos that will help with some of the more common complaints we see here:
This video from GSN covers everything you need to know to fix a broken chain while on the road, and will enable you to get home without having to push your bike.
Having seen people struggle for 20 mins to fix punctures, here are two videos from Global Cycle Network.
Part 1- General video about replacing/fixing a roadside puncture
If you need any more information, here are two more indepth videos, covering all aspects:
(And if you have time to spare/kill, the ever informative Sheldon Brown has more than enough information here http://sheldonbrown.com/flats.html)
I hope this has been of use, and please leave your thoughts, or suggestions for other topics to cover/better videos etc. All I have left to do now is gently remind you, dear reader, that we do carry a range of spares here at Giro. Continental tubes (in various sizes), Continental Gatorskin tyres, and Lezyne patches, multitools (containing chain-tools) and Co2 inflators as well.
Happy riding. Pete
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Steel is what got me into frame building. Steel is what I loved to ride, and the material I thought made the most beautiful bikes. Elegant, efficient, classic, malleable, forgiving, it gives frame builders so much to work with, all while holding their hand and saying, “it’s okay. Whatever you do I’ll still ride like a dream.” Steel tubesets available off the shelf like True Temper S3, Columbus Life and Columbus XCR make amazing bicycles. They have tremendous ride characteristics, and all the builder has to do is weld the thing together. Sure, that glazes over important talent critical in building a viable frame. To build a steel frame that is straight and won’t fall apart takes care and practice, but any framebuilder will admit that it’s not quite brain surgery.