An occasional series in which Auckland bike mechanics tell you what they’re really thinking. Got thoughts, keen to be featured? Or, do you have questions you’d love to ask a bike mechanic? Get in touch – we’d love to hear from you.
Wander into Rouleur Cycles in Onehunga’s Selwyn Street and there’s a good chance that the chap greeting you from the depths of the workshop will be Cam Baker. Cam, 22, is the lead mechanic in what is both a friendly neighbourhood bike shop and a Mecca for devotees of high-end road machinery. Ross Inglis asked him three quick questions…
Which three most basic tools would you recommend to anyone planning to maintain his or her own bike?
Screwdrivers, especially a small flat head. A hex key set, otherwise known as Allen keys. And pliers with a wire-cutter. With those, you can tune your gears, tighten loose bolts, replace cables and adjust brakes.
(If you’re not even sure where to start when it comes to looking after your own bike, Auckland Transport runs regular bike maintenance courses that teach the basics. You can also check out Tumeke Cyclespace, where you can learn to DIY alongside other people; or visit Adventure Cycles on the first Monday of every month. If you find you enjoy getting your hands dirty, bike recycling non-profits like the Roskill Bike Kitchen and Loop Groop and Teau Aiturau always welcome volunteers with basic bike skills.)
Advice for anyone buying a first bike?
Buy new. You’d be surprised at the number of people who turn up in the shop with a second-hand bike that they thought was a bargain, but which turns out to cost them loads of money because components are worn out. Unless you know bikes really well, consider forking out $800 for something new. That will get you a very decent new bike with 27 or 30 gears. It’ll get you up and down any of Auckland’s hills and it will work straight away. Plus, you’ll have some skin in the game with your local bike shop.
(Buying your first bike is a big step, whether you’re looking for new or getting lucky with secondhand. We’ve put together a handy list of resources to help you work out what you need and how to find it.)
What do you really wish you could say to workshop customers?
Please, please clean your bike before you bring it in for servicing! Clean bikes are quicker for us to work on and there’s a good chance your service will cost less in mechanic’s labour charges. Over time, a clean bike will definitely save you money – if your bike is filthy, your gears can start to misbehave, cables will get gunked up and brakes will stop working properly.
(Never washed a bike before? It’s kind of like washing a car: gentle hose, warm soapy water, get the major grub off. Detailed instructions are easy to find online – but we’d love to hear your best simple tips for those who are new to the task of keeping a bike clean, including which bits NOT to wash!)
Rouleur Cycles is at 41 Selwyn Street, Onehunga
09 622 2088
rouleurcycles.co.nz
(Header image by Andreas Kambanis of London Cyclist)
