Do It Yourself
For the do-it-yourself types, here are a few basic tips for common repair and maintenance questions.

My chain keeps skipping with I shift. Do I need to get a new derailleur?
When you have problems with shifting - or chain skip - you should check your driveline components for wear first. Make sure your chainrings, chain and cassette (cogs) are not worn out. Usually if one or more of those three is extremely worn, you should replace all three. Next check the teeth on the jockey pulleys, and the front and rear derailleur alignment. If everything so far is okay, the problem is most likely just a shift cable adjustment or sticky cables. Loosen the cable, spin cranks to let the chain fall to the highest gear, adjust the barrel adjuster in, grab the cable and shift up and down to feel if the cable moves freely, if it does then shift all the way down again and re-attach the cable and check for proper shifting. Use the barrel adjusters for fine-tuning.

My breaks squeal really bad, what can I do?
Go to Epic Sports at 1501 Mapleton Avenue and get a new bike! Just kidding! You need to check your pads and rim for wear. If they are now worn out, you can use some medium sandpaper (assuming your rims aren't ceramic) and resurface your rim and pads. Then re-adjust your pads giving them a little tow-in, (or out). The easiest way to do that is to fold a piece of paper, insert it between the rim and the backside of the pad, squeeze the brake lever, loosen the bolt and re-tighten. When you check your pads, the leading edge should contact the rim first.

My bike makes a creaking sound when I pedal hard. What can I do?
Creaks can be caused by a number of problems usually located around the lead tube or bottom bracket. One easy B.B. solution is to take your chainrings off and clean the contact surfaces, re-assemble and re-tighten the bolts evenly. The second B.B. solution is to have your B.B. removed, cleaned, greased and re-tightened. This also is the same method for curing most stem and head tube creaks. You should be able to cure most creaks using these methods. If your creak just won't go away, you may have a cracked/broken frame and should have your bike checked by a professional.

I keep getting flats when I ride. What causes this and what can I do about it?
Whether you fix your flat or a shop mechanic does, you need to find out the cause. The two most common causes are puncture and pinches. If it's a puncture, it could be caused by either a nail, thorn or glass puncturing your tube, or your rim strip could allow your spoke nipples to rub through the tube. To prevent this, watch where you ride and get a cloth rim strip installed. If your tube has 2 parallel cuts that look like a snakebite, then you have a pinch flat. Pinch flats occur when you hit an object and the tube get pinched between the tire and your rim. Inflate your tired to higher pressure (there should be a pressure range written on the sidewall) and check them often.