View source for Bike Maintenance Class: Week 1, Introduction and Flat Repair

[[Bike_Maintenance_Class|Bike Maintenance Class:]] Week 1, Introduction and Flat Repair
==Component Identification and Basic Terminology==

===What's What on a Bike===
<br />
[[Image:bikediagram.gif]]

===Drive Side and Non-drive Side===
The right side of the bike is referred to as the drive side while the left side is the non-drive side.

===How to talk about gearing===
Gears closer to the frame are referred to as ''inner'' gears while the ones furthest from the frame are the ''outer'' gears. High and low in relation to the gears describes the relative mechanical advantage of the gearing. An easy mnemonic for this is '''H'''igher gears are '''h'''arder while lower gears are easier. The inner gears on a bike are always going to be the lower gears and the outer gears are the higher gears.

===Right-hand vs Left-hand Threading===

Almost every threaded component on a bike is going to be right-hand threaded, which means that turning it clockwise will tighten it and turning it counter-clockwise will loosen it. Pedals and bottom bracket cups are examples where you would run into left-hand threaded components. To identify the ''handedness'' of a component hold it in front of you as in the picture below. The direction that the threads slant up too corresponds to the components handedness.

[[Image:LineDrawingofLeftandRightHandedSquareThreads.png | 200px]]

Left-handed           Right-handed 

===Valves: Schrader and Presta===

The two types of valves you will see on 99% of bikes in America are schrader and presta. Schrader valves are the same type of valve that you see on cars and most other pneumatic tires. Presta valves are
[[Image:valvetypes.jpg | 150px ]]

==Basic Upkeep==
===Inflating Tires===
[[Image:valvedeflate.gif]]
===Cleaning and lubing the chain===


==Flat Repair==

* Understanding brake and wheel quick release mechanisims
* How to remove a tire with tirelevers
* Identifying puncture source (don't forget to keep everything lined up!)
* Patching


==Hands On==

Repairing flat tires on demo wheels. 


=='''Resources'''==

More than you really need to know about flats: [http://www.sheldonbrown.com/flats.html Sheldon Brown Tells All]

[[Category:Bike_Maintenance_Class]]