Bicycle Mechanics and Repair Decal
Mechanical Engineering 98/198
Spring 11
Aleksey Shepelev
Jim Gao
Nick Koo
Henry Yi
About Citizen Cycle
We are a collection of individuals united by a common
interest in biking and a desire to create a healthier,
greener, and more vibrant community.
Learning Objectives
Safety
Bike Mechanics
Helmet use
Theft Prevention
Riding at night
Defensive Riding
Preventative Maintenance
Basic repair on the road
Regular upkeep
Advanced diagnosing and
repair on all components of
a bicycle
Outreach
Learn and teach others
Explore ways to help the
cycling community at Cal
and in the Bay Area
About the Class
1 hr. lecture per week
Students will learn the theory behind the basics of
bicycle repair and get hands on experience on all
components.
1 hr. of field study every other week.
Students will practice and improve their repair
skills at Bike Day, a campus outreach event
designed to help other students with their bicycle
problems.
1 page paper due at end of semester.
Field Study
Attendance and Grading
2 absences allowed
Grading will be based
without make-up
on attendance and a
short paper to be
Absences beyond 2
assigned towards the
must be made up at
end of the semester
Bike Day
Maximum of 4 absences
total
Textbooks
Not required but a great resource
Park Tool Big Blue Book of Bicycle
Repair
Bicycling Magazine's Complete Guide
to Bicycle Maintenance and Repair: For
Road and Mountain Bikes
Resources Available Online
www.bicycletutor.com
www.parktool.com/blog/repair-help
www.bikewebsite.com
www.sheldonbrown.com
Bicycle Safety Preventative Maintenance
Regularly check your bike ensure proper working
order. This includes:
Tightening and aligning brakes
Tuning front and rear derailleurs
Lubing the chain
Proper cable tension
Tightening bolts (esp. for you
fixie riders)
Inflating your tires
Helmets
Dont wear a hat under
your helmet
Dont wear headphones
while riding
Bicycle Deaths by Helmet Use
Year
No
Helmet
Helmet
Total*
Num
2004
602
(83%)
87
(12%)
722
2005
676
(86%)
77
(10%)
784
2006
730
(95%)
37 (5%)
669
2007
646
(92%)
50 (7%)
699
2008
653
(91%)
58 (8%)
714
http://www.cpsc.gov/kids/kidsafety/correct.html
www.helmets.org
Helmets are important for riders of all ages, especially because 86 percent
of bicycle deaths are persons 16 and older.
Statistics from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety Fatality Facts: Bicycles - 2008
Demo!
Defensive Riding
Safer Riding
http://bicyclesafe.com/
And the DMV says
Street Legal Vehicle!
Front and Rear Lights
Cateye
Planet Bike
Reflectors
http://dmv.ca.gov/pubs/hdbk/shr_slow_veh.htm#bike
http://city.milwaukee.gov/SafeBiking3729.htm
Theft Prevention
Some General Rules
ALWAYS LOCK YOUR BIKE!
Gone for 1 minute? Lock it.
Park in visible spots with
heavy pedestrian traffic.
http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/09/27/another-model-berkeleys-bicycle-boulevard-network/
http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/10/28/second-life-nyc-parking-meters-to-reincarnate-as-bike-racks/
What Do I Need?
THE U-LOCK
THE CABLE
+
Having a cheap bike
helps. Breaking the
lock might cost more
than the bike itself.
http://bikedepot.com/product/kryptonite-new-york-fahgettaboudit-u-lock-43799-1.htm
http://bikedepot.com/product/kryptonite-kryptolok-series-2-std-with-4-foot-flex-cable-43810-1.htm
The Proper Way
U-lock secures the
frame and front wheel
to the post.
Cable lock provides
an additional lock
to the frame and
front wheel. Also
can lock back wheel
and seat post.
Sheldon Brown Method
http://technology.open.ac.uk/oubug/commuting/comm-gen.htm
The Bike Tree
Buying a Bike On Craigslist
Choosing a good bike from an ocean of crappy
bikes:
Its all about the fit
Do your research -- is it worth it?
If its too good to be true, it probably is
Objectively assess the condition of the bike
Bring a knowledgeable friend
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/bik/2176112017.html
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sfc/bik/2175995496.html
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/nby/bik/2176040697.html
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/bik/2176011434.html
