Ride Brooklyn Maintenance Series

The first session of our Maintenance Series is an introduction to the anatomy of a bicycle. We will discuss guidelines that not only will make you safe but effective in the workspace.  Next, we will cover essential tools for your home workshop and travel tool kits. We will then dive into common issues that may happen on the road. You will learn how to perform repairs that will help get you home safely, including flat fix techniques, essential adjustments, and more, all while using minimal tools.

In our second session of the Maintenance Series, we will focus on Brakes. As you know, there are many different Brake Systems on the market today, so we will begin with an overview that discusses the pros and cons of each. Once we have covered the basics of what's out there, we will jump into setting up and adjusting each Braking System.  You will learn how to tailor the braking performance to the rider's preference. After covering the initial setup, the class finishes with preventative maintenance tips and tricks to keep your brakes working throughout the wear life of the parts.

For our Third session of the Maintenance Series, we dive into the world of Drivetrains and Shifting. After a brief overview of the Drivetrain Systems, we then discuss the advantages and weaknesses of the more common drivetrains currently used on the market. Next, we dive straight into setting up a derailleur and shifter, aligning a derailleur hanger, and replacing a chain and cassette. Lastly, we will discuss troubleshooting techniques for diagnosing the bike's drivetrain and shifting to help restore the entire drivetrain system to optimal performance.

The Fourth session of the Maintenance Series covers what some may say is some of the most complicated parts of the bike. We start off by discussing the anatomy of a wheel. Next, we talk about some of the most common issues you may run into and look at effective troubleshooting techniques. Although wheelbuilding is not covered, we will go through extensive wheel truing techniques. Following that, we will learn about the bearings system to see when either an adjustment or replacement is needed. Towards the conclusion of this course, we will discuss the past sessions and address any problems and concerns you may have that have carried over. 

By the end of this class, students will be familiar with the techniques, tools, and parts necessary to complete a thorough Tune-Up on their bike(s)!

The Fifth and final session of the Maintenance Series allows students to choose their own adventure! You will have the opportunity to take everything you've learned and transfer that to the real world by working on your own bike. We can replace a drivetrain, move through a full tune, or help with whatever project falls in the scope of 2 hours! Throughout the course, we will set the stage to provide a satisfying project. We encourage the project to cover most of the tools, techniques, and parts you have learned in past sessions. By the completion of this class, students will have an extensive base knowledge of the Bike and how to maintain it properly.