The UNSW Bike Club has tools to fix bikes and members who are happy to help you learn to fix your bike. The tools can be accessed in the Bike Space (Q1001a; call Chris on 0422 521 598 for access).
Weekly Workshops, Wednesday 12-2pm
Got a problem with your bike? Want to fix it, or come fix one of ours? Come to the Quad Lawn and make use of our tools and (limited) expertise. Contact Chris (christophermoore@gmail.com) for more details.
Learn to Ride
We’re also running one-on-one workshops for complete beginners, who have never ridden a bicycle before. We provide the bike and helmet, and we understand that learning takes time and can be a little embarassing, so we’re happy to go to an off-campus park to practice. If you’re interested, please contact Chris (christophermoore@gmail.com).
DIY
For those ready to tackle bikes themselves, the Park tool website has very good advice on repairing bikes.
What tools do I need?
These are the tools that I commonly carry around. I’m not endorsing these specific brands
Set of allen keys and screwdrivers
You can often find a good multi-tool with these on it. Don’t be tempted to go for a multi-tool with 1000 functions, you’ll never use them and it will get in the way.
e.g. http://www.topeak.com/products/Tools/X-Tool_black or http://www.torpedo7.com.au/products/CRTOMAN10
Tyre levers
These should be very wide and made from plastic, so that you don’t pinch your tube
e.g. http://www.torpedo7.com.au/products/MXTOTNNTL
Spare tube
It’s good to have one of these so that you can swap it over instead of patching (though you’ll still need the patch kit in case your spare also gets a hole). The ones without seams are better (but slightly more expensive), as they’ll take patches better if you get a puncture.
Patch kit
These are mostly the same.
Pump
It’s better to get a longer pump rather than a shorter one. It’s very difficult to get up to any decent pressure with a short pump.
e.g. http://www.topeak.com/products/Mini-Pumps/Road_43-49cm_framesize
August 13, 2007 at 11:35 am
Hye Maurice
There are two bikes in my old flat in Randwick that the Bike Workshop can have for its campus bikes. Is the Bike Club still accepting old bikes for repair and reuse? I am not so sure of their condition so someone may want to have a look? I will see if I can catch you tomorrow at the bike maintenance session …. chat to you then
Jerome
August 14, 2007 at 1:47 pm
We’re definitely still taking bikes! I’ll be there tomorrow 12pm-2pm on the Quad lawn, maybe we can arrange a time to move them to the workshop space.
August 16, 2007 at 1:58 am
Hey,
I have favor to ask you or maybe just some assistance. I buoght a bike a couple of weeks ago to travel back and forth from Bondi to school, etc. Someone had the lovely idea to steal my front tire (honestly had no idea of all the bikes to rob you’d pick mine…misfortune), but nonetheless, I need to try to get a whole new wheel now. What would you suggest I do? I called Centenial Cycles where the bike actually came from and they said that it would cost $100 for a whole new wheel and that it was illegal to sell used parts like that..?? Thanks for any assistance.
Stacy
August 16, 2007 at 7:04 am
stacy, are you at UNSW? come along on wed 12-1pm on quad lawn and ask chris to get a front wheel out of the store room for you. Even if we don’t have a complete wheel we’ll at least have a tyre to save you some money. Or, you can go to the newtown bike workshop on monday nights (bikeclub.wordpress.com) and you’ll definitely be able to get a wheel (free) there.
September 30, 2007 at 6:46 am
i have 2 adult bikes that need a bit of maintenance but I would like to donate. Can you please advise if you will accept them and if so some details as to where and when I could drop them off.
October 3, 2007 at 5:38 am
Hi Rodney,
You can bring them to the Wednesday 12pm-2pm workshops on the Quad lawn.
October 3, 2007 at 7:04 am
hi there
Got a cheapy chinese made mountain bike developing lots of problems, don’t want to throw it away but rather make it into a better quality bike - what can I do, at the moment the rear gear shift system and wheel are causing probs. Can you give me some advice please?
Jonny-wannabe eco rider
October 3, 2007 at 10:45 pm
Hi Jonny,
Bring it along to the Wednesday 12-2pm maintenance workshop on the Quad lawn and I’ll take a look at it.
Cheers,
Chris
October 23, 2007 at 6:11 pm
Give me an old cool bicycle, and I’ll ride around the city for days.
January 10, 2008 at 8:36 am
Hi Chris,
I found an old disposed road bike on the street. After a lot of cleaning and adjustments, the bike works fantastic.
The only problem is that wheel spokes are very rusty, and one of them is broken. I wanted to replace all of the spokes with stainless steel. I attended a bike store in Maroubra and they ask for $1.20 each (i.e. $1.20 x 72 = $86.4). Too much for this old bike….. Instead of replacing all spokes, I bought only one spoke to replace the broken one.
Do you know where to get spokes (296mm) with reasonable price, or do you have some old wheels available (in good condition)?
January 12, 2008 at 12:41 am
Hi Dennis,
Spokes generally do cost about $1 each. You might be able to buy packs of them but it won’t be that much cheaper. The wheels we have in our collection generally have carbon steel spokes, and are quite rusty.
Cheers,
Chris
February 15, 2008 at 5:38 am
Hi Dennis,
I find very rusty to be a relative term.
To many people the spokes in my back wheel would be “very rusty”. To me they are strong spokes with some surface rust, and they can still hold the weight of my bike trailer carrying 4 adult bikes. Why is the appearance of rust hated so much?
But I admit eventually, left in rain for decades spokes will rust into steel dust.
Dan
February 18, 2008 at 12:02 am
Hi Daniel,
I guess my concern is that I don’t know when surface rust becomes structural rust, and compromises the strength of the spoke, although I guess the worst that could happen would be a broken spoke.
March 3, 2008 at 9:44 pm
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