Pinkbike Poll: How Easy (or Hard) Is It to Work On Your Bike?

Autumn is coming. It's time to overhaul your bike or sell it. Pinkbike poll asks how easy is it to work on your bicycle. It also asks if you can do the wrenching at home and how much do you spend on replacement parts.

Some bike parts wear out, others need to be repaired. Home mechanic work can be difficult and limited by specific tools. He brings his bike to the shop for any repairs. He can tension spokes, perform a fork lower service, and bleed his own brakes. However, he doesn't have access to tools to build wheels or pressurize suspension components. Brands have made the user experience better in recent years by providing tech documents and drawings online. But that's not always the case. It can also be overwhelming to know how to locate the correct parts. The information is available online, but it's often not free.

Basic: Shifting checked, wear items and bolts checked. Intermediate: Cables/housing replaced, wheel true, brakes bled, suspension bath oil/seals changed, frame bearings replaced. Advanced: Full breakdown.

I bring my bike to the shop for any repairs. I can tension spokes, perform a fork lower service and bleed my own brakes.

Some brands do not provide easy access to source replacement part numbers or compatibility info. Some brands have well documented exploded view diagrams and plenty of inventory. It's still too difficult to understand what parts I need or find stock. The prices are fair for the quality and life of the bearings. I can source cheaper parts for my car and source them from supplers outside of bike industry.

Some brands make it difficult to understand what parts I need or find stock.

No, the prices are fair for the quality and life of the bearings. Yes, I can source cheaper parts for my car and source them from supplers outside of bike industry.